By Samuel Ogude(Warri)
The Governorship candidate on the platform of All Progressives Congress(APC) and Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege, the Obarisi of Urhobo land said, whatever the challenges of Delta State, with the unity of one mind and purpose, they would be solved and make the state proud of itself again. Senator Agege stated this in his New Year message to Deltans. In a new message signed by Senator Agege himself, he said, as Deltans celebrate, they should bear in mind that it is patience and forbearance that have kept the state together amidst undue hardship and deprivation from the entitlement to good administration.
He said:’ I believe that we will overcome whatever challenges we faced collectively and individually in the past as citizens and residents of one proud State and as a people. as we celebrate, I also want to empathise with fellow citizens and residents of our dear State whose patience and forbearance have kept our State peaceful even in the face of undue hardship and deprivation from their entitlement to good governance”.
Senator Agege said as Deltans move into a new year, which is the year of election, they should reflect on how to liberate and salvage the state saying, power in the hands of the people and urged them to pay attention to those things that unite Deltans and do away divisive tendencies but the issues that will usher in the needed growth and development to the state.
He said:” As we move into a very important year in our lives as a people; an election year, let us reflect on how to liberate and salvage our dear State, because power belongs to the people. Let us pay more attention to those things that truly unite us and eschew divisive tendencies. Let us pay attention to the issues that will bring about the needed development of the State and not things that will run us down. Let us show understanding towards one another and conduct ourselves in a manner that will set us on the path of progress”.
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Senator Agege said the state has not been lucky in the electoral choices Deltans have been making since 2007 saying, those choices have brought about retrogression and backwardness, accompanied by the plunder of the state’s resources which have impacted negatively on the lives of the people and on the state. He added that the state’s resources have been pillaged by persons Deltans elected to superintend their affairs .
According to him:” They frittered away our collective patrimony and slowed our progress. It has never been known that a government will receive money on behalf of a State and spend the money without informing the people. This disregard for the citizens, uncommon and unremitting brigandage has become the norm in Delta State, especially in the past seven and half years”.
Senator Agege said he of the belief that the 2023 election offers Deltans a chance to redress the wrongs of governance in Delta State by electing the right and qualified persons into positions of authority to govern the state. He said:” Our lives and the future of our nation and State will therefore depend on the choices we make”.
Agege said March 2023 is not far away for the people to vote for the right person of which, he is the right person saying, responsible leadership is needed to provide guidance, hope and aspiration for the collective growth and development of the people.
He said:”We have before us in the March 2023 election, an opportunity and responsibility to take back our State from the hands and control of the people who wasted our resources and betrayed our people. Responsible leadership is needed now, more than at any other time in our history, to provide guidance, hope and inspiration for our collective success”.
He said he is much aware that there are lots of work to be done and he can not do it all alone if emerges as the Governor and therefore seeks the co-operation of all Deltans to make him succeed. He said:” I recognise that there is a lot of work to be done, and I cannot do it alone without your cooperation and support. I urge all of you to come along with me, as we roll up our sleeves to Build A New Delta”.
Senator Agege therefore appeals to the good people of Delta State to join him and the APC in the task of reorganizing and rebuilding the State and returning it to a pre-eminent position among progressive states in Nigeria. He said: “We should commit to rebuilding our State through the faithful implementation of the EDGE Agenda of Employment and Empowerment; Development; Good Governance and Enduring Peace and Security”.
Agege said as he welcomes everybody into 2023, he prayed that the year presents Deltans with greater opportunities for excellence for all families and therefore wished Deltans in particular and Nigeria in general happy new year. .