Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, on Sunday, took swipes on those behind his death rumour, blaming such action on so much hatred in the state.
Governor Uduaghan who stated this in Warri when he led top members of his administration in a thanksgiving to commemorate this year’s Democracy Day in an inter-denominational Christian thanksgiving service held at the Flock of Christ Mission church, Effurun, near Warri, said he indeed had health challenges which has been addressed.
He stressed that those who are ill deserve to be prayed for and not to pray for their death.
“As Deltans, let us do away with hatred, we should shun ethnic hatred; hatred will lead us to nowhere but destruction. There is too much hatred for one another in the state and too much rumour mongering. Rumour came recently that I have passed away and many people were happy about the news. I can be ill because I am human being. I actually had a health challenge about two weeks ago; but I am alright now.
“When I had the health challenge, I noticed a weakness on one side of the face, I still attended the EXCO meeting, though some of my aides were concerned. Eventually, I flew to Abuja the third day and spent three days there, where I was examined at the National Hospital.
“People were spreading rumours that I was dead, and they were ready to buy a casket for my burial. Maybe they will keep their casket, God says I still have many years to live on earth. But you can see, I have conquered the fear of death. ‘I no dey fear death, if you dey plan death for me….’ he added in pidgin English.
“There is so much rumour in our state, and it is unfair to spread all types of rumour. If people are ill, we should pray for their recovery and not to wish them dead, if we do not want to incur the wrath of Almighty God. We must stop spreading dangerous rumours; they are destructive rumours, they do not build the society, they destroy society and that is why I am urging all Deltans on the need to live in unity. Deltans should help my administration to finish strong. Pray for us to succeed; pray for President Goodluck Jonathan because so many people are already overheating the polity two years to 2015 election; and, pray for Nigeria our country,” he said.
Speaking on the security situation in the country, Uduaghan charged traditional rulers on the need for vigilance, especially in the light of the Boko Haram insurgency that has compounded the security situation in the country.
He observed that every Nigerian was a potential victims of Boko Haram, and added thus, “therefore, traditional rulers must report unusual movements in their domain, because a lot of things are happening in our society today and we must all be vigilant.”
Raising concern over 2015, which he noted was getting to a feverish pitch, he said “two years away from 2015, the system is already being over-heated. So, let us pray for our president.” He commended the state’s judiciary for its support for government security strategies.
“I must thank the judiciary for their remarkable support and cooperation towards tackling the security situation in the state, especially ransom kidnapping. “Let me tell you this, in the last couple of years more kidnappers have been prosecuted and jailed in Delta State than any other state in Nigeria. As a matter of fact, more kidnappers have been jailed in the state than all the other states of the federation put together. And, you will agree with me this would have been impossible without the support of the judiciary. The judiciary believes it is a war that everybody must fight; and, by God’s grace we will overcome, we will win the war”, he stated.
“Today, we are determined to finish strong”, the Governor continued, “We are finishing strong in the area of education, road, security, health, infrastructure and human capital development, but I admit that we are not finishing strong in the area of agriculture, but we will endeavour to do so in the few months ahead.”
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