The People’s Movement, a nascent advocacy group on good governance and transparency, has faulted the perception that Delta State is Nigeria’s kidnap capital. The group sought to correct the impression in a statement in which it congratulated Delta State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, on his 58th birthday and urged Deltans to rally round him to enable him break more grounds.

Reflecting on the five years of the Uduaghan administration People’s Movement said: “We are confident that the measures Governor Uduaghan has initiated are measures in the right direction.”

The group in a statement issued in Lagos by the Director of Communications, Mrs. Ibifuro Tatua, observed that security is a major problem in Nigeria and not just Delta State. It also debunked the insinuation that Delta State has the highest number of kidnap cases.

“It is against this background arising from serious security challenges that Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan decided to put in place strategies towards addressing security challenges in the state,” the statement said.

The group applauded the seriousness attached to the declared war on kidnapping and other criminal offences in the state, saying that Uduaghan’s administration had set up special courts dedicated to trying offenders of these crimes, in addition to acquiring communication gadgets to assist law enforcement agencies to track down the criminals.

“His Excellency is winning the war against kidnappers and other criminals,” the statement sent by e-mail to News Express said.

On the menace of flood, the group said the problem is not peculiar to Delta alone, pointing out “It’s all over Nigeria and indeed, all over the world.”

It also recalled the massive work in terms of clearing of drainages and removing structures obstructing natural waterways before the flood, complaining about the behaviour of some people, who intentionally dump refuse in drainages and gutters as well as those who build their houses or fences on a water channel.

The group, which was also full of encomiums for Uduaghan’s vision, mission and leadership role in Nigeria, particularly Delta State, congratulated the governor for the massive infrastructural development Delta State has witnessed in the last five years. It particularly praised the governor’s “honesty, openness and forthrightness.”

The group appealed to the people to support the governor, saying the people who allowed themselves to be used against the good intention of the governor are working against God and the people as the governor has been executing people oriented programmes with the available funds.

The group warned enemies of the state to desist from their activities, advising that they should think of what they can do to help their people at any level rather than allowing themselves to be used as agents of darkness and destruction.

It also urged unserious politicians, godfathers, thugs and youths waiting for Governor Uduaghan to share state funds with them to forget the idea, adding that the governor is committed to the utilisation of such funds for the growth of the state and the people.

The group also advised Chief Great Ogboru, the governorship candidate of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) in the 2011 governorship election in Delta State and other members of the party to support Governor Uduaghan, stressing that the apex court would never reverse its decision.

“This is the time to bury the hatchet and to join hands with the governor to move the state forward,” the group said.

Furthermore, the statement said the group of prominent Deltans committed to the rapid development of the state will hold discussion soon with concerned leaders, intellectuals and stakeholders to fashion out a template for the development of the state.

*Photo: Governor Uduaghan.