…Seeks Prayers, Royal Blessings
By Godwin-Maria Utuedoye
Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress APC, in the 2023 general elections and Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has assured of his preparedness to return and restore the past glory of State and promised to use judiciously the resources of the state if given the opportunity to serve as a governor.
The Deputy President of the Senate who was warmly received by the royal fathers, said his coming was to first formally notify their Majesties as the custodians of the culture of the people of the Anioma nation of his intention to run for the office of governor of Delta State and to also seek their prayers and blessings.
“Your majesties, I am here on two accounts, and one is to notify your majesties as the custodians of the culture of the people of Anioma nation, of my intention to run for office of governor of Delta State in 2023. In addition to that, is to formally asked for your prayers and blessings”.
Reiterating the importance of seeking their prayers and blessings, Omo-Agege noted that; “My coming here today is to pay homage to the Anioma land that is gathered as they are the landlord of the state capital”.
Stressing while he should be voted as the next governor, Omo-Agege disclosed that he is fully equipped and prepared for the task ahead owing to the experience acquired through the various offices he has occupied beginning from the state to the federal level where he currently occupies the Deputy President of the Senate seat.
He said; ” I am fully prepared for the task ahead. I have the requisite experiences and based on the offices I have occupied, I am more abreast of the challenges facing the state.
“I am here to assure you and reassure you that all the developmental projects of the current administration will not suffer on account of change in power because, Asaba is the capital of Delta State, and it beholds on anyone in seat of power to prioritize it as the capital of the state.”
Senator Omo-Agege also said, he has every reason to develop the state capital Asaba just as an indigene of Asaba would have done, owing to his affiliation to the palace and as a son of the palace.
On the poor development of Delta State, he said; ” Your majesties, we can do better because the state is blessed and in the past seven and half years, Delta State have received the highest allocation, the highest 13% derivation and its Internally Generated Revenue IGR, is next to Lagos State”.
But lamented, stating that what is on ground today is not commensurable to what we have received so far.
“I am sure the consensus of the people in the streets is the same as what we have on ground cannot be compared to the volume of what the state have received”.
He however decried the abysmal management of the resources of the state in the past seven and half years, but promised to be more prudent in spending the state resources judiciously to develop every sector and facets.
He said, ” Delta State use to be the first in school enrollment before now, but today, the state is backward in terms of education, in terms of sport to the extent of hiring athletes to compete for us.
“We use to be bastion of excellent in the civil service, that we even export our best to the national level where they rise to become Special Permanent Secretary, but today, the civil service is decapitated to the extent that pensioners are owed gratuities and retirement monies despite having great human potentials and resources inherent in the state”.
He added that when elected, all that will change and restore the state to its past glorious days where the civil service is full of life and hope, and priority given to the educational sector.
“For instance, only in Delta State we have the smartest and most educated people occupying the thrones. Delta state have so many intelligent people like me, and so, we don’t need mediocre that have no experiences, no sound background to lead us as governor”
Responding on behalf of the royal father’s, the Asagba of Asaba, Obi Prof. Chike Edozien said, Om-Agege is an intelligent man, but urged him to ensure he always give justice to Asaba being the state capital. He assured him of their prayers and blessings to enable him follow his dream.
“The position of Anioma and all Delta North Traditional Rulers is that, governorship position in Delta State rotates round the three senatorial districts, and it is the turn of of the Delta Central, he said”. He however on behalf of the royal fathers wished Senator Ovie Omo-Agege well in his journey.
On his part, the Obi of Abavo Kingdom also corroborated the stand of the Asagba of Asaba that the governorship position in Delta state is rotational. He expressed confidence in the Omo-Agege team especially in his running mate, Rt. Hon. Friday Osanebi whom he described as the bridge between and outside the Delta North politicians.
Omo-Agege was accompanied by members of the APC campaign council, notable chieftains of the party and others.