From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja
The Senate has honoured former Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan for his contributions to healthcare, infrastructure and economic development, as lawmakers recalled his role in regional cooperation and efforts to restore peace in the oil-rich Niger Delta.
Tributes poured on Wednesday during deliberations on a motion sponsored by Joel-Onowakpo Thomas and co-sponsored by Ned Nwoko, Ede Dafinone and Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, following the former governor’s death on October 19, 2026.
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, particularly highlighted Uduaghan’s contributions to the BRACED Commission, a regional initiative involving Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta states, as well as his efforts alongside other governors to address militancy in the Niger Delta.
Akpabio recalled that the governors worked with the administration of former President Umaru Yar’Adua towards the amnesty initiative, which helped restore relative peace in the oil-producing region.
Moving the motion, Thomas described Uduaghan as a distinguished medical practitioner, statesman and public servant whose eight-year administration left significant marks on the political, social and economic development of Delta State.
Thomas said the former governor’s medical background influenced his administration’s approach to healthcare, particularly programmes providing free medical services to pregnant women, nursing mothers and children under five years of age.
He also recalled investments in the Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara, alongside efforts to rehabilitate public schools and expand access to education through the Edu-My-Child programme, scholarships and assistance with public examinations.
On infrastructure, the senator cited road construction, transportation projects and the development of Asaba International Airport as significant components of Uduaghan’s administration.
He added that the former governor’s Delta Beyond Oil agenda sought to reduce the state’s dependence on crude oil revenues by promoting agriculture, tourism and small and medium-scale enterprises.
Contributing to the debate, Dafinone said the late governor’s record should be assessed by the impact of his public service on the lives of the people.
“Public service is marked by the number of lives touched in service, and there is no doubt that in his eight years as governor, his position as Secretary to the State Government and Commissioner for Health, our late governor touched very many lives,” he said.
Former Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, drew attention to Uduaghan’s contribution to regional economic integration, particularly through the BRACED Commission.
He said the initiative was conceived to move the six South-South states beyond periodic meetings towards a coordinated development framework capable of harnessing the region’s natural resources and human capital.
According to Oshiomhole, Uduaghan provided logistical support for the establishment of a secretariat to drive the commission’s activities.
He said the former governor’s commitment to Delta State transcended ethnic considerations, describing him as a leader who deployed his influence and resources to improve the welfare of the people.
“Emmanuel Uduaghan was not lost in the Itsekiri people. He may have been born as an Itsekiri man by accident of birth, but actually, he was a proud son of Delta, and he deployed all he had to upgrade the living standard of Delta,” Oshiomhole said.
Nwoko, in his contribution, recalled his discussions with Uduaghan on the development of Asaba International Airport during his time in the House of Representatives between 1999 and 2003.
He said the proposal initially encountered resistance from the administration of former Governor James Ibori, which argued that Delta State already had an airport at Osubi, near Warri.
The senator’s account highlighted the political and policy discussions that preceded the development of the airport, which later became an important transportation facility for the state.
Also speaking, Francis Faduyile, a medical doctor representing Ondo South, described Uduaghan as a role model whose professional background informed his commitment to improving healthcare delivery.
Faduyile recalled the former governor’s interventions in the health sector and his participation in a National Health Summit organised by the Nigerian Medical Association.
On her part, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who described the deceased as her in-law, said he was a compassionate and gentle man whose counsel and support extended to members of his family.
“He is a father figure to many, and to me, he goes beyond being an in-law,” she said.
At the end of the deliberations, the Senate observed a minute’s silence in honour of the former governor and extended its condolences to his family and the people of Delta State.