It is indeed a moment of expression of disappointment with Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa over his brazen neglect of the people of Isselle-Uku in Aniocha North Local Government Area, as the Monarch of the Kingdom, HRM Agbogidi Obi Nduka, presented to the state’s All-Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Candidate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, a catalogue of challenges that have been plaguing the community for the past seven and half years.
Omo-Agege and the state’s APC Campaign trail had paid a courtesy visit to the monarch in his palace at Isselle-Uku, headquarters of Aniocha North Local Government Area of the State where the Chairman of Isselle-Uku Development Union, Prince Offor Dilie, in his address to Omo-Agege, on behalf of the Royal father, reeled out the major challenges confronting the community to the APC Governorship flagbearer.
According to Prince Dilie, the community has been grappling with the problem of lack of potable water, flood and erosion, lack of good road network and the abandonment of the facilities of the business park/skills acquisition centre located in Issele-Uku by the Okowa-led administration.
He expressed optimism that when he becomes the governor in 2023, Omo-Agege would look at the direction of Aniocha North LGA and address some of the challenges bedeviling the people of Isselle-Uku.
In his brief remarks, Obi Nduka told Omo-Agege that he has followed his EDGE Agenda with keen interest, and prayed for his success at the polls in 2023.
Responding, Senator Omo-Agege lamented the wanton damage that the Okowa-led administration has visited on the people of Aniocha North as to every other part of the state, except his own village, Owa Alero.
He stated that if Okowa had judiciously and prudently applied the huge resources that have accrued to the state in the past seven and half years, the people of Isselle-Uku should not be complaining of lack of potable water now, nor affected by flood or erosion.
Omo-Agege further explained that both Deltans that are living now and those yet unborn are debtors, because of the ‘borrow borrow’ attitude of Okowa.
He advised Deltans to shun the PDP, Okowa and the person he is promoting to take over from him, adding that if Okowa is allowed to do a third term through the PDP governorship candidate, there will be no end to suffering in the state.
“I decided to put myself forward because I do not like the way Delta State is governed. About seven and half years ago, the current governor said he wanted to offer prosperity to the people of Delta State. We are here now in Ward 5, 3 and 7, is there any prosperity in these three wards? The answer is, no.
“If we keep quiet this thing will continue. As we speak now, all of you who are here are debtors. One day a bank will come and say Delta State is bankrupt and they will begin to seize your property. Do you want that? The answer is no.
“Delta State has become the second highest indebted state in Nigeria with no means of repayment, all because of the recklessness of the government. All he does every day is take loan upon loan upon loan.
“Now, if those loans were being used to provide water here in Isselle-Uku if the loans are used to address the issue of erosion if the loans were being used to create employment for our children, are we going to quarrel? The answer is no”, Omo-Agege stated.
The APC governorship flagbearer however announced to the people of Isselle-Uku that there is a chance to change the narrative, adding that in about three months from now there will be a governorship election and there will be a chance to say no more loans.
“Anyway, God is giving us another opportunity. If what he is doing today, he did it three years ago we would be scared. But the good news is that in two to three months’ time, there will be elections. So, you will have the chance to say no more loans.
“So, if you don’t want him to commit this State to further loans, you have to vote out PDP, you have to vote out his boy, the PDP governorship candidate.
“Today, we have come to appeal to you that our ‘mumu don do’. The only way to have good roads, the only way for you to have potable water to drink in this part of the Local Government, the only way to ensure that this park which your daughter played a key role to establish here, is functional, is to vote out PDP.
“I’m committing to you today that when you elect Omo-Agege/Osanebi and Mazin at the State level, know that you have voted to re-open that park”, he said.
Earlier, the campaign train landed at the palace of the Obi of Onicha-Olona , HRM, Christopher Uzu Diji, who showered praise on Senator Omo-Agege for building a befitting palace for him, which Omo-Agege said he would commission on his next visit when he becomes governor of Delta State.
“May God bless you, you have already won the election,” the monarch said.
Speaking on behalf of HRM, Agbogidi Obi Victor Chukwumaleze 1 JP, the Obi of Onicha Ugbo, Chief Stephen Ugezene, the Onishe of Onicha-Ugbo assured Omo-Agege of his people’s support for his election as governor.
“We have spoken, God be with you, no harm shall befall you. Go and succeed,” he said.
As in other locations, Senator Omo-Agege asked supporters to vote for all APC candidates across the board, declaring that this is the only way to ensure seamless cooperation between various levels and arms of government in 2023 and beyond.
The APC Governorship candidate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, told the people that by newer estimates, over N3.5 trillion had come to Delta State in the past seven and a half years of Okowa’s administration. This, he said, included the recent N250 billion 13 per cent derivation backlog released by President Muhammadu Buhari, as well as internally generated revenue. Yet, he said, the governor had gone ahead to borrow over N400 billion.
“All of us right now, even our innocent children and those yet to be born are all debtors, we are liable to the debts incurred by Governor Okowa.
“As if the burden of debts we are going to pay is not enough, Governor Okowa has decided to impose a stooge who he would be able to manipulate, to continue the theft and squander of the state resources.
“We are resolute and have agreed across the three senatorial districts that we will not allow Okowa a third term through his stooge, Sheriff Oborevwori,” Omo-Agege said.
Earlier, former Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly and current Executive Director, Cabotage Services, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Sir Victor Ochei, speaking on behalf of the people, rejected Okowa, the PDP gubernatorial candidate, Sheriff Oborevwori, and the PDP. He described Senator Omo-Agege as reliable, trustworthy and committed to the development of the people.
He said Omo-Agege as Governor would grant the demands of the people and, therefore, urged them to vote for him as the next governor of Delta State.
He also called for support for Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, Tony Nwaka and Bazim Sally Biose, as Delta North Senator, House of Representatives member and Aniocha North House of Assembly member respectively.
The New Diplomat can authoritatively report that the who is who in APC in Delta North was part of the moving train including the Deputy Governor flagbearer, Hon. Friday Osanebi, Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei, Hon. Tony Nwaka, Bazim Sally Biose, among others.
The train was piloted by the Campaign Director-General, Elder Godsday Orubebe, Delta State APC Chairman, Elder Omeni Sobotie, among several other APC chieftains.
