Oborevwori mourns Uduaghan as remains arrive in Warri
- Former Delta governor Emmanuel Uduaghan died on Monday at 71, his son Toju announced.
- Governor Sheriff Oborevwori received the remains at Osubi Airport and visited the family in Warri.
- Peter Obi, Godwin Obaseki, Chiedu Ebie and Chris Iyovwaye also paid tribute to the late governor.
The remains of former Delta State governor Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan arrived in the state on Monday, the same day his death was announced. He was 71.
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his wife, Tobore, joined family members at Osubi Airport in Okpe Local Government Area to receive the body, according to Vanguard. Uduaghan's daughter, Orode, and former Nigeria Football Federation president Amaju Pinnick were among those present, Punch reported.
The governor later visited the family home in Warri, where he met Uduaghan's widow, Roli, and other relatives. During the condolence visit, he signed a condolence register and commiserated with the family.
Uduaghan's death was announced on Monday by his son, Toju. The former governor led Delta from 2007 to 2015. Before that he was commissioner for health and secretary to the state government under former governor James Ibori.
Oborevwori: he was my boss
Oborevwori described Uduaghan as the man who gave him his biggest political break, appointing him special adviser in 2007.
He was my boss. He gave me the highest political appointment, Special Adviser, in 2007,
the governor said, according to Punch. He added: "He has gone, but he can never be forgotten by Deltans."
Oborevwori praised Uduaghan for building the Asaba International Airport and for spreading projects across the state rather than favouring one ethnic group. He said his government would keep maintaining projects inherited from past administrations, pointing to work on the Effurun Roundabout Flyover.
Tributes from across parties
Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), said Uduaghan treated him like a younger brother during their time as governors of Anambra and Delta.
Obi recalled that they worked together to push for the Second Niger Bridge contract, which he said later became a reality.
Chiedu Ebie, chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), called the death "a moment of collective grief" and said Uduaghan's life was tied to the hopes of his people.
Former Edo governor Godwin Obaseki said the loss would be felt across the South-South and the wider Nigerian political community. He cited the Delta Beyond Oil initiative, which sought to widen the state's economy beyond crude oil.
Chris Iyovwaye, the NDC's governorship candidate in Delta, described Uduaghan as an elder brother and a medical doctor who gave years to public service. He extended condolences to the Itsekiri nation.
None of the reports gave details of the funeral arrangements. For now, Deltans are watching to see when the state government announces burial plans, and whether the projects Uduaghan started will be completed as promised.
