The Delta State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has charged the people of the state to vote out the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming general elections.
At the inauguration of APC campaign organisation in Asaba on Monday, Omo-Agege, who is also the Deputy Senate President, lamented that the outgoing Dr Ifeanyi Okowa-led administration has held the state to ransom in the last seven years.
The governorship candidate assured that the APC administration in the state would establish a strong, resilient, inclusive and prosperous economy that would generate opportunity, jobs and wealth, while lifting the masses out of poverty through the implementation of people-oriented programmes and policies.
He expressed concern about the humongous loans collected by the Okowa administration, pointing out that he is mortgaging the future of the state.
Omo-Agege said the PDP governorship candidate, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori is a stooge of the governor and has thrown the principles of checks and balances to the dustbin. Oborevwori is also the Speaker of the state House of Assembly.
Inaugurating the body, Omo-Agege said: “We must take back our dear state from Governor Ifeanyi Okowa who, with his cohorts, has held our state hostage. After over seven years of Okowa, one thing we all agree on is that there is a huge gap between the funds Delta State received, generated and borrowed; even recklessly, and what Okowa’s government has done. This has left our state seriously undermined in so many ways that are too numerous to count. Okowa misused and wasted our hard-earned resources. And when the state ran out of funds, he embarked on a reckless borrowing spree, thereby mortgaging our future and those of our unborn children.
“And now he wants to handover to his stooge, Speaker Sheriff Francis Oborevwori whose House, which he heads, approved every kobo that was wasted and stolen to protect himself from accountability. For the years of Sheriff’s speakership, the Delta State House of Assembly has been a rubber stamp, giving everything Okowa asks for without effective oversight, thereby undermining the entire idea of the separation of power enshrined in our constitution as well as weakening our democracy.
“We all remember what happened to Rt. Hon. Monday Igbuya when he dared to ask questions, when he tried to do his job and provide the checks and balances our constitution demands. He was fired for trying to scrutinise executive actions as the legislature must do. And because power corrupts and absolutely power corrupts absolutely, we ended up with an uncontrolled state government that has since turned its back on the people of Delta State.
“It is common knowledge to all that the present ruling PDP in Delta has failed woefully in bestowing credible and visionary leadership to drive the yearnings of our people. In all development indices, Delta State under PDP cannot compete with neighbouring states in education, agriculture and quality infrastructure. This is a big shame for a State that had been a pace setter, first with our sister Edo, as Bendel, and even as Delta State since 1991. Delta State is the highest receiver of Federal allocation and 13 percent derivation, yet the state is also the second most indebted State in the country. The seemingly chaotic socio-political and economic environment in Delta State requires a leader with the necessary skills and knowledge, to work with a qualified team to address the systemic bottlenecks that have hindered the development of the state.
“Are we ready for another four years of that nonsense, another four years of plundering and stealing, another four years of drift? All of us here today do not want to see more of the past very terrible years of Okowa-Oborevwori tyranny. We want our state back. The gross misuse and total waste of scarce resources has cost Delta state so much and this must stop”.
Omo-Agege stressed that APC’s manifesto seeks to rebuild and reinvigorate the state by tackling the scary rate of unemployment and prioritising public investment in agriculture and tech-driven entrepreneurship.
On his part, the Director General of the campaign organisation, Elder Goddey Orubebe assured that the list of members of the campaign organisation would be expanded in the coming days.
The former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs asked party members to cooperate with the campaign organisation, even as he called for unity and cooperation amongst party members.
“As many people as possible will be brought into the campaign team. The campaign organisation does not know everything. We are ready to learn from everybody. Any idea you have bring it. We will sit down and work with you. Our office will be 24 hours open. We are ready to work with everybody”, he assured.
This sentiment was also shared by the state party chairman, Elder Omeni Sobotie who assured that the list would be reviewed.
Sobotie, who is also co-chairman of the campaign organisation, called on Deltans to vote all APC candidates across board.
The campaign organisation has Omo-Agege as Chairman; Sobotie as Co-Chairman: Rt. Hon. Friday Osanebi (Deputy Chairman); Barrister Francis Obigbor (Co-Deputy Chairman); Orubebe as Director General; and Chief of Staff to the Deputy Senate President, Dr Otive Igbuzor as Deputy Director General.
Listed as Vice Chairmen are Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo SAN; Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei, Dr Cairo Ojougboh, Chief Paulinus Akpeki, Justice Freshman Daubry (rtd.), Dr. Alex Ideh, Chief Lucky Okperi, Chief Lucky Esigie as well as Dr Eugene Okolocha (Secretary) and Nick Ovuokporie (Deputy Secretary).
Also on the list are former presidential spokesman, Olorogun Ima Niboro (Director, Communications and Media Strategy), Dr Chris Oghenechowen (Director, Logistics and Protocol), Chike Memeh (Director, Finance), Godwin Anaughe (Director, Strategy and Elections), Barrister Alex Onwuadiamu (Director, Planning and Research), and Barrister Bosin Ebikeme (Director, Contact and Mobilisation).
Those listed as Advisers include the Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi; member representing Ughelli North/Ughelli South/Udu Federal Constituency, Rev. Hon. Francis Waive; APC National Publicity Secretary, Barrister Felix Morka; and Dr. Ibe Kachikwu.
Others include High Chief Johnny Michael, Dr (Mrs) Veronica Ogbuagu, Chief Ede Dafinone, Chief Joel Onowakpor Thomas, Hon. Temi Harriman, Ms. Stella Okotete, Prophet Jones Erhue, Hon. Halims Agoda, Chief Ayiri Emami, Dr Ngozi Olejeme, Prof. Leroy Edozien, and Hon. Doris Uboh.
Senatorial coordinators are Dr Austin Izagbo (Delta North), Chief Chief Ominimini Obiuwevwi (Delta Central) and Prince Yemi Emiko (Delta South).
