The Delta North senator says the late former governor personally visited his residence to obtain the airport’s approval document and advance the project.
Senator Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North Senatorial District, has recounted how the late former Governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, played a key role in advancing the Asaba International Airport project, describing him as a humble leader who remembered commitments and translated ideas into action.
Nwoko disclosed this while paying tribute to Uduaghan on the floor of the Senate, where he reflected on the former governor’s leadership style, accessibility and commitment to public service.
According to the senator, the idea of establishing an airport in Asaba, the Delta State capital, originated during his time in the House of Representatives between 1999 and 2003.
He said he pursued the initiative with the then Minister of Aviation, Kema Chikwe, and accompanied her to meet former President Olusegun Obasanjo, where approval for the project was secured.
Nwoko explained that years later, during the governorship primaries, he discussed the importance of the airport with Uduaghan, stressing that the facility would serve not only Delta State but also neighbouring states, including Anambra.
He said Uduaghan remembered their conversation after becoming governor and took a personal interest in moving the project forward.
“ He remembered that conversation after assuming office and personally came to my residence to request a copy of the approval so he could move the project forward,” Nwoko said in his tribute.
The senator added that Uduaghan subsequently asked whether he had a contractor in mind for the project. He recommended the late Uche Okpunor of ULO, after which the airport project received the necessary attention and was constructed.
For Nwoko, the episode illustrated Uduaghan’s approach to leadership, which he said was characterised by attentiveness, humility and a determination to fulfil commitments.
He described the late governor as a calm, focused and unassuming leader who believed in delivering results without unnecessary publicity.
Beyond the airport project, Nwoko praised Uduaghan for his accessibility, noting that despite his achievements as a medical doctor and public servant, he treated people with humility and without arrogance.
The senator said Uduaghan’s life demonstrated that public office should be used to serve the people, listen to their concerns and transform worthwhile ideas into lasting legacies.
“His life reminds us that public office is a responsibility to serve, to listen and to turn good ideas into lasting legacies for the people,” he said.
Nwoko expressed condolences to Uduaghan’s family, the Delta State Government and the people of the state, saying the former governor would be sorely missed by those who had the privilege of knowing him.
He prayed that God would grant the family and all those mourning the former governor the strength to bear the loss, adding that Uduaghan’s memory would endure through his contributions to Delta State.
The tribute adds to the reflections on Uduaghan’s years in office, with his supporters and associates continuing to recall projects and personal encounters they believe defined his leadership and public service.
