FORMER Chief of General Staff, Admiral Mike Okhai Akhigbe (rtd) has landed the performance of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, of Delta State.Also, political icon and eminent son of Ndokwa nation, Chief Godswill Obielum acknowledged Governor Uduaghan’s leadership qualities, thanking him for the immense development and progress of Ndokwa land since his election as the state’s helmsman.

Both men bared their minds at a civic reception held in honour of the Governor by the people of Ndokwa at the Kwale Township Stadium. Akhigbe remarked that though from a minority ethnic group, "the election of Dr. Uduaghan reflects the general spirit of the open mindedness of Deltans and, by extension, their recognition of competence."

Akhigbe, who was chairman of the ceremony, thanked the Ndokwa people for honouring the Governor, adding that he was at the event to appreciate a competent and visionary leader.

The nation’s former number two citizen noted that "it takes a visionary like Governor Uduaghan to build another airport in Asaba when there is already an existing airport in Warri, his home-base."

On the 2011 general elections, Admiral Akhigbe enjoined politicians to strive for excellence and avoid rigging, pointing out that those in leadership positions would ultimately be judged on their own merit.

In his remarks, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan thanked the Ndokwa people for honouring him and appreciating projects so far executed by his administration in Ndokwa land. The governor said he was overwhelmed by the role of Chief Godswill Obielum as chief host and thanked Ndokwa people for turning out enmasse to welcome him.

Uduaghan stated that with Chief Obielum as chief host of the reception, and having vied for the governorship ticket in 2007, Deltans had shows that politics is not a-do-or die affair. "Between me and Obielum there is no love lost. We had the same aspiration. But today we are working together."

Uduaghan reaffirmed his commitment to credible polls in 2011 and beyond, and the massive infrastructure development of the state, in line with his three-point agenda. He laid the predicate of his proactiveness in the one man, one vote campaign to his firm belief in the inalienable rights of the people to freely elect their leaders.

The governor said that politics was not a do-or-die affair and, therefore, the electorate should be allowed to freely elect their leaders without hindrance.

Uduaghan said that there was no election rigging or fraud in Delta State, citing the fact that no election tribunal had upturned the result of any poll in the state, as evidence of his claim in respect of the polls’ credibility.