Uduaghan Meets With US Ambassador, Discuss 2015 General Election

Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, on Wednesday played host to the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle and his team at his office in Asaba, the state capital.

 

Emmanuel Uduaghan

Uduaghan, during discussion with US envoy assured him that the 2015 general elections would be free, fair and devoid of violence.

 

“The 2015 general elections will be devoid of violence as only popular candidates selected by the grassroots in a free and fair manner, will run for the elections” he said. “If a popular candidate, acceptable to the people at the grassroots is chosen, there will be no violence as it happened at the recently concluded election in Ekiti State.”

 

According to him, there would be a level playing ground for all candidates in the state’s forthcoming local government elections in order to ensure a free and fair election that will sustain peace.

 

“I insist that in the forthcoming local government election in the state, the grassroots will elect the people they want” Uduaghan said. “No candidate will be imposed on the people so as to have a free and fair election devoid of any violence.”

 

The governor urged the international community to assist Nigeria in curbing oil theft and terrorism in some parts of the country through monitoring and intelligence gathering and sharing, and noted that terrorism, being an international challenge, must be handled through international cooperation.

 Uduaghan said that the state had a cordial relationship with the United States especially at sub- national level, in the areas of health, engineering and environment, adding that some of the state workers just returned from Pennsylvania after their training on transport engineering.

 

Responding, Entwistle disclosed that they were in the state to explore new avenues of partnership as well as areas of development.

He said the visit was part of the United States’ commitment to improving the existing relationship with Nigeria, and went ahead to commend the peaceful conduct of the Ekiti State election.

 

The US ambassador urged Nigerian politicians to play politics according to the rule and avoid violence in the countdown to the 2015 elections.

The Ambassador, who reiterated the cooperation and support of America to Nigeria, also condemned Boko Haram activities, assuring that the US was working closely with the federal government to put an end to insurgency.