Deputy President of the Senate and the All Progressives Congress gubernatorial candidate in Delta State, Ovie Omo-Agege, has promised to clear outstanding pension liability within six months of his administration if elected the governor of Delta State.
Omo-Agege stated this on Monday, during the continuation of his Ward-to-Ward campaign to Iyede-Ame in Ndokwa East and Ofagbe in Isoko North local government area of the stated noted that the problem of Delta State is judicious, equitable, and fair distribution of the state resources for the benefits of all.
He lamented a situation where citizens of the state who used the youthful age to serve Delta are subjected to untold hardship with many not leaving to enjoy the fruit of their labour.
He disclosed that if APC is voted into power in the state, he will put to an end the era where pensioners and retirees die while waiting to be paid their pensions, by enthroning a system that will ensure that they receive their pensions as when due.
“All our fathers and our mothers that have served the Delta State Government and all those who have not been paid their pension, when you go back tell them that within six months of my administration, all the outstanding pensions will be paid to our pensioners.”
He also decried the underdevelopment of Iyede-Ame, Isoko communities in the Ndokwa East Local Government Area of the state, promising to link the community to Ibrede by constructing a bridge and motorable road across the Ase River to end their years of neglect.
He said that he was shocked to see in 21st century Delta a community without a power supply and other basic amenities including schools since the formation of the community.
An emotionally laden Omo-Agege, while decrying the situation, said when elected as governor, he would establish a school in the community within the first hundred days in office.
Accompanied by the State deputy governorship candidate, Friday Osanebi, Director General of the Delta APC Campaign, Godsday Orubebe and top chieftains of the party, Omo-Agege said Iyede-Ame was the first community he had visited without electricity and telephone network in the 21st century.
Addressing the crowd of supporters, the Senator representing Delta Central noted, “I couldn’t believe my eyes that a community like this still exists in today’s Delta”.
He lambasted the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa-led government for abandoning the people of Ndokwa East, especially the people of Iyede-Ame, which he claimed, were completely cut off from modern-day society.
Omo-Agege lamented that despite the huge resources accruing to the state through federal allocation and taxes, it’s surprising to witness a “true case of underdevelopment’ in its true sense” in Delta.
According to him, “Delta is a rich State. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. When our State Governor said there was no money, the man is not being honest. That’s the height of wickedness. Delta State has money, Delta State is rich.
“The problem we have is that there is no judicious and equitable application of these resources for everybody. That’s the problem. It is because of the greed of a few. The money that is meant for everybody in Delta State for the past seven and a half years which has amounted to N4.2trn is not evident in other communities of Delta State.”
He, however, assured the people of the area that his administration as governor will connect the people to other parts of the state by constructing a bridge and linking roads in the riverine communities.
“But don’t worry, I have good news for you. ‘Affliction will not arise a second time’. I commit to you that today we’ll go into a contract. Call it a ‘social contract’ – a contract between, God willing, the incoming Omo-Agege administration, Iyede-Ame, and Isoko Communities of Ndokwa East.
“My own part of the contract and bargain is this: to dredge the river isn’t much. It’s not up to 500 metres. What did you people do to Okowa? Did you offend him? I commit to you today the 9th day of January 2023, that when you keep your part of the bargain by voting ‘Omo-Agege’ for Governor and voting ‘Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’ for President, by voting God willing the next President of the Senate our Senator (Senator Peter Nwabuoshi). God, willing you vote Opune as the Member of the House of Representatives, and you vote for Tony Ombanenu as a member Delta State House of Assembly. That is your part of the bargain when you do that for us on February 25th and March 11th.
“This is my own part of the bargain. That river there, we are going to construct a bridge linking Ibrede to Iyede-Ame communities. That is a commitment I have given to you.
“Commitment number two: within the first 100 days of the commencement of my administration, my government will establish a Primary and Secondary School.
“Commitment number three: I will construct your roads for you. When we do so, this road that took us two hours from the bridge to the venue of this event will be commutable in twenty minutes.
“I am convinced that in a community like this where there is no water, no light, and no school, I am equally convinced that there is no hospital as well. We will do something about it. We will give you a befitting health facility for this community.
“But you see, only me sitting as a State Governor. Some of these things I have promised will need to be complemented by the Federal Government. While the Federal Government may not come to a rural community like this, we can use the Niger-Delta Development Commission’s (NDDC) interventionist agency to achieve those things here.
“So, for that reason whatever your reservations, please ensure that we control the Federal Government. If you vote for me and you don’t vote for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I will be like an ‘orphan’. As I am here today, Bola Ahmed Tinubu knows that I am here. So whatever commitment I make here today, I make on behalf of myself and Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the next President.
“And let me tell you, I know we have had a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Government for 24 years and Iyede-Ame is still like this. So, despite the neglect of Iyede-Ame, and the abandonment of Iyede-Ame, Okowa is still saying that they should support PDP. I personally believe that it is a threat, and it is wickedness for anybody to come here and campaign that you should vote for PDP again. It is wickedness”, Omo-Agege stated.
