IBORI'S ARREST: THAT'S NOT WHY WE ARE HERE

It was a very upset Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan who reacted to question from State House Correspondents, when asked to comment on the arrest of his predecessor, James Ibori, by the International Police (INTERPOL), in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for alledged money laundering.

'That is not why we are here,' he said, while angrily walking away.

Uduaghan had led Delta State delegation to condole with President Goodluck Jonathan on the death of President Umaru Yar'Adua who died last Wednesday. However, Daily Sun noticed that Chief Edwin Clark and the Minister of Niger Delta, Godswill Orubebe were conspicuously absent in the delegation.

Before storming off, Uduaghan, had attributed the relative calmness and increased business activities in the hitherto troubled Niger Delta region to the peace initiatives of the late President Yar'Adua, adding that his contribution led to increased oil production and free movement in the region.

He noted that for him, the greatest impact the late president made in the troubled region was the restoration of peace and brotherliness in the region.

Uduaghan said the delegation primarily came to condole with and congratulate President Jonathan on the death of Yar'Adua and his ascension to the position of president.

'You know we are one of the Niger Delta states and we lost our President Yar'Adua and of course the chief mourner is the current President and so we came to pay our condolences to him.  More so that President Yar'Adua made an impact in the Niger Delta.

'Secondly, we have also come to congratulate our president whom providence has given the opportunity to be president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at this time of our history and we pledge our support to him in all that he do because it is very critical that he succeeds been the first person to occupy that position from that region,' he said.

In a related development, the Governor of Yobe State, Abubakar Gaidam, has prayed for God's wisdom as Jonathan takes the mantle of leadership.

Gaidam who led his state delegation to also pay condolence to President Jonathan told newsmen, 'we prayed for the new President for wisdom and boldness to lead Nigeria to provide social amenities, security and everything so that the Nigerian nation can be one of the top 20 greatest nations by the year 2020,' he said.

Asked if he was pleased with the response he got from President Jonathan, Gaidam said 'I am very pleased with the response and the reception.'

The leadership of the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion and the representatives of the Oba of Benin also paid courtesy calls on President Jonathan yesterday.