Rt. Hon. Chief Festus Ovie Agas,* former Deputy Speaker, one time Director General, Direct labour Agency and immediate past Secretary to the State Government, Delta State; the Man stands tall as he formally declares to the leadership and members of DC-23 of his intent to contest the upcoming 2023 Governorship race in Delta State.
Rt. Hon. Ovie Agas is a political mobilizer, a promise keeper, a devout Christian and a highly committed family man.
The profile of Rt. Hon. Festus Ovie Agas, presents a profound and diligent character. He is native of Oteri-Ughelli in Ughelli North Local Government Area. Born on Friday, 29th January, 1960 in Oteri, he attended St. Ambrose (now Ogele) Primary School, Ughelli from 1966 – 1970 where he obtained the First School Leaving Certificate. In 1971; proceeded to Urhobo College, Effurun where he obtained the West Africa School Certificate in 1975; and to Government College, Ughelli 1975 – 1977 for his Higher School Certificate. He gained admission into the prestigious University of Lagos (Unilag) and graduated with a B.Sc (Hons) degree in Mass Communication Second Class Upper Division, 1982; Delta State University, Oleh Campus for a degree in Law with Second Class Upper Division and proceeded to the Nigeria Law School in Abuja where he graduated with BL in flying colours. He was called to Bar on Tuesday, the 14th day of February, 2012, perhaps a divine touch to his amity, being a St. Valentine’s Day.
In his early career path, Ovie worked briefly in A. C. Jimona Limited as a Personnel Clerk and as a Teacher in Ibru College both in Agbarah Otor. Upon graduation from Unilag, he served the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program in NTA Abeokuta, Ogun State 1982 – 1983. Thereafter he got employed in Delta Steel Company Limited (DSC), Aladja, Delta State, and worked as the Company’s Principal Public Relations Officer. In all his work stations, he is renowned for high delivery rate and always acquits himself excellently.
At the dawn of politics in the fourth Republic, he resigned his employment in DSC to participate in the politics of the State. He contested and won a seat in the Delta State House of Assembly as Member Representing Ughelli North Constituency II from 1999 – 2003. He contested and won again in the general elections of 2003 and served a successful second tenure as Member Representing Ughelli North Constituency II from 2003 – 2007. While serving in the Delta State House of Assembly, he was at various times Chairman, House Committee on Information; Chairman, Finance and Appropriation Committee; Chairman, House Committee on Chieftaincy and Local Government Affairs; and later elected as Deputy Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly.
In 2006 he was appointed the Director of Administration, Delta State PDP Campaign Organisation for the 2007 general elections; and the Director General, Direct Labour Agency (DLA), Asaba, 2007. In 2014, he was appointed the Director General of Okowa Campaign Organisation. He was subsequently appointed as Director of Operations, Delta State PDP Campaign Organisation where his experience, capacity and organizational skills helped to secure resounding victory for the Party in the 2015 general elections that saw the emergence of His Excellency, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa as Governor of Delta State. He was, thereafter, appointed as the Secretary to the State Government, Delta State in June 2015 and served a successful tenure till the end of the first tenure of the Okowa-led administration in May 2019. His expertise was called in again to help to successfully prosecute and secure victory for PDP in the 2019 general elections which birthed the second tenure of Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa as Governor, Delta State. He was subsequently appointed the Chief Strategist, Delta State, an Office he is presently occupying and diligently serving the State till date.
Rt. Hon. (Chief) Festus Ovie Agas, esq., is a member of the Nigeria Bar Association, Urhobo College Old Boys Association and Government College Old Boys Association. He is very active in many charity organizations and clubs to which he belongs and has been contributing immensely in the service to humanity. He loves listening to local folk music, reading and travelling. His main motivations are the fear of God; desire to attain truth, love, excellence, justice and fair play for the betterment of society. Festus Ovie Agas* is firm on the desire to leave every stage of life better than he met it.
Married with children, Rt. Hon. Festus Ovie Agas is a respected politician, detribalised Deltan and an illustrious son of the urhobo Nation. In the words of Gov Okowa ‘”… Rt Hon Agas* is a seasoned and level headed personality…”
Rt. Hon. Festus Ovie Agas is someone who will come to Asaba and see Asaba as his own and indeed further develope the Capital Territory.
He will respect the feelings of the Anomia Nation and others in the Delta State project.
Rt. Hon. Festus Ovie Agas will govern with equity, fairness and justice.
Rt. Hon. Festus Ovie Agas, Lawyer, non-sitting Legislator and consummate administrator, is a detribalised Deltan who will be fair and just to all if given the mandate to govern our dear Delta State.
… *Agas* *Strategic* *Thinkers*…