Former Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, is dead, aged 71 with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu using the occasion to recall the role the late former governor played in his life.
The Uduaghan family announced his death in a statement signed by Toju Andre Uduaghan today saying it followed a brief illness.
“It is with hearts weighed down by immeasurable grief and profound sorrow that we announce the passing to glory of our beloved Father, Brother, Uncle, and Patriarch, His Excellency, Dr. Chief Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, former Governor of Delta State, who departed this world on the morning of 19th October 2026”, the family stated in the statement.
“His passing has left us devastated. Words can hardly express the depth of our sorrow at the loss of a man who meant so much to our family and whose life and service touched countless others across Delta State and Nigeria.”
“He served as Commissioner for Health from 1999 to 2003, Secretary to the Delta State Government from 2003 to 2007, and Governor of Delta State from 2007 to 2015. Throughout his years in public service, he demonstrated a commitment to the human and infrastructural development of Delta State.
“His passing is a profound loss to our family, the people of Delta State, and Nigeria at large. We are grateful to Almighty God for his life, his service, and the legacy he leaves behind.
“We pray that Almighty God, in His infinite mercy, will grant his soul eternal rest and comfort our family, friends, associates, former colleagues, and all who mourn this painful loss.
“Rest well, our beloved Father, Brother, and Uncle. Your memory will forever remain in our hearts, and your legacy will endure in the lives of those you touched. May your gentle soul rest in perfect peace. Amen,” the statement added.
Mourning the late Emmanuel Uduaghan, President Tinubu used the opportunity to recap the role he played in the state’s political and socio-economic affairs after leaving office in 2015.
“After his tenure as governor, Dr Uduaghan continued to feature prominently in Delta State’s political and socio-economic landscape, contributing to the sustenance of democratic governance and the advancement of public service in Nigeria,” the President said a condolence message.
He said Uduaghan continued to contribute to democratic governance and public service after completing his two terms as governor.
“Dr Uduaghan was a public servant whose leadership was devoted to Delta State’s development and service to our nation,” the President said.
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“During this period, he pursued developmental strides to improve infrastructure, healthcare delivery, and the overall welfare of Deltans,” he said.
“At this difficult time, I urge the people of Delta State to draw strength from the late governor’s years of service and the enduring relationships he built across the political and social terrain of our country,” Tinubu said.
“On behalf of my family, the Government, and the people of Nigeria, I extend my deepest sympathies to his wife, Roli; his children; his cousin, former Governor James Ibori; and friends and political associates whose lives he impacted,” the President said.
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