Omo-Agege Declares For Senate

With an assurance that no one under his watch as a senator will take the Urhobo nation for granted, former Secretary to the Delta State Government, Chief Ovie Omo-Agege on Sunday, declared his intention to run in the forthcoming bye election in Delta Central Senatorial District.

Making the declaration when he visited the Delta Central executive of the People's Democratic Party, (PDP) at the country home of its Chairman, Chief (Sir.) Tom Amioku in Egborode, Okpe Local Government Area, Omo-Agege reiterated his determination to give the Urhobo nation the much desired vibrant, qualitative and effective representation at the National Assembly.

He disclosed that his decision to contest for the position was as a result of the pressure persistently mounted on him by some groups and Urhobo leaders to represent Delta Central at the National Assembly, particularly the Concerned Delta Central Lawyers for Good Governance and Transparency, Delta Coalition for Change (DCC), Democratic People's Movement (DPM), amongst others.

Omo-Agege noted that the groups had after taking their time to look at all those vying for the position in the district, considered him the most eligible indigene of the Urhobo nation to fill the vacuum created by the death of Senator Pius Ewherido.

“Without consulting me, they have been making publications to persuade me to contest for the position,” he said, adding that “some of them even told me to 'run or run back to America'”.

He further disclosed that the groups had also expressed fears that the PDP could again lose the senatorial seat to the opposition if he (Omo-Agege) refuses to run.

Lamenting that the Urhobo nation as the majority ethnic group in Delta State, which contributes immensely to the economy of the State and the country, was not occupying its rightful position in the polity, he stated that at the recent visit of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) to the Presidency, “it was clear that the Urhobo nation must send a representative under the platform of the PDP.”

While describing the late Senator Pius Ewherido as “a warrior, a fine gentleman and a very articulate” senator, Omo-Agege noted that irrespective of his (Ewherido's) vibrancy and dynamism, the Urhobo nation under his representation at the National Assembly still suffered untold hardship because he was on the platform of the opposition.

Reiterating that the senate was not a place for onlookers, he maintained that it was absolutely imperative for the Urhobo people to give the mandate to someone who is well known and adequately equipped with the requisite experience and the right contacts in their quest for greater relevance in the polity.

Omo-Agege said he had all it takes to meet will all the ministers in the country to deliberate on job creation for the teeming unemployed youths in Urhobo land. He expressed his readiness to embark on massive empowerment of Delta Central youths, reiterating that he had empowered many youths in Urhobo nation when he was Secretary to the State Government.

He also promised to reverse the sale of the Delta Steel Company, (DSC) Ovwian-Aladja and work assiduously towards putting the company on track to its glorious days.

Noting that the Urhobo nation gave massive support to President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2011 election, he said the Urhobo people in turn want the President to support them. “The Urhobo people needs a senator who will look at the President eyeball to eyeball and tell him that the Urhobos will still support him but on terms that will be clearly spelt out by the Urhobo Progress Union,” he added.

Continuing, Omo-Agege reiterated that: “nobody under my watch as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will take the Urhobo nation for granted.”

Responding, Chairman of the party in the senatorial district, Chief Tom Amioku expressed delight at the large turnout of followers who accompanied Omo-Agege on the visit.

He described Omo-Agege as a man who has all it takes to get whatever that he desired and one who is worthy to represent the Delta Central at the National Assembly.

He, however, advised him to come out with his manifesto and work closely with the youths, women, elders, the UPU and his immediate constituency.