Both men, have a lot in common. The two are seasoned lawmakers. While the governorship candidate is the Deputy Senate President, the running mate was the Deputy Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly. The duo are also populists who were former faithful of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) but left when the main opposition party lost focus.
The choice of former Deputy Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Right Honourable Friday Osanebi as running mate to Deputy Senate President, Right Honourable Obarisi Omo Agege, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the 2023 election in Delta State, by all account is a game changer.
Gone are the days when the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which has held the reins of power since the return to democratic rule in 1999, was regarded as a shoo-in as far as the contest for the governorship of the oil rich state is concerned.
There’s no iota of doubt that Osanebi who represents Ndokwa East Local Government Area in the House of Assembly is at home with his people, mostly the youths, women and the elderly who form the bulk of his enthusiastic supporters.
His shining leadership qualities caught the watchful eyes of the leadership of his colleagues in the legislature when, as a freshman at only 30, he was appointed as Chairman of the House Committee on DESOPADEC in 2011, a strategic committee in charge of billions of money accruing to the state from the 13% derivation from oil.
His political trajectory was still on the rise. In 2015, he was elected by his colleagues as deputy speaker. He didn’t disappoint as he succeeded in piloting the affairs of the House.
From his numerous empowerment programmes to Ndokwa people which he started even before he entered active politics to quality representation, Honourable Osanebi, no doubt sowed seeds long ago. Now it’s harvest time and he is sure set to harvest bountifully.
Thousands of people are testimonies of his several
empowerment programmes which dated back to his days as President of Ndokwa Youths Federation, because of his deep love for his people.
As an altruistic, he gave out to all Ndokwa people whether East or West or Ukwani without strings attached and so, when he made a move to contest for the House of Assembly, the reward was overwhelming.
A born leader, a man of the people with a very large heart, Honourable Osanebi does not discriminate. Even as a representative of Ndokwa East, his numerous empowerment and scholarship programmes cut across his immediate constituency to the whole of Ndokwa nation and Anioma.
The Beneku born politician would rather see himself as panAnioma and even panDeltan, and in line with that philosophy, he has freely reached out to all the three Ndokwa Local Government Areas
of East, West and Ukwani and the whole of Delta North Senatorial district.
For his several empowerment programmes, Honourable Osanebi swore that no political or other strings are attached to the initiatives but was merely acting from a genuine desire to reach out and touch the lives of those at the lowest rung of the ladder of life so that the world can be a better place for all.
Starting in 2016, it has been hearty smile for hundreds of indigent students in tertiary institutions across the country from Delta North Senatorial district as they have each been given N100,000 scholarship by the Friday Osanebi Foundation.
In line with the old adage which holds that education is light, over N60 million has been disbursed as scholarship to over 600 young undergraduates since the inception of the scholarship sheme.
Honourable Osanebi, the Chairman, Friday Osanebi Foundation who has issued cheques to hundreds of benefiting students remarked that the disbursement is to empower poor but hardworking students from Anioma.
The ex-deputy speaker let it be known then that if not for the hard times, he would have love to extend the scholarship scheme to promising undergraduates from each of the 25 local councils in the state.
According to him, at inception, the foundation in 2016 released N10 million as scholarship to 100 students of Delta North origin from various tertiary institutions in the country.
He said that the 100 students who benefit yearly is a sacrifice to empower the poor in the state.
Honurable Osanebi said: “This award was born out of a long passion and desire to touch lives in line with the Biblical teaching that a giver never lack.
“The lucky beneficiaries are encouraged to return back to their campuses with a renewed vigor to break new grounds and achieve excellence in their academic pursuit in the various fields of learning.
“The scholarship has played a major role in aligning the beneficiaries with core mandate of the vision to raise academic giants.”
The lawmaker challenged other well meaning Delta state indigenes to join hands with the foundation in order to reach more Nigerians as the foundation alone cannot touch all.
As the Holy Bible says, there is a time and season for everything. A time to sow and a time to reap. For Honourable Friday Ossai Osanebi, as Deltans stay on the line to cast their votes in 2023, it is no doubt, a time to once again, harvest “double double”.
