A group has called on Delta state Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan to resign from office .The group known as Liberate-which says it is a Delta Peoples Movement also urged members of Delta State House of Assembly to quit their jobs also for what it called the poor handling of the Ibori saga.Former governor of Delta state,James Ibori was recently jailed in the UK over money laundering crimes.
Liberate said in statement today that “On 18th April 2012, Liberate called on the Delta State House of Assembly to hold an emergency session to discuss the implications of the sentence for the State, in particular, the failure of Uduaghan to carry-out an audit of the States accounts so that the fraud Ibori pleaded guilty to can be identified. What is the role of the Governor and what is the role of the House of Assembly, if not to guarantee the proper use of the resources of the State? We consider their inaction to be complicity in a grand cover-up, in collusion with James Onanefe Ibori and his benefactors, to continue to suppress the full extent of the criminal enterprise that is now headed by Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan.”
Read the full text of Liberate’s statement below:
UDUAGHAN, ALL MEMBERS OF THE DELTA STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY SHOULD RESIGN IN SHAME OVER POOR HANDLING OF THE IBORI SAGA
Members of Liberate – Delta Peoples Movement, a group representing over 15,800 citizens of Delta State across the world; would like to condemn in the strongest possible terms the inaction, ineptitude and poor governance being displayed for the entire world to see by the Governor of Delta State Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan and the entire members of the Delta State House of Assembly. Over a month now since a properly convened court of law in the United Kingdom sentenced the former Governor of Delta State, James Onanefe Ibori to 13 years in prison for embezzling the State’s funds and laundering it in the United Kingdom. Ibori was extradited to the UK, he entered a guilty plea to 25 counts of fraud, money laundering and corruption against the people of Delta State. On 18th April 2012, Liberate called on the Delta State House of Assembly to hold an emergency session to discuss the implications of the sentence for the State, in particular, the failure of Uduaghan to carry-out an audit of the States accounts so that the fraud Ibori pleaded guilty to can be identified. What is the role of the Governor and what is the role of the House of Assembly, if not to guarantee the proper use of the resources of the State? We consider their inaction to be complicity in a grand cover-up, in collusion with James Onanefe Ibori and his benefactors, to continue to suppress the full extent of the criminal enterprise that is now headed by Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan.
As such, we call for the resignation of the following:
1. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, Governor (By electoral fraud)
2. Hon. Eng. Victor Ochei Aniocha North Speaker – PDP
3. Hon. Basil Ganagana Patani Deputy Speaker – PDP
4. Hon. Monday Ovwigho Igbuya Sapele Majority Leader – PDP
5. Hon. (Mrs) Beatrice Omawumi Udoh Warri South 1 Chief Whip – PDP
6. Hon. Peter Onwusanya Oshimili South Deputy Chief Whip – PDP
7. Hon. John Nani Ethiope West Majority Whip – PDP
8. Hon. Julius Okpoko Okpe Minority Leader – DPP
9. Hon. (Prince) Erijo Johnson Isoko South II Deputy Majority Leader – PDP
10. Hon. (Barr.) Mrs Pat Ajudua Oshimili North Member – ACCORD
11. Hon. Tim Kome Ohwerefe Isoko North Member –PDP
12. Hon. Efe Ofobrouku Uvwie Member – PDP
13. Hon. (Olorogun) Taleb Tebite Ughelli South Member – PDP
14. Rt.Hon. (Prince) Sam Obi Ika North East Member –PDP
15. Hon. Joan Onyemaechi Mrakpo Aniocha South Member – PDP
16. Hon. Oboro Preyor Bomadi Member – PDP
17. Hon. Daniel Yingi Burutu 1 Member – PDP
18. Hon. (Chief) Benjamin Essien Okiemute Isoko South 1 Member – DPP
19. Hon. Liege-Lord Keston Okoro Udu Member – DPP
20. Hon. (Barr.) Samuel O. Mariere Ughelli North 1 Member – PDP
21. Hon. Akpodiete Edoja Rufus Ughelli North II Member – DPP
22. Hon. Irene Imilar Warri North Member – PDP
23. Hon. (Barr.) Dennis Omovie Warri South II Member – PDP
24. Hon. (Barr.) Daniel Omajone Mayuku Warri South West Member – PDP
25. Hon. Friday Osanebi Ndokwa East Member – PDP
26. Hon. Daubry Kennedy Burutu II Member – PDP
27. Hon. (Dr.) Ojo Alphonsus Ukwuani Member – PDP
28. Hon. (Barr.) Martin Okonta Ika South Member – PDP
In any democratic country in the world, it is the minimum the citizens can expect, that when their elected officers fail to carry out the duties required of them by the constitution and by the principals of good governance, they should resign as their actions amount to a gross misconduct and a dereliction of duty. In making this call, we are fully aware that those who are called ‘honourable’ in today’s Nigeria, have no honour and will not resign despite the glaring omission on their part. It does not stop us as citizens from calling on them to respect their offices and pointing out to the rest of Nigeria and the world at large that we do not support their poor governance practice. They cannot feign ignorance on such a matter that has received international publicity. It is incumbent upon them to have instructed an audit to determine whether or not, such funds as have been identified are missing; whether any other funds have been misappropriated, assure themselves and us as citizens that our funds are safe and contact the UK authorities confirm ownership of all ‘proceeds of crime’ confiscated from Ibori.
Liberate spokesperson Mr. Cadre Drake said that:
‘It is not just about sitting at the House of Assembly answering ‘Honourable’, the people expect their representatives to work and to carry out all the duties expected of them. This is a spectacular failure, topped only by their ongoing failure to reach-out, communicate and engage with their constituents; clearly they do not understand the meaning of governance and so they should resign.’
Deltans do not have any faith or confidence in the current Governor, Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan nor in the Delta House of Assembly to carry-out their proper roles as steward of the resources of the State, their inability and unwillingness to investigate this matter is a matter of National embarrassment and a breach of their oaths of Office; they must now do the honourable thing and end their reign of shame.
