It is with a heart weighed down by immeasurable grief and profound sorrow that I received the devastating news of the passing to glory of my beloved political father, leader and benefactor, His Excellency, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, former Governor of Delta State. According to the family statement signed by Toju Anire Uduaghan on behalf of the family, he departed on the morning of Monday, 19th October 2026, at the age of 71. The family has rightly described his death as a profound loss to Delta State and Nigeria, and I concur wholeheartedly. This is not just the loss of a former governor; it is the painful exit of a source of strength, a father figure and a patriarch whose presence we shall deeply miss.
I do not call him my political father for nothing. My entire journey in public service was charted by his kindness, trust and visionary leadership. Out of the kindness of his heart, after the 2007 elections, he appointed me as the Chairman of Isoko South Local Government, marking the beginning of my public service career. In 2009, that same father, in his wisdom, appointed me as the first Executive Chairman of the Delta State Board of Internal Revenue, at a time the state was in dire need of a man to champion her vision of diversifying the economy. That singular act of confidence changed my life forever.
Under his leadership as Governor from 2007 to 2015, after meritoriously serving as Commissioner for Health from 1999 to 2003 and Secretary to the State Government from 2003 to 2007, he pursued his transformative three-point agenda of Human Capital Development, Infrastructure Development and Peace and Security. He gave me the platform to serve, and God favoured me with inspiration and ideas whilst serving in the Board. He was a leader who did not just build infrastructure; he built people. His exceptional ability to nurture talent and spur meaningful development is evident in the many prominent figures he mentored, including myself.
Even beyond office, his mentorship never ceased. When I sought guidance on contesting for a seat in the National Assembly, he provided not only advice but also steadfast support, helping to shape my success as a public servant. "Your visionary leadership has produced dedicated individuals who contribute immensely to nation-building at all levels of government" – those were my words to him on his 70th birthday, and they remain true today. To lose such a father at this time is painful beyond words. Deltans have lost a detribalised leader, Isoko nation has lost a true friend, and I have lost the very man who considered my growth as his personal responsibility.
On behalf of my family, the good people of Delta South Senatorial District, and all those whose lives were touched by his benevolence, I extend my deepest, most heartfelt condolences to his beloved wife, Her Excellency, Deaconess Roli Uduaghan, his children, the Uduaghan family of Abigborodo, the people of Warri North, and the entire Delta State. I pray that Almighty God, whom he served diligently, will grant his noble soul eternal rest and grant us all the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.
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