I’ve delivered democracy dividends as Senator; Omo-Agege hits Delta Central

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has reeled out his achievements as Senator representing Delta Central district.

At campaign rallies at Imode and Oviri-Olomu, both in Ughelli South Local Government Area (LGA); and Kiagbodo in Burutu LGA, Omo-Agege said that he has fulfilled his vow to bring development to every Urhobo community using his office as Deputy President of the Senate.

“And today, there is no community in the whole of Urhoboland where my presence is not felt. My promise was to light up Delta Central, it was a promise made and a promise kept. If for any reason there is a community yet to be lit up, I am assuring you that in the next two weeks they will be lit up”, his media team quoted him as saying.

Omo-Agege said that he also took up assignment to develop schools, primary and secondary, in Urhoboland and that he ensured that at least one school was selected from each local government area in his senatorial district for renovation and setting up of ICT centres.

According to him, he secured the Federal Polytechnic, Orogun for Urhoboland, brought in a campus of the Nigerian Law School, as well the Nigerian Defence Space College, among others.

Omo-Agege further said: “Predicated on the promises made and realising that Delta State has been run aground by the Dr Ifeanyi Okowa led PDP government, I requested for a larger platform to do more for not only Urhobo people but across all Delta and that is why I am running for governor. I am prepared and equipped to take over the reins of government of Delta State.

“I am aware that our senior citizens who retired either as primary school teachers or as staff of local government councils, for the past eight years have not been paid their gratuities after putting in the best of their youthful years to serve Delta State.

“I am aware that the payment of the gratuities is not by any form a favour or grant by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, rather it is the retirees’ contributions which the State government deducted ahead of their retirement and instead of releasing the money, Okowa has misappropriated the funds. Some of them, eight years after retirement, are yet to be paid. A good number of them have died while others are sick and suffering for lack of money for self upkeep.

“But I make a promise to our senior citizens, I will pay all your gratuities within the first six months of my being in office as governor of Delta State to put PDP to shame”.

He pledged to empower women through skills acquisition and development projects with guaranteed bank loans to pursue their trades. He also promised to attract manufacturing companies to the state to provide job opportunities for the youths.

He explained that his capacity to fulfill his promises would be boosted by the election of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC presidential candidate, adding: “Let me tell you,Tinubu will be declared next President of Nigeria and it is good that votes from Delta State add up to his victory”.

He also made a case for election of Chief Ede Dafinone, Rev Francis Waive and John Oyibokwifi as Senator, House of Representatives and House of Assembly members respectively.

Earlier, the state chairman of the party, Elder Omeni Sobotie warned that the APC would not subscribe to any form of intimidation from any quarters. “They have started issuing threats to PDP members who are joining us, but if they continue, we will apprehend and prosecute them”, he said.

The APC campaign rally was earlier scheduled for the Otughievwen Primary School, but were allegedly disallowed following orders from the state government and the PDP. The rally was later taken to a private ground in Imode.
Similarly, the Oviri-Olomu secondary school, which was the scheduled venue for Oviri-Olomu rally, was also denied the APC.

In goodwill messages, the Director of Communications and Media Strategy of the APC state campaign council, Olorogun Ima Niboro, commiserated with the people for tolerating what he called “Okowa’s wickedness” for so long. He described Omo-Agege as a lion who is leading the battle to liberate the state from the stranglehold of PDP and called on all to queue behind and vote him as governor.

On his part, former Speaker of state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Monday Igbuya apologised to Urhobo for supporting Okowa’s emergence as governor in 2015. He said: “I was a founding member of the PDP, when it comes to the election of Senator Omo-Agege, some of us will dance naked”.

The Director of Protocol and Logistics of the campaign council, Dr Chris Oghenechovwen said that Ughelli South has been sold out and the key to its freedom pocketed by political merchants. “They must be forced to hand over the keys”, he said.

Highlight of the rallies was the defection of more and more former members of the PDP to the APC.