Former Delta State, Emmanuel Uduaghan
Senator Ned Nwoko has described the late former Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, as the most accessible governor the state has had.
Similarly, the Chairman of Obakpor Engineering Limited, Olorogun John Oguma, described Uduaghan’s death as painful, saying the former governor promoted inclusion and peaceful coexistence among the state’s diverse ethnic groups.
Nwoko, who represents Delta North Senatorial District, made the remarks in a tribute to Uduaghan made available to the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Tuesday.
NAN reports that Uduaghan died on Monday at the age of 71, three days before his 72nd birthday.
“I received with deep sadness the news of the passing of my elder and former governor of Delta, His Excellency, Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, CON, who departed on Monday, at 71,” Nwoko said.
He extended his condolences to Uduaghan’s wife, Roli, his children, the Uduaghan family, the Itsekiri nation, and the government and people of Delta State.
“Dr Uduaghan was, by far, one of the most accessible governors Delta has had. His open-door approach and willingness to engage with people across different communities made him a familiar presence in the lives of many Deltans,” he said.
Nwoko noted that Uduaghan’s years in public service, first as commissioner for health, then as Secretary to the State Government and later as governor from 2007 to 2015, placed him at the centre of the state’s political and developmental journey.
He described the former governor’s death as a loss to Delta State and those who shared in his years of public service.
Nwoko prayed for God to grant Uduaghan eternal rest and give his family and other mourners the strength to bear the loss.
In a statement, Oguma described Uduaghan as a bridge-builder whose commitment to inclusion and peaceful coexistence had left a lasting mark on the state.
He said the former governor believed in unity and mutual respect among Delta State’s diverse ethnic groups, adding that his leadership was guided by the understanding that the state’s strength lay in uniting its people.
“Uduaghan’s political disposition reflected a commitment to accommodation, relationship-building and the recognition that effective governance must create room for people across ethnic, religious and political divides,” Oguma said.
He added that Uduaghan had touched many lives beyond public office through personal relationships, acts of kindness, opportunities and connections across communities.
Oguma described the death as a painful loss to Delta State and Nigeria, extending his condolences to the former governor’s family, the people of Ubiaja in Edo State, his maternal community, the Itsekiri nation, the Delta State Government, his political associates and other mourners.
He prayed for God to grant the deceased eternal rest and comfort his family and loved ones.
“Your legacy of inclusion, respect and human connection will remain a part of the story of Delta State and the communities whose lives you touched,” the company said.