High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, has mourned the death of former Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan, recalling his contributions to efforts to restore peace and stability to the Niger Delta during the Presidential Amnesty era.
Tompolo, the Ibe-Ebidouwei of Ijaw Nation and Chairman of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, described the former governor’s death as a painful loss, expressing sadness over the development.
In a condolence message issued on Monday, October 19, 2026, and signed by his Media Consultant, Dr Paul Bebenimibo, the Ijaw leader said he received the news of Uduaghan’s death with profound sadness, describing it as unexpected.
He recalled Uduaghan’s involvement in initiatives aimed at addressing militancy and insecurity in the oil-producing region, particularly his support for the Presidential Amnesty Programme and pipeline surveillance arrangements under the administrations of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and former President Goodluck Jonathan.
According to Tompolo, the former governor’s engagement in those efforts constituted a significant chapter in the history of peace-building initiatives in the Niger Delta, a region that had experienced years of unrest, militancy and disruptions to oil production.
He noted that the challenges confronting the region during that period required sustained engagement among political leaders, government authorities and other critical stakeholders to address grievances and promote lasting stability.
Uduaghan’s role in the process, he said, would remain part of the record of efforts to manage the crisis and advance peace in the oil-rich region.
Tompolo said the former governor would be greatly missed, extending his condolences to the bereaved family, political associates, friends and all those mourning his demise.
He prayed that God would grant the Uduaghan family and other mourners the strength, courage and fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
The death of Uduaghan, who governed Delta State for two terms between 2007 and 2015, has prompted tributes from political leaders and other prominent figures reflecting on his years in public service and his contributions to the development of the state and the wider Niger Delta.
