President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the release of N80 billion for the reconstruction of Sapele/Benin Road and the Amukpe/Agbor/Uromi Road in Delta State, according to the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege.
At a meeting with members of the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN) in Sapele on Monday, Omo-Agege, who is also the Deputy President of the Senate recalled that, as soon as he became the upper legistative chamber’s No 2, he requested from Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, to know the status of the road all the way from Petroleum Training Institute to Agbor.
He explained that that was because he knew the contract had been awarded previously and hence requested for a review so that he could put it in the Niger Delta Development Commission budget. He explained that because Okowa felt he would not get the political credit, the issue died.
Omo-Agege said that, with the reconstitution of the NDDC board recently, President Buhari ordered that the commission’s N500 billion that was frozen be released for development projects, and N80 billion was approved when he pleaded with the President to consider the Sapele/Benin Road and the Amukpe/Agbor Road.
Omo-Agege said that it would be insanity to repeat the same thing over again and expect different results. This, he said, was what it would amount to by continuing to hold onto Okowa through his “anointed proxy”, both of whom have said collectively failed to developed the state.
He assured that, when elected as governor, he would create an enabling environment for companies that left the state as a result of insecurity and other factors to return. “When I become governor on 29th May 2023, I will not wait for the Federal Government before constructing strategic roads in Delta and ensuring the implementation of the local content law so as to provide job opportunities for our youths”, he pledged.
On the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the APC presidential and vice presidential candidates, Omo-Agege said: “We want power for development and progress. That’s what we use power for. Tinubu has a wife who is a Pastor and if he could not islamise his wife, how would he be able to islamise other Nigerians?
“I believe that after eight years of Buhari, it is only fair and equitable for power to move to the South. I put all my strength into it. Governors of the APC supported it. All governors of southern Nigeria supported it, met and signed a communiqué in Asaba. Okowa read the communiqué.
“But no sooner had that been done, during the PDP national congress, Okowa asked delegates of Delta to vote for a Northerner. Yet, he is the one crying about a Muslim-Muslim ticket. The same Okowa that said take the presidency back to the North, just give me vice president?
“The focus should be who can bring development to our people. Okowa, who is a Christian, has he changed anything, are Deltans not crying”? he wondered.
Omo-Agege also dismissed the views in some quarters that because his father, the late Justice James Omo-Agege was an adherent of African traditional religion, specifically the Urhobo Igbe movement , he was also one.
He said that while the Constitution of Nigeria guarantees freedom of religion and, to that extent, he could not dictate the religious choices of his father, so too, his father could not dictate his own personal choice of religion. “As a result of this, all my siblings and I are devout Christians of the Catholic faith. Christianity is a conscious choice for us”, he explained.
Earlier, CCN Chairman for the state, Rev. Jonathan Iwhiwhu highlighted the contribution of the church to development and called for assistance in terms of construction of a secretariat and official bus.
Dr Iwhiwhu drew Omo-Agege’s attention to the deplorable Sapele/Benin Road and the Amukpe/Agbor/Uromi Road. He pleaded that policies that negatively impact on the economic ventures of the church, such as schools should be moderated when Omo-Agege becomes governor.
Iwhiwhu also called for job opportunities for the church youth as a reward for it’s support for his election as governor.
The CCN is comprised of Baptist, Anglican, Methodist, African Church and the Church of the Lord ( Aladura) spread across the 25 local government areas of the state.
Meanwhile, the Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC) has presented a copy of the Holy Bible as a guide and scepter of authority to Omo-Agege as he goes about campaigns across the state.
The presentation was made by OAIC Chairman in the state, Archbishop Jonathan Arhavwarien during a meeting with the body at St Lazarus Christ Church, Ughelli on Monday.
Omo-Agege lamented that, despite the huge resources that accrued to the state through the Federal Account Allocation Committee, Internally Generated Revenue, and 13 percent oil derivation fund, the state remained seriously undeveloped, pointing at the Ughelli/Asaba Road that has taken over 16 years to build but remains uncompleted.
He said that he was fully prepared for the electioneering race, has an independent mind, can discern what is right from wrong to win and salvage the state from its the pitiable condition.
Omo-Agege also pledged to support community policing that would complement the effort of the Police and related agencies in curbing crime and criminality across the state.
He said that, as governor, he would set aside funds for entrepreneurs to start ventures with the state government as shareholders.
He criticised the unwarranted arrest of youths just because they carry laptops, without verifying who they actually were. “This is bad. Instead, we will harness our youths’ potential and convert their ingenuity to economic opportunities”.
Arhavwarien had asked for Omo-Agege’s plans to support of the church, youths and women in the state. He also raised concerns on security of the state in the face of herdsmen/ farmers clashes, and the general industrialisation of the state.
The organisation gave its united support to Omo-Agege, and prayed for his success of at the polls.
