…Emerhor, Osanebi, Orubebe, Sobotie Wellington Okrika, Others Boast of Victory
By Onome Oghenetega
Deputy President of the Senate and governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has boasted that the 24 years reign of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state will come to an end with the 2023 governorship election.
Omo-Agege also boasted that the APC will defeat the ruling PDP in the forthcoming elections with high margin in Delta State.
He stated this on Monday in Asaba, Delta capital, during the inauguration of the 2023 Governorship Campaign Council of the APC with former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe as Director General.
Omo-Agege flanked by his deputy governorship candidate, Rt. Hon. Friday Osanebi, said Deltans were tired of the ‘misrule’ of the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa-led PDP government.
Joined by prominent leaders of the party from across the three senatorial districts of the state including the founding leader of the party in the state, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor; erstwhile chairman of DESOPADEC, Chief Wellington Okrika; Professor Eugene Okorocha, Engr. Omatsola Tuoyo, Dr. Alex Ideh, and others, described Okowa as a traitor for betraying Southern Nigeria for 2023 presidency.
Omo-Agege said, “We must take back our dear State from Governor Ifeanyi Okowa who with his cohorts, have 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 Powers 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 scrutinize 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 People’s Democratic Party – 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 per cent 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”.
Also speaking, founding leader of the party, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, called on Deltans to reject PDP in the forthcoming elections, stating that Delta deserves a better leadership that will improve the socio-economic and infrastructural development of the state.
According to him, “This is our time. It’s APC time. We have suffered for almost 24 years under the maladministration of PDP in Delta State. Senator Omo-Agege is the best governorship candidate we can see in the 2023 race.
“We also have another lion in our deputy governor. We are going to be fighting a faction of the PDP. We are sure that we are going to bring the other faction to APC and we’ll win with strong margin.”
On his part, the Deputy governorship candidate of the APC and former Deputy Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Friday Osanebi, said Delta youths will overwhelmingly vote for APC in the next election.
Osanebi, while thanking APC and Senator Omo-Agege for choosing a youth as his deputy, stressed that APC will defeat PDP in the forthcoming elections.
Also speaking, former chairman of DESOPADEC and Delta Ijaw leader, Chief Wellington Okrika, said Omo-Agege remains the best candidate for the election and appealed to Deltans to vote out PDP from the state in the next election.
On his part, the Director General of the campaign organisation and former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Goddey Orubebe assured that the list of the campaign organisation would be expanded in the coming days.
He 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 in to 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”.
This sentiment was also shared by the state party chairman and Co-Chairman of the campaign organisation, Elder Omeni Sobotie who assured that the list would be reviewed.
He called on Deltans to vote all APC candidates across board.
The APC campaign organisation has Senator Omo-Agege as Chairman; Elder Sobotie as Co-Chairman: Rt. Hon. Friday Osanebi (Deputy Chairman); Barr. Francis Obigbor (Co-Deputy Chairman); Elder Orubebe as Director General; and Chief of Staff to the Deputy Senate President, Dr Otive Igbuzor as Deputy DG.
Listed as Vice Chairmen of the campaign organisation 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) respectively.
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), Barr. Alex Onwuadiamu (Director, Planning and Research), and Barr. Bosin Ebikeme (Director, Contact and Mobilization).
Those listed as Advisers include the senator representing Delta North Senatorial District, Sen. Peter Nwaoboshi; member representing Ughelli North/Ughelli South/Udu Federal Constituency Rev. Hon Francis Waive; APC National Publicity Secretary, Barr. Felix Morka, and Dr. Ibe Kachikwu.
Others are 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, among others.
Senatorial coordinators include Dr. Austin Izagbo (Delta North), Chief Chief Ominimini Obiuwevwi (Delta Central) as well as Prince Yemi Emiko (Delta South).
