Umeh Community in Delta State has declared Friday, October 23, a day of mourning for former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, honouring his contributions to the community’s development, including the construction of the Umeh Road.
The people of Umeh Kingdom in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State have declared Friday, October 23, a day of mourning in honour of former Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, following his death at the age of 71.
The Regent-elect of Umeh Kingdom, Mr Meshack Rockson Owhe, announced the decision in a condolence message issued on behalf of the community, describing the late former governor as a distinguished Deltan whose contributions to the development of Umeh would remain indelible.
Owhe said the community would suspend trading, farming and all ceremonies from dawn to dusk on Friday as a mark of respect for the deceased statesman.
He described Uduaghan as a patriot and one of the most illustrious sons of the Itsekiri people, noting that his legacy of public service and commitment to community development would continue to be remembered across Delta State.
Recalling the former governor’s relationship with Umeh, Owhe said Uduaghan’s visit to the community on August 24, 2011, following the Umeh Needs Road Facebook advocacy campaign, marked a turning point in its history.
According to him, Umeh had remained largely undeveloped, with residents enduring years of appeals to successive administrations for a motorable road linking the agrarian community with other parts of Isoko land.
He said Uduaghan’s decision to initiate the construction of the Umeh Road brought an end to decades of frustration and opened a new chapter in the community’s development.
“Uduaghan came, saw and became our prince in a shining armour,” Owhe said, recalling the former governor’s intervention.
The Regent-elect added that the road was completed and inaugurated on February 14, 2015, describing the project as a long-awaited achievement for residents who had struggled with poor road access.
Owhe said Uduaghan’s contributions to Umeh extended beyond road infrastructure, noting that the former governor also facilitated the upgrading and rehabilitation of a primary school in the community.
He described the former governor’s death as a painful loss, stressing that the people of Umeh would remain grateful for the development projects and the personal relationship he maintained with the community.
The community leader said Uduaghan’s interventions had left a lasting impression on residents and would remain an important part of Umeh’s development history.
Umeh Kingdom is also observing the three-day mourning period declared by the Delta State Government in honour of the former governor, which commenced on Monday, October 19. Flags on public buildings across the state were ordered to fly at half-mast during the period.
Uduaghan, who governed Delta State from 2007 to 2015, died on October 19, 2026, at the age of 71. His death has drawn condolences from political leaders and public figures, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Owhe extended the condolences of the Umeh community to the late governor’s family, the Itsekiri nation and all those mourning his passing.
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