Uduaghan Plots Survival; To Drop Commissioners, Office Holders Over Loyalty

ASABA, June 03, (THEWILL) – Following perceived threats to his second term ambition come 2011, Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has taken the bull by the horn to ensure his political survival.

The embattled governor whose political machine was recently shaken with the arrest of Chief James Ibori in Dubai and likely extradition to London to face criminal charges of money laundering, following the successful conviction of two of his associates, has said he would drop any member of the executive council or political office holder whose loyalty is in doubt.

Dr. Uduaghan who gave the warning today while swearing- in a new Special Adviser on Ethnic Harmony, Chief Mrs. Elizabeth Ogbon-Dey in Asaba said he was giving those officials 2 weeks to retrace their steps or be removed from office.

The governor while charging the new Special Adviser to be loyal to his administration and state explained that some members of his cabinet were disloyal and working at variance with the oath of office they swore to.

"Your loyalty would be 100 per cent to this administration. I am giving you 2 weeks to resign, if you feel you cannot be loyal anymore."

According to Dr. Uduaghan, he will take a decisive decision on those officials whose loyalty were in doubt and replace them with those he could work with "For those of you who are neither here nor there, l will take a decision and choose those we can work with. You cannot break or abandon the oath of allegiance you took."

The Governor however enjoined the new Special Adviser, Chief Ogbon-Dey to use her experience on diplomacy to promote ethnic harmony in the state, stressing that the state has enjoyed relative peace for sometime now adding that there were pockets of inter-ethnic problems and urged her to promote goodwill and mutual understanding among the various ethnic groups in the state.

Responding, Chief Mrs. Ogbon-Dey expressed appreciation to the Governor for the appointment and promised to be 100 per cent loyal to the Uduaghan administration. "I and my constituency are for you, we pledge our 100 per cent support. I believe in the Uduaghan dream and Delta State dream. I accept the appointment to support and achieve this dream to serve the people better", she said.