Uduaghan: I left PDP Because A Knee Was On My Neck

Former governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, has said that the reason he left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the build-up to the 2019 general elections was because a knee was on his neck.

Uduaghan defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from PDP where he got the Delta South Senatorial district ticket but lost during the elections to Senator James Manager of the PDP.

Uduaghan, it will be recalled, to the amazement of political observers, left the APC some time ago and officially returned to the PDP under which he had served as commissioner, Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and governor for two terms.

Speaking on Classic FM97.3 on Sunday afternoon on the topic: “State of the Nation” anchored by Sulaiman Aledeh on his programme, The Discourse, Dr Uduaghan said he left the PDP because somebody’s knee was on his neck.

Although he did not disclose the identity of the person who made life unbearable for him in spite of being a party chieftain, the former governor said he had to quietly leave the PDP to avoid working for its destruction.

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“I left the PDP because a knee was on my neck. I couldn’t breathe. Yes, I have a special connection with the party because I helped midwife it in Delta.

“But instead of destroying what I helped built, I left quietly to ply my trade elsewhere.

“I love the PDP, but even twin siblings who are inseparable fight too,” he asserted.

Speaking about his return to the PDP, the former governor said he was happier and the knee was off his neck.

“I am back happier because the knee is no longer on my neck as I can breathe fine now,” he said.

Asked about his thoughts on the ongoing restructuring debate, Dr Uduaghan explained his own understanding of the subject to mean “an administrative re-engineering of the Exclusive, Concurrent and Residual Lists in such a way that the FG would shed some of its items with the state and LG levels” of government to engender fiscal federalism.

“Revamping Warri Port, dualising Ughelli – Asaba road to link distribution of goods from the port up to the South-East,” was another aspect of restructuring, he said.