Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has attributed today’s verdict of Nigeria’s Supreme Court as a vindication of the supreme mandate that he enjoys, as expressed in the will of the people of the state.

In a statement by Felix Ofou, his press secretary, the governor expressed immense gratitude to God and Deltans for the apex court ruling as well as previous victories at the polls and in the courts.

“I owe this victory to God and Deltans. I only pray that our opponents would by now have realised that we enjoy a supreme mandate as expressed in the will of the people. One with God has the majority,” he said.

Governor Uduaghan however called on Chief Great Ogboru, his challenger in the suit at the apex court, and his supporters to join hands with the administration to develop the state

“Delta belongs to all of us. The time to fight is over. Now is the time for Chief Ogboru and his followers to join hands with my administration to develop the state,” he appealed.

Meanwhile, Delta Leaders have congratulated Dr. Uduaghan for his victory and thanked the Justices of the Supreme Court for throwing out the suit of Chief Ogboru, the Democratic People’s Party (DPP) governorship candidate in the 2011 governorship election.

In a statement issued in Asaba by the Director of Communications of the People’s Movement, Mrs. Ibifuro Tatua, the leaders lauded the judiciary for not yielding to calculated lies about elections in the state, describing the past three governorship elections as the most transparent ever seen in the history of the state.

They leaders praised the governor for the pragmatic steps taken to address the problems in the various sectors, the development of democratic culture and stable polity as well as the creation of jobs for the people.

Emphasising that God threw up Governor Uduaghan to help extricate the people from the shackles of poverty, enslavement and oppression, the leaders urged the governor “to keep up the good works, irrespective of the antics of some detractors who peddle false stories about the state.”

“Contrary to impressions implanted by some enemies of the state, Uduaghan has no problem if he decides to seek election into the senate come 2015. If the constitution were to allow a person to rule for life, Deltans at home and abroad will probably beg him to continue,” they added.

The leaders who also affirmed their total support to Uduaghan on his quest to develop the state, appealed to office and money seeking politicians to temper ambition and greed with concern for public good and genuine welfare of the people.

•Photo shows Uduaghan.