Ijaw traditional rulers in Delta State have offered royal blessings and prayers to the 2023 governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senator Ovie Omo-Agege on his aspiration to govern the state.
The royal fathers under the aegis of Ijaw Traditional Rulers Forum, Delta State, showered encomium on the Deputy Senate President for his impactful representation.
When the over 10 traditional rulers from Ijaw kingdoms hosted Omo-Agege on Thursday, the Ebenanaowei of Ogulagua Kingdom and Chairman, Ijaw Traditional Rulers Forum, King (Dr) Joseph Timiyan praised Omo-Agege for his strategic interventions within and outside his constituency, adding that he remains a shining light of the Urhobo nation.
He noted that the Federal Polytechnic Orogun and Nigerian Law School in Orogun is of immense benefit to Ijaw students, as it would bring education closer to them.
He said: “From your interventions in the Senate and in your constituency in particular, some of us will even think you are part of the Executive. Some of these are what the Executive is supposed to do for us. So if you are elected as governor, we know you will do better.
“We will call on our God to chose the best for us. And this is the prayer we are going to offer to you. The almighty God will be behind you. The Ijaw gods will be behind you because the Ijaws also have their spirits behind them”.
He urged the candidate to go round the Ijaw communities to have a first hand experience of what the people of oil-producing communities are going through.
“You will also see for yourself our production quantum from oil that is taking care of the nation. Go to all the Ijaw Kingdoms and campaign so that when you are on board you already first hand knowledge of what these people are lacking”, he added.
The royal blessings and prayers were offered by HRM Pere of Seinbiri Kingdom, Pere Charles Ayemibotu who blessed and wished him well.
Earlier, Omo-Agege said the visit was to intimate the royal fathers with his governorship aspiration and seek their blessing.
He lamented the exclusion of the Ijaw nation from the list of newly-established state institutions by the Ifeanyi Okowa administration, pointing out that it speaks to the exclusion and depravation suffered by Ijaws.
Omo-Agege said that he is already working with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency to ensure that the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, receives proper funding from the agency, just like its counterpart in Oron, Akwa Ibom State.
He also promised to complete the Ayakoromo Bridge in Burutu Local Government Area.
“Other than the contribution by Governor James Ibori who constructed the Bomadi bridge, no other major contruction has been been by successive governments. We will change the narrative for the Ijaw people and give them a sense of belonging. They have been neglected for too long”, he said.
In an emotional speech, the Director General of the APC Campaign Organisation in the state, Elder Godsdey Orubebe expressed delight that what he could not achieve with his aspiration to become governor can now be achieved by Omo-Agege. Orubebe was Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.
Omo-Agege was accompanied by his running mate, Rt. Hon. Friday Osanebi; the state party chairman, Elder Omeni Sobotie; Orubebe; Deputy Director General of the campaign organisation, Dr Otive Igbuzor; Director of Communications and Media Strategy, Olorogun Ima Niboro; elder statesman, Chief Wellington Okrika; Director, Logistics and Protocol, Chris Oghenechowen; and his deputy, Mike Sikegba; Director, Elections and Strategy, Godwin Anaughe; Director, Contact and Mobilisation, Barrister Bosin Ebikeme; Chief Dan Ekpebide; former commissioner, Chief Chris Ekiyor; High Chief Michael Johnny; Coordinator, APC Delta South, Prince Yemi Emiko; APC leaders and other members of the campaign council.
