Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, representing Delta South Senatorial District, has mourned former Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, describing him as a political father and mentor whose influence shaped his public service career.
In a condolence message titled “Oh Asamaigor: Mourning the Departure of My Father, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan,” the senator said Uduaghan’s death was a personal loss and a major blow to Delta State, the Isoko nation and Nigeria.
According to a family statement signed by Toju Anire Uduaghan, the former governor died on the morning of Monday, October 19, 2026, aged 71.
“This is not just the loss of a former governor; it is the painful exit of a source of strength, a father figure and a patriarch whose presence we shall deeply miss,” Joel-Onowakpo said.
Recalling the deceased’s role in his political journey, the senator said Uduaghan appointed him chairman of Isoko South Local Government Area after the 2007 elections, marking the beginning of his public service career.
In 2009, he said, the former governor appointed him pioneer executive chairman of the Delta State Board of Internal Revenue, a move that transformed his career and gave him the opportunity to contribute to the state’s revenue mobilisation efforts.
“That singular act of confidence changed my life forever,” he said.
Joel-Onowakpo described Uduaghan as a leader who invested in people and created opportunities for others to serve, adding that his legacy extended beyond physical infrastructure to the individuals he mentored.
“He was a leader who did not just build infrastructure; he built people,” he said.
The senator recalled that Uduaghan served as commissioner for health from 1999 to 2003 and secretary to the state government from 2003 to 2007 before governing Delta State from 2007 to 2015.
During his tenure, Uduaghan pursued a three-point agenda focused on human capital development, infrastructure development, and peace and security.
Joel-Onowakpo also disclosed that the former governor continued to mentor him after leaving office, particularly when he sought advice and support over his ambition to contest for a seat in the National Assembly.
He said Uduaghan’s guidance reflected his commitment to nurturing leaders and promoting public service.
Describing the deceased as a detribalised leader, Joel-Onowakpo said his death had deprived Delta State of an influential political figure and the Isoko nation of a trusted friend.
“Deltans have lost a detribalised leader, Isoko nation has lost a true friend, and I have lost the very man who considered my growth as his personal responsibility,” he said.
The senator extended his condolences to Uduaghan’s wife, Deaconess Roli Uduaghan; his children; the Uduaghan family of Abigborodo; the people of Warri North; and the government and people of Delta State.
He prayed that God would grant the former governor eternal rest and give the bereaved family and his associates the strength to bear the loss.
“Adieu, Asamaigor! Adieu, father!!” he said.
