Uduaghan exposes Silicon Valley Mirage; says Pat Utomi has to ‘learn the ropes’ before he can become Delta State Governor.

 Immediate Past Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has counseled the Proprietor of Lagos Business School, Prof. Pat Utomi, to first try his popularity by contesting as councillor in his ward, before aspiring to be Governor of Delta State.

Speaking in Asaba at the weekend at a stakeholder meeting of the PDP, Uduaghan Dr. Uduaghan urged aspirants for political offices not to be blinded by their political ambitions as to resort to peddling falsehood against government.

Rather, they should concentrate on facts and issues and recant from these acts for selfish political ambitions.

Debunking the wild allegations of financial mismanagement against the State government by Prof. Utomi, Uduaghan advised him not sacrifice the truth on the altar of political expediencies.

Uduaghan said, “Every man has a right to aspire to any political office in the country, but such person must not tell lies about government to achieve his aspiration.

“Tell the people what you can do for them, do not spread lies.”

While urging the Economist to consider actualizing his political ambition by contesting for Councillorship position, the former governor said it is to enable Utomi get basic facts on issues affecting governance at a higher level which is that of State Governor.

He noted that from his experience with Prof. Utomi, he (Utomi) had distinguished himself as someone with great ideas adding however that the Professor lacked the frame of mind for execution.

Uduaghan disclosed that as Governor of Delta State, his administration made Prof. Utomi chairman and member of several committees as opportunities for him to contribute to the development of the State but said “if Prof. Utomi attends any of the meetings, he will not spend more than five minutes.”

Uduaghan said, “He (Prof. Utomi) bragged about his reach internationally, how he was going to bring international investors and we had to partner with him to organize a business forum outside the country with Nigerians in Diaspora for us to get the investors, but he did not spend five minutes before he left us, no investor came to the State through him.

“You people should ask Prof, ‘where is the Silicon Valley?’ He took us to his home town, Ibusa for the foundation laying ceremony of Silicon Valley. Till date, there is nothing to show that the project has commenced.

“He has contested for the Presidency; he now wants to be the Governor. But, I think he should start from his Ward, he should contest for Councillor”.

Continuing Uduaghan said it was not good to condemn what the incumbent governor was doing because of personal ambition pointing out that, “Governor Okowa has done excellently well and we should join hands with him to develop the State.”

While advising members of the PDP to remain united, Uduaghan urged those in elective or appointive positions to empower Deltans through the spread of democratic dividends.

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa in his address urged members of the PDP to open their doors to any Nigerian wishing to join the party, including members of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

Chairman of the party in the State; Barr. Kingsley Esiso said the meeting was necessary for members to be abreast with happenings in the party.

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