By Sunny Areh
A few weeks ago, a respectable gathering of elected, appointed and other leaders of the Delta State All Progressives Congress (APC) met in Abuja where they unanimously agreed to host a homecoming celebration ceremony in honour of the immediate past Deputy President of the Senate, His Excellency, Most Distinguished Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, CFR for what is generally considered his extraordinary achievements in office. The meeting was ably led and co-chaired by Senator Ede Dafinone and Senator Joel Onowakpo who represent Delta Central and Delta South Senatorial District respectively in the 10th Senate. The Oracle of Politics, the Most Distinguished Senator Peter Nwaoboshi is also now a Co-chair of Organising Committee.
To give full effect to its plan to appreciate Senator Omo-Agege for his meteoric, bold and impactful leadership successes in public governance at the national level, the Organising Committee swiftly constituted 6 functional subcommittees, including an Advisory Committee of eminent, respectable and senior Deltans. The event, which is taking place on 6th April, 2024 at Oil City Motel, Ughelli Town, promises to host the crème de la crème of society, especially in politics and public governance.
That Senator Omo-Agege achieved phenomenal achievements in the National Assembly is a fact easily attested to by even his fiercest critics. Despite his late arrival to the Senate in 2016 (instead of 2015), Omo-Agege is duly recognized as one of the highest sponsors of bills and motions in his time in the National Assembly. This exemplary lawmaking record started in 2016 with the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun (FUPRE) Establishment Act – a law he thoughtfully drafted and masterfully engaged with his colleagues and the executive branch not only to give a sustainable legal legislative framework to the institution, but to grant it the unique status of a ‘strategic national asset’ within the Nigerian oil and gas sector. An uncommon resourceful feat hardly talked about.
With the FUPRE Act in our people’s kitty, the Obarisi of Urhoboland again moved boldly for an Act to establish the Federal Polytechnic Orogun (FEPO), and got it. Enjoying a great friendship with former President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR who gave his sweeping approval to Obarisi’s quest to establish the institution as a centre of innovation for modern research, Omo-Agege went all out to ensure the construction and takeoff of FEPO. Today, FEPO is alive and running well.
Again, with his FEPO vision clarified and running through deliberate actions, Senator Omo-Agege identified another great opportunity in the academic environment and took it when he secured the Federal Government’s approval for the establishment of the Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Kwale. Another legacy act in productive representative leadership.
In terms of infrastructural projects and human development, Senator Omo-Agege’s enviable legacy of resourceful, impactful and innovative approach to public governance is evident in Nigeria, Delta’s three senatorial districts, and more particularly in virtually all communities in Delta Central. With him, a great number of our leaders and people have made undeniable positive gains in the public and private sectors. A noiseless helper of our people.
Senator Ovie Omo-Agege’s politics of inclusion has also brought tremendous progressive gains to our people. Calling up on all his unique strengths, he has worked with other leaders to grow the electoral and appointive fortunes of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State and beyond. His campaign to govern Delta State in the last general elections clearly speaks to our people’s overwhelming approval of his organic populist leadership. A leader with uncommon courage, progressive values and convictions and firm faith in the power of the people.
It is to these ends and much more that our people are overjoyed with the homecoming celebration ceremony in honour of Obarisi Senator Ovie Omo-Agege. The wisdom behind the idea itself is unassailable. We urge our people everywhere to come out in their numbers to be part of this momentous occasion in recognition of outstanding leadership and sterling achievements.
Sir Sunny Areh is the Co-Chairman, Media Committee of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege Homecoming Celebration.
