President Muhammadu Buhari has authorized the disbursement of N80 billion for the rehabilitation of the Sapele-Benin and Amukpe-Agbor-Uromi roads.
Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, Vice President of the Senate and APC candidate for governor in Delta, disclosed this on Monday during a meeting with members of the Christian Council of Nigeria in Sapele.
When Omo-Agege became deputy president of the Senate, he reportedly asked Delta State Governor Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa about the condition of the route between the Petroleum Training Institute to Agbor.
He explained that he understood the contract had already been awarded and requested a review so that he could include it in the Niger Delta Development Commission’s budget.
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Omo-Agege however explained that “the subject died because Okowa feared he would not receive political credit.”
He stated that lately, with the restoration of the NDDC board, Buhari ordered that N500 billion of the commission’s frozen funds be released for development projects and that N80 billion was allowed after he urged the President to examine the Sapele-Benin road and the Amukpe-Agbor road.
Omo-Agege added that it would be insane to continue doing the same thing and expect different outcomes and that Okowa has failed to develop Delta State.
He promised that, if elected governor, he will facilitate the return of enterprises that had left Delta State due to insecurity and other issues.
He stated, “When I become governor on May 29, 2023, I will not wait for the Federal Government before constructing strategic roads in Delta and ensuring the implementation of the local content law so as to provide job opportunities for our youths.”
Omo-Agege utilized the event to clarify the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the APC presidential and vice presidential candidates, stating, “We desire power for progress and development. This is why we use power.”
He said, “Tinubu has a wife who is a Pastor and if he could not Islamise his wife, how would he be able to Islamise other Nigerians?
He said, “Tinubu has a wife who is a Pastor and if he could not Islamise his wife, how would he be able to Islamise other Nigerians? “I believe that after eight years of Buhari it is only fair and equitable for power to move to the South. I put all my strength into it. Governors of the APC supported it. All governors of Southern Nigeria supported it and met and signed a communique in Asaba. Okowa read the communique.
“But no sooner had that been done, than, during the PDP national congress, Okowa asked delegates of Delta to vote for a northerner. Yet, he is the one crying about a Muslim-Muslim ticket. The same Okowa that said take the presidency back to the North, just give me vice president?
“The focus should be who can bring development to our people. Okowa who is a Christian has he changed anything, are Deltans not crying?”
Omo-Agege also rejected the notion, held by some, that he was an adherent of African Traditional Religion, notably the Urhobo “Igbe” movement, because his father, the late Justice James Omo-Agege, was one.
While the Constitution of Nigeria provides freedom of religion, he stated that he could not dictate his father’s religious preferences, and his father could not dictate his own religious preferences. “As a result of this, my siblings and I are all fervent Catholic Christians. “We chose Christianity on purpose,” he explained.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Delta State chapter of the Christian Council of Nigeria, Rev. Dr. Jonathan Iwhiwhu, highlighted the contribution of the Church to development and requested aid in the construction of a secretariat and official bus.
He drew Agege’s attention to the deteriorating Sapele-Benin and Amukpe-Agbor-Uromi roads. If he is elected governor, he will modify policies that negatively affect the economic endeavors of the church, such as schools.
As a reward for the church’s support for his election as governor, Iwhiwhu also urged the development of employment possibilities for the church’s youths.
