By ABEL JOHNGOLD
A Mammoth crowd turned out in Onicha-Ugbo, Issele-Uku and Onicha-Olona, some major towns of Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State, to welcome the Deputy President of the Senate (DSP), and Governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Delta State, His Excellency Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, to the official flagging off of the Party’s Ward -to- Ward governorship campaign ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Before the arrival of the DSP to the Onicha-Ugbo venue of the rally, the arrival of the former Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly (DTHA), Rt. Hon. Victor Onyekachi Ochei, the Olikeze of Delta stirred the town as everyone around trooped down in jubilation to welcome him and Omo-Agege.
Motorcycle operators in the towns had a hard time finding their way through the overwhelming crowd, which enveloped the whole Local Government, as residents in celebratory mode trooped out in their thousands to welcome the Deputy President of the Senate, to the extent that it became even harder for his motorcade and convoy making its way to the palace of the Monarch, in Onicha-Ugbo town, where the rally musical band was stationed.
Addressing the mammoth crowd, Omo-Agege said he was not only excited at the rousing welcome by supporters who breached protocol and thronged to celebrate his presence, but also at the unity in the current Delta APC’s leadership.
He said contrary to some persons insinuation that there was no APC in Delta North, that the Party is fully on ground and strongly united as one big family. Noting that the ability to come together after any disagreement is what makes one a leader.
Omo-Agege, who said the “Prosperity for all Deltans” Governor Okowa promised in 2015 is now only for his (Okowa) family, disclosed that the State Government has received over N2. 3trn, N340bn from PMB and also borrowed N400bn.
“Deltans including we all know here are owing the Debts Okowa borrowed. So because of that, we Deltans are resolute and have agreed that we are not going to allowed Okowa to have a 3rd term through Sheriff Oborevwori”. He added.
He said all challenges ranging from unemployment, youths unrest, women empowerment and elevation, insecurities as well as roads construction and rehabilitation of both State and Federal roads and seek refund from Federal Government were addressed in the 2023 Campaign EDGE Agenda of the APC.
“We will intervene in failed Federal Roads and seek refund because Deltans are the ones using the roads. We will contract quality road contractors to construct our roads with negotiation for them to employ our youths thereby creating employment.
“We will harnessed the potentials and ingenuity of yahoo boys by engaging them in their best positive ways by asking them to develop apps and the State Government will be shareholder. By so doing, we are creating employment for our children.
“We will strengthen our women with meaningful empowerments and not fifty thousand naira starter packs empowerment they are giving our beloved women.” The Delta APC 2023 Governorship candidate stated.
Omo-Agege, who gave the assurance that his government will reduce insecurity to the barest minimum by addressing it’s causes, appealed to the people of Aniocha North to come out to vote for the APC 5/5 in the 2023 General Elections and they won’t regret it, that his Part deliberately chose to flagged-off campaign there.
He promised to reopen and make functional the shoe factory and vocation park built by Dr. Anthonia Ashiedu when she was Commissioner when elected Governor in 2023. That any move to sell it to cronies by the State Government would be resisted and even revoked when elected Governor of the Delta. come 2023
“With Bola Ahmed Tinubu as President, a ranking Senator Peter Nwaoboshi as a principal officer in the Senate, Hon. Dr. Tony Nwaka in the House of Representatives and Bazim Sally Biose in the House of Assembly, it will be very easier for me to deliver to Deltans in all areas because me alone cannot do it all easily. Please vote for APC in all elections and you won’t regret it”. Omo-Agege stated.
Other speakers at the rally including Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei, Hon. Elder Godsday Orubebe, Engr. Omeni, Sobotie among others said Omo-Agege will bring a New Delta that Deltans need a Governor with a human heart.
Also commenting at Issele-Uku, Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei said they should not listen to those carrying rumour that he was no longer in APC that he was fully in the Party. And that he came out to campaign now because he wants to fully handover Aniocha House of Assembly seat to Bazim Sally Biose to attract good things to Aniocha North.
He said the person he handed over to was removed by court and that’s why Aniocha North has been suffering poor representation in the State Assembly.
While appealing to Aniocha North people to vote for Ovie Omo-Agege for his capacity and ability to perform better than anyone else, Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei said “I have known Omo-Agege from when we were young. He’s the one I trust that can give Delta State the best. I can go to him anytime to remind him of his promises to Aniocha North and he will give us what belongs to us.
Other notable personalities present at the rally were Rt. Hon. Friday Osanebi, immediate past Deputy Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly (DTHA) and Deputy Governorship candidate of the State APC, Chief Paulinus Akpeki, for Delta State Chief Of Staff and APC Chairman, Delta Central Senatorial District, Hon. Tuoyo Omatsuli, former NDDC Executive Director Project, Chief Dr. Anthonia Ashiedu, former Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation in Delta State among others.