By Samuel Ogude(Warri)
As 2023 elections draw nearer, the Governorship candidate on the platform of All Progressive Congress (APC) Senator Ovie Omo Agege has said, he is ready to run a government without discrimination but inclusive of non- Deltans saying, all
persons, irrespective of ethnic and religious backgrounds, will enjoy equal benefits so long they are resident and willing to do business and pay taxes to the Delta State government.
Senator Omo- Agege stated this when he had a meeting with Muslim Leaders in the state over the weekend in Warri. While he frowned at the reported discrepancy in school fees paid by indigenous and non-indigenous students in tertiary institutions of State, saying, if he becomes the Governor, that policy will be abolished.
In a press statement signed by the Director, Communications and Media Strategy, Delta APC Campaign Council, Ima Niboro said, Senator Agege said in case there is an employment opportunity, both the Christians and Muslims would be free to compete and have equal employment without discrimination adding, this same principles of fairness will be applied for pilgrimages.
He said: “As the State government sponsors Christians to Jerusalem for pilgrimage so we will sponsor Muslims for pilgrimage to Mecca” He added:” As far as you are in Delta State, whether you are a Christian or a Muslim, you will pay equal school fees for your children. You are all Deltans so long you reside here and pay taxes so, you are equal stakeholders and you must enjoy equal benefits”. “I commit to you that whenever we decide as a government to make appointments into the Muslim pilgrim board, we will consult you” he added.
According to Ovie Omo Agege, the people would be carried along as there shall be a Special Adviser from among the people who will interface between his government and the Muslim Community adding, this applies to farmers and herders’ relationship.
He said: “We will engage the ingenuity of 60 per cent of the State’s population who are youths and channel their creativity through tech hubs that would ultimately generate revenue for the state. We will invest and improve on our security architecture to ensure the prevalence of peace for businesses to thrive”.
According to Omo-Agege, so long as they have their Permanent Voter’s Cards(PVC), they have the right to determine how they are to be governed adding, they all residents in the state saying, if the government is good or bad, it affects everybody adding, they are all entitled to know how the state is governed.
Senator Agege said, the people should know how the State has been governed for the past seven and half years by the PDP led administration anchored by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and Speaker Sheriff Oborevwori adding, they have allegedly received over 3.5 trillion naira from the federation account yet they can see of the state of the roads, just as he said, many retirees have not been denied their pay which has led to their early death whereas Delta State is one of the richest states in Nigeria.
The APC Governorship candidate said since they have chosen to leave their various states to live in Delta State, they have been accepted saying, they have the right to their fair expectations and he is sure, the Delta State of their dream is not what they see at the moment hence he has offered himself to be Governor. He recalled how Muslim community has once given him support in 2015 which saw to his election as a senator saying, they are valued stakeholders in the state just as he said,he would be happy if they can support him this time around.
Agege also has promised to attract investors to Warri( the old oil city ) and will boom again adding, Warri, Koko and Burutu Ports will be reactivated saying, so long as the women are resident in Delta, they will be guaranteed bank loans for their businesses.
Earlier in an address in a meeting that was well attended by well over 500 Muslim Leaders, the Chief Imam of Oghara, Alhaji Mohammed Maija, said Muslims in Delta State were marginalized in job opportunities for their graduate children, in government appointments, and in payment of school fees in the state’s tertiary institutions.
He took note of the poverty in Warri metrolise and tolls on its citizens saying, there are only two months left for the people to decide their future and urged them to vote APC candidates during the elections.
In his remarks, an APC leader, Olorogun Bernard Okumagba, said with Senator Omo- Agege as Governor, the yearnings of the people as regards human and infrastructural development will be achieved and life in Warri will bounce back again.
It would be recalled that a day before Friday, December 16, the APC Governorship candidate, in continuation of the party’s ward to ward campaigns, visited Okumagba Avenue, Ugbuwaguen and Igbudu areas of Warri, during which, he promised to upgrade the Osubi Airport to an international airport status if elected the governor come 2023 general elections.