- Urges Them To Participate In Ongoing Voters’ Registration
By John Oghojafor
At least N11 million was doled out to over 500 women petty traders in different markets in Uvwie and Ethiope East Local Government Areas of Delta State last Saturday by the Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial district in the Senate, Distinguished Senator Ovie Omo-Agege.
It would be recalled that Senator Omo-Agege commenced a ‘Thank You’ visit to the eight local government areas of Delta Central Senatorial district for over three months now, reaching out especially, to women petty traders in various markets in the area. The visit has taken the Senator to Ughelli and Agbarho markets in Ughelli North, Jigbale and Ubogo markets in Udu Local Government Area, Sapele and Amukpe markets in Sapele Local Government Area, Ewu and Otokutu markets in Ughelli South, where he has doled out several millions of naira in assistance to thousands of petty traders.
Also, a month ago, the Senator’s ‘thank you’ train visited Effurun and Ekpan markets where miscreants disrupted the exercise midway. The Senator however assured potential beneficiaries that he would return to complete the exercise in the affected markets, a promise he fulfilled today.
At the popular Effurun market on Saturday, there was a carnival-like scenario as the women who were in high spirit welcomed the Senator and his entourage to the market to complete the exercise as he promised them about a month ago. An additional 100 women petty traders were therefore blessed by the Senator with a total of N2 million. There was jubilation as the beneficiaries thanked God and praised Senator Omo-Agege for the kind gesture even as the shout of ‘APC, Change’ rented the air.
Earlier on, Senator Omo-Agege, while addressing the mammoth crowd at the market, had recalled that his mission was to go round the eight Local Government Areas of Urhobo land to thank the market the people for casting their votes for him to represent them at the Senate. He however disclosed that what he chose to start with petty traders whose total market stocks were not more than N10,000, adding that he has targeted those women because they need help more than anybody else.
He also disclosed that although he was giving out the package to the market women, it was not the actual empowerment he was planning the people of Delta Central, adding that before the year runs out he would invite Urhobos from the eight local government areas to the Urhobo headquarters at Uvwiamuge, Agbarho where he would empower the people with different wealth creating equipment as well as scholarships scheme to students of tertiary institutions that would run into hundreds of millions of naira.
Continuing his message of hope to thousands of Deltans who are currently being panel-beaten by the oppressive state government who had refused to pay salaries to Local Government workers and primary school teachers, Senator Omo-Agege urged the people to take advantage of the ongoing voters’ registration exercise by INEC to register and get their voters’ cards, as according to him, it is their power to determine who becomes the next governor, the next President and the next Senator.
He said: “I plead with those who have not registered or who have lost their voters’ cards to take advantage of the ongoing voters’ registration exercise and register because your voters’ card will be your power to determine who will become your governor, who will become your president, who will become your House of Assembly member and who will become your Senator.”
The ‘thank you’ empowerment train landed at Ogberikoko market also in Uvwie Local Government Area, where for the first time since the commencement of the exercise, leaders of the Ogberikoko community were on hand to receive the Senator and his entourage. The leaders, on behalf of the community, presented assorted drinks and cash to welcome the Senator even as they expressed their appreciation for his kind gesture to the down-trodden in the society.
At the Ogberikoko market, over 50 women petty traders were empowered with N20,000 each to boost their businesses. The beneficiaries burst into jubilation, singing to the praise of Senator Omo-Agege a chorus that states they would work with Senator Omo-Agege in order for them not to go empty handed.
The Senator, who is also known as Obarisi of Urhobo land, enjoined those who were yet to register for their voters’ cards to do so as it is their power to determine who governs them.
The empowerment train, thereafter, landed at Ekpan market area of Uvwie kingdom where another 100 market women were empowered with N20,000 each. The entourage left Ekpan for Kokori Inland in Ethiope East Local Government Area of the state where 100 who deal on tomatoes, iced-fish, pepper, onions, groundnuts among others in Kokori market. The jubilation knew no bounds as the beneficiaries thanked the Senator copiously, praying God to bless him even as they chorused “APC, Change.” At the Eku and Abraka markets also in Ethiope East Local Government Area, Senator Omo-Agege empower over 200 market women with N20,000 each.
Senator Omo-Agege also enjoined the people to ensure that they get registered in the ongoing voters’ registration exercise to enable them have the power to effect changes in the government and choose who they want to represent them both in Asaba and Abuja.
Considering the level of hardship in the state orchestrated by the state government’s refusal to pay workers and also empower DESOPADEC to allow free flow of money, one would therefore appreciate why beneficiaries of the Senator Ovie Omo-Agege’s ‘thank you’, empowerment would roll on the ground in happiness and shed tears of joy as they were handed white envelopes containing N20,000 crisp notes.
The empowerment continues, according to the Senator.
