As Nigeria grapples with the challenge of winning the war against terror, the governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, has urged political leaders to always use their positions to unite the nation and join hands with the relevant authorities in defeating the enemies of the country.

He noted that the international community is aiding the country to combat terror, especially that posed by the extremist Islamist group, Boko Haram. Uduaghan said leaders irrespective of political leaning should be statesman-like in their utterances and support the Federal Government in the war.

Uduaghan spoke through Chike Ogeah, Delta State Commissioner for Information in Lagos when the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) conferred on him the award of a “Positive Thinker” based on the transformational policies and programmes of his administration which have brought massive economic turnaround in the state. He expressed dismay at the utterances of some political leaders on the country’s security challenges which bordered on playing politics with a serious national issue.

The governor commended the role of women in nation building noting that in all spheres of endeavour, they hold the hope for Nigeria’s resurgence as a major international player. He particularly frowned at a situation where some persons are perceived as less important and some others arrogate to themselves the monopoly of wisdom, but called for synergy of effort for the common good of the nation.

He said his administration has taken deliberate measures, especially through the Delta Micro Credit Programme (DMCP) where over 111,000 people have been empowered to start up and nurture their business, for self reliance in the state in line with the Delta Beyond Oil initiative. He noted that the programme which is being managed by Dr. Anthonia Ashiedu has won for the state numerous awards, especially that instituted by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to reward states’ initiative in aiding the growth of small businesses.

He pledged the readiness of Delta State to share its rewarding experience in promoting micro-credit with other states.

Speaking at the ceremony, the national president of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mohammed Garba, described Dr. Uduaghan as one of the governors whose policies and programmes have brought about manifest transformation in their states, saying that he deserved the award as well as the numerous others he has received. He described Governor Uduaghan as very focused and committed to the development of the state.

Present at the ceremony held at the weekend were Mr. Misan Ukubeyenji, Delta State Commissioner for Agriculture; Dr. Anthonia Ashiedu, Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation and Mrs. Orezi Esievo, Commissioner for Special Infrastructure.

This is the latest in the series of recognitions and awards for Dr. Uduaghan, especially from media practitioners and publishing houses in all parts of the country and beyond. Similar awards commending his efforts to develop the non-oil sector of Delta State’s economy had come from the Sun Group of newspapers, Leadership, Vanguard, Nigerian Pilot and Metro Eireann, Republic of Ireland’s leading and only multicultural newspaper.