The Delta State House of Assembly were on
Tuesday thrown into a state of astonishment and disbelieved when it came to light that one of the seven persons nominated by Governor
Emmanuel Uduaghan for appointment into the Delta State Tourism Board had died a
while ago.
It was gathered that Mr. Emmanuel Uduaghan , nominated James
Youmu, Efe Afe, Peter Okolotu, Hyacinth
Iyere, Amah Agbajoh, Abel Eyube and Joe Morg for appointment into the Delta
State Tourism Board; during the screening when Mr. Youmu, the fourth nominee on
the list, was called up. Mr. Afe, a former member of the state assembly who was
screened as the chairman of the board, immediately told the House that the said
James Youmu had died even before the names were sent for screening.
This is a very serious embarrassing situation on part of the
governor. It means that the governor cannot vouch for any of the nominees he personally
nominated; an action that can be describe as dereliction of duty. The strange
incident became a new chapter in the governor’s controversial actions regarding
the membership of the state-owned agencies and parastatals.
According to SaharaReporters, a prominent member of the Delta State House of Assembly
said that he was dismayed that the governor sent a list of nominees for the
boards of state-owned agencies after the governor had sworn in the nominees
into office three months ago. The legislator said that the governor’s belated
action was “evidence that Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has lost
focus.”
Another lawmaker lamented that: “Why did His Excellency send us
names of nominees for state boards for screening and confirmation when the
boards were inaugurated by the same governor some months ago?” one of the state
lawmakers wondered.
Meanwhile,a letter titled “Request For Confirmation Of
Nomination Of Chairmen And Members Of Certain Boards” and personally signed by
Governor Uduaghan was accompanied with a list of nominees to be screened for
appointment into the Delta State Tourism Board, Delta Broadcasting Service,
Warri; Delta Broadcasting Service, Asaba, and Delta State Rural Development
Agency.
The latest development, where a dead man’s name appeared on the
governor’s list, caused consternation among Deltans who went to the state
assembly to witness the screening and confirmation exercise. “Who come put dead
man for board?” one of the spectators mused, speaking in pidgin language.