The Chairman of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Olorogun John Obukowho Nani, has paid an emotional tribute to former Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, describing him as a leader whose kindness and commitment to nurturing younger people set him apart.
Nani, in a condolence message following Uduaghan’s death, praised the late former governor for using his position to create opportunities for others rather than treating political power as a means of personal advantage.
Reflecting on the purpose of life and leadership, the DESOPADEC chairman wrote: “The world is a theatre for men to perform what they have in their folded arms at birth.”
He said Uduaghan’s defining quality was his generosity of spirit, adding that the former governor consistently demonstrated a willingness to help others grow and prepare for leadership.
“Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan’s hands were full of kindness,” Nani stated.
In one of the most striking passages of his tribute, Nani described Uduaghan as a leader who deliberately sought to raise people who could eventually surpass him in positions of authority.
“He was a BOSS LOOKING FOR YOUNGER ONES TO BE HIS FUTURE BOSS, which is scarce in nature,” he wrote.
The DESOPADEC chairman said the late governor challenged the tendency among some people in positions of authority to prevent others from advancing for fear that they might eventually become their superiors.
According to Nani, Uduaghan’s approach to leadership demonstrated that true service involves creating opportunities for others and resisting the temptation to use power selfishly.
“He defeated selfishness in power. He fulfilled his destiny. Leaving the legacy of how power must be handled,” Nani said.
The tribute also conveyed the personal bond between the DESOPADEC chairman and the deceased, whom he remembered not only as a former governor but also as an elder brother, mentor and benefactor.
“My governor, my elder brother, my boss and my settler, I hail you even in death. Rest in Peace,” Nani wrote.
Uduaghan, who governed Delta State from 2007 to 2015, died on Monday, October 19, 2026, at the age of 71, three days before his 72nd birthday.
Political leaders and other stakeholders across Delta State have offered condolences, with tributes highlighting his years of public service and the relationships he built during his political career.
Nani’s tribute places particular emphasis on mentorship, generosity and the responsibility of leaders to prepare others for positions of influence, presenting Uduaghan’s legacy as one that extended beyond the exercise of political authority to the people he helped develop.
