By Samuel Ogude (Warri)
As the 2023 general elections draw near, the Deputy Senate President and Delta State All Progressive Congress (APC) Governorship candidate, Senator Ovie Omo Agege said he joined the race for Governorship in the state to liberate and rebuild the state. Senator Omo-Agege stated this on Thursday in press conference in Asaba, the state capital. He said, he is not satisfied with the way the state is run and therefore determined to liberate the people in this direction.
He said:”I entered the Governorship race because I am deeply dissatisfied with the state of affairs in the state, my aspiration is beyond mere quest for power”
He said he has committed the entire affairs into the hands of God Almighty for Him to give direction, strength, guidance, and wisdom adding, this would mark the turning point in the lives of Delta just as he said if he assumes office, it is for the good of Deltans. Senator Agege said he is strongly concerned that Delta State has been left behind on key areas of development saying, despite the large amount of money which comes from federal account and the 13 percent derivation together with the Internally Generated Revenue through the various taxes and rates which Deltans pay, the state has not developed.
He said:”Despite the huge sums of money that flows into the state from federation account and 13 percent derivation along with the Internally Generated Revenue, the state is undeveloped” Senator Agege said, with the Debt Management Office Records, the state has the highest debt profile in the country adding, this is obviously unacceptable and therefore determined to restore and revive the state which has been misgoverned over the years.
On his wealth of experience which would afford him to govern the state, Senator Agege said, he joined partisan politics in 2002 but could not represent his people in the House of Representatives adding, in 2003,he was appointed Executive Assistant to the governor of the state and in 2005, he was made Commissioner for Special Duties. He added, in 2007, he was made Secretary to the State Government, a Senator and at present, Deputy Senate President saying, with these, he is much more qualified to run the state as he has deep understanding of the issues of governance. According to him, he has mapped out plans to work with one of the best team of experts to come up with realistic policies and plans, which when implemented, would put the state in the right footing. He added, he has come up with a 60-page manifesto built on EDGE to Build a New Delta (BAND) adding, the EDGE covers critical areas of government that would drive the team’s agenda when he assumes office as the Governor.
He said:”The manifesto is our vision and mission: it captures our EDGE Agenda which means: E- Employment and Empowerment, D- Development (Economic, Infrastructural and Industrial), G-Good Governance and E- Enduring Peace and Security”. He said, Delta State deserves better leadership, gets out of these problems and return to the path of economic prosperity. He said, with objective assessment of every village, town, city and local government areas in the state including the riverine areas, it is clear that the state is lagging behind in every index of socio-economic development and prosperity. He therefore said, when he assumes office, he would change the narrative of the state.