Nyerhovwo Oghenetejiri
“For everything, there is a time. And when it is your time, nobody can stop you. This is the time, this is the moment.”
These were the words of Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege, former Secretary to the Delta State Government and foremost governorship hopeful on the platform of the ruling PDP, he reiterated his commitment to the 2015 gubernatorial race, saying “I am in the governorship race to win”.
Omo-Agege stated this when he visited members of Delta North Leadership Forum in Asaba in continuation of his consultation with stakeholders on his governorship bid.
The former Secretary to the State Government who also visited the Ezemu of Emu kingdom, HRM Obuenwe J. E Ulu, and the Ugili-Amai country home residence of Senator Patrick Osakwa, Ndokwa-West Local Government Area, promised to run an all inclusive government.
According to Omo-Agege, “I did not just wake up to say I want to contest for governorship. I contested in 2007 and twice in 2011 and people mistook it for desperation. But the truth is that I am contesting because of my passion for service to Deltans and my desire to add value to governance.”
He said he joined the governorship race to enable him implement programmes that would alleviate the sufferings of the people and move the state to the next level, adding, “I am running for governorship because of ideas that I have which I believe will impact positively on all Deltans.”
While noting that he was not oblivious of the agitations of the various sections in the State for governorship, Obarisi Omo-Agege said his aspiration was hinged on merit and not on the basis of his ethnic nationality.
Tracing his ancestral link to Aboh, Ndokwa East Local Government Area of the state, the governorship hopeful maintained that, “even if my aspiration was to be based on ethnicity, I am also from Delta North and if the Aboh people are from Delta North, there is therefore no basis to exclude Omo-Agege.”
Speaking further, Omo-Agege said, “Our Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has done very well in the implementation of his three points agenda. He has built solidly on the foundation laid by Chief James Ibori and we are out to take the State from there to the next level. Our government will be that of continuity, because there will be no abandoned project.”
The governorship hopeful also said, “People say Boko Haram is the greatest security threat to the country, but I think the greatest security threat is unemployment. I want to use this opportunity to assure Deltans that all policies that would be initiated by our administration if given the mandate to govern the State would be geared towards job creation.”
Reiterating his determination to key into the Delta beyond oil initiative of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, the governorship hopeful said, “we will turn agriculture once again to become the pride of our economy, promote tourism, develop the entertainment industry and promote small and medium scale businesses to create jobs for our people.”
On security he said, “we will have youths screened by the police and engage them in providing community policing services in intelligence gathering so that there will be no safe haven for kidnappers and other criminals in the State. This also, will help out in job creation.”
He also promised to construct the major road leading to Emu kingdom to improve on the socio-economic life of the people of the kingdom.
Responding, HRM Obuenwe Ulu the Ezemu of Emu kingdom gave his blessings to Omo-Agege’s governorship ambition, saying “I know he will be the governor.”
The monarch expressed belief that the governorship hopeful would fulfill his promises when elected. “I know that what he is telling me now, he will do,” he added.
On his part, Senator Patrick Osakwa applauded the courage and bravery with which Omo-Agege “started the governorship race again,” emphasizing that he had nothing against his gubernatorial ambition.
According to the three time senator who represented Delta North at the country’s upper legislative chamber, “it is on record that those who want to vie for political offices must work very hard. It is the aspirant that works hardest that God will give the governorship seat to. Omo-Agege has already started working very hard, so I will tell him to work harder.”
Osakwe expressed satisfaction with Omo-Agege’s acknowledgement of Governor Uduaghan’s achievements, saying “Uduaghan has fared well in his style of administration, particularly in the area of peace and security.
Senator Osakwe described Omo-Agege as a man of two parts who hails from the North and Central Senatorial districts of the State, expressing delight at the huge retinue of dignitaries and supporters that were on Omo-Agege’s entourage for the consultation meeting.
He added, “If you can come with this crowd consulting, I wonder what your campaign will look like. The quality of a good leader can be known by the quality of his followers.”
Omo abeg you should be trust worthy this time.