By Ovie Okpare
Deputy President of the Senate and governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege, on Thursday accused Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of lavishing state funds for his vice presidential ambition.
Omo-Agege specifically described Okowa’s ambition as a deliberate attempt to “sell southern presidency” for his ‘selfish ambition’ when the rest of the country had zoned 2023 presidency to southern Nigeria.
According to him, such ambition amounts to betrayal and selling of the political right of the people of the South whose turn is to produce President Muhammadu Buhari’s successor in 2023 general elections.
The Delta Central lawmaker in the National Assembly lambasted Okowa for betraying not only his governor colleagues but the entire people of the South that the next presidency should be zoned to southern part of the country.
He emphasised a southern President in the person of former Lagos State governor who is the presidential candidate of the APC will succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2023.
He also hinted that his administration is determined to ensure that there are socio-economic and infrastructural development of the state.
The Delta Central lawmaker spoke in Asaba at a press conference organised ahead of the flag-off of his governorship campaign and unveiling of his governorship manifesto.
While taking swipe at Okowa, the Deputy President of the Senate said Deltans will reject attempt by the PDP’s Vice Presidential candidate to foist his stooge and governorship candidate of the PDP, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori as next governor of the state.
Speaking on Okowa’s VP ambition, Omo-Agege posited that Atiku Abubakar’s running mate had received N2.8 trillion in the last seven but it was difficult for Deltans to pinpoint what the homogeneous money was spent by the PDP-led government in the state.
He said Governor Okowa, rather than use Delta resources in the development of the state, he was busy funding his “failed presidential ambition” with the common wealth of Deltans.
Omo-Agege assured that the state will witness rapid socio-economic development and embark vigorous on infrastructural development across the state in the riverine areas.
He said, “While other States in the Niger Delta and elsewhere are celebrating shiny milestones in infrastructural development, human capacity development, healthcare, education, sustainable economic development, good governance, and improved institutions, the people of Delta State are shell-shocked; benumbed by the sheer audacity of Okowa and his co-travellers as they daily bring the state to its knees. Even sadder is fact that the governor has been going around borrowing with reckless abandon, making the State one of the most indebted in Nigeria even with its monumental FAAC allocation and 13% derivation revenue as an oil producing State.
“Today, there are strong reasons to believe that monies meant for the development of Delta State are now being channeled to fund the ill fated ambition of Governor Okowa to become Vice-President of Nigeria in 2023 by every means. Just go around the State. The poverty and frustration inflicted by this government on Deltans over the years are palpable and scary. Insecurity, low quality projects, lack of vision to revive the economy of the State, misplaced priorities in governance, corruption, nepotism, government waste, incompetence, and lack of accountability are pervasive and profound.
“We surely can do better than our label as the “Keke” capital of Nigeria because of what this government has done, and even more, failed to do. The new slogan today is “see Delta and cry”-from Delta North to South and Central, tears come to your eyes. We have now come to that time in the history of Delta State, when all Deltans must rise in one accord and boldly declare that enough is enough by voting for the APC.
“The handpicked PDP candidate Rt. Hon. Sheriff Francis Oborevwori is a mere clone of Okowa, because like his master, his middle name is incompetence. By his background, or the lack thereof; and public record, or the lack thereof, the PDP candidate would be a human disaster in Government House. His nomination, championed by an inept and corrupt PDP administration, is an insult to the sensibilities of Deltans. Delta State should not leave its destiny in the hands of a man who has no mind of his own and will continue to be Okowa’s stooge even as governor.”
While speaking on his plans for Deltans, Omo-Agege stated, “Our vision for a New Delta is driven by the desire to arrest receding hope among Deltans and build a State where the people’s future is brighter than their past. We are aware that our people are seriously worried about the unemployment indices, which are heading skywards as evidenced by the high percentage of our youths roaming the streets for jobs that do not exist, but certainly can be created if we have a government that fosters the right synergy with the private sector to boost employment.
“I will address our scary unemployment rate by giving priority to public investment in agriculture and tech-driven entrepreneurship. My plan as stated in our manifesto will change the commercial ecosystem of the State and create an investment-friendly charter that makes access to funds and infrastructure a natural way of life. Human capital development, agriculture, tourism, infrastructure, housing and other labour-intensive interventions will be at the core of our agenda.
“I will address our scary unemployment rate by giving priority to public investment in agriculture and tech-driven entrepreneurship. My plan as stated in our manifesto will change the commercial ecosystem of the State and create an investment-friendly charter that makes access to funds and infrastructure a natural way of life. Human capital development, agriculture, tourism, infrastructure, housing and other labour-intensive interventions will be at the core of our agenda.
“We shall establish a Delta State Employment, Entrepreneurship and Empowerment Programme (DEEP), and facilitate the establishment of cluster industries in each of the twenty-five Local Government Areas of our State. We will deliberately create an enabling environment for industries and manufacturing; establish tech hubs, set up small business loan guarantee schemes, promote skills acquisition and set up a Career Development Centre for Deltans.
“As part of our plans to promote ease of doing business, we will undertake institutional and process reviews, remove red tape and bureaucratic bottlenecks, improve infrastructure, and re-engineer our peace and security strategies while establishing a one-stop repository of business knowledge and information. We will guarantee the rights of women and invest their unique energy to drive social and economic development in the state. We will initiate a youth development program that moves them away from the hopelessness of today, connect them to creative endeavours and generate energy for honourable work.
“We will make aggressive investments in modern infrastructure capable of opening up the total economic energies of our people, we will lift the State out of a mono-economic dependency by launching diversification into tech and business incubation. We are deeply committed to the cause of changing the current development path of our State. However, we cannot do it without the support and cooperation of our people. Democracy and development thrive on a watchful and active citizenry who should hold us accountable every step of the way.”
