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Tag: Ovie Omo-Agege

  • On Ovie Omo-Agege’s castle-in-the-air

    On Ovie Omo-Agege’s castle-in-the-air

    Senator Ovie Omo-Agege emerged as one of the most influential lawmakers in Nigeria during his tenure as the Deputy President of the Senate, a position he held for four years. His political journey took a significant turn when he decided to contest for the governorship of Delta State. However, in a fierce electoral battle, he faced a formidable opponent in the incumbent Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori. The election proved to be a challenging experience for Omo-Agege, who expected victory but ultimately found himself on the losing side.

    Despite his initial disbelief regarding the outcome, Omo-Agege pursued his case through the judicial system, taking it all the way to the Supreme Court. Unfortunately for him, the court upheld the election results, affirming Oborevwori’s victory in the 2023 gubernatorial race. This defeat complicated Omo-Agege’s political ambitions as he set his sights on the 2027 election, hoping to secure the flag bearer position for the All Progressives Congress (APC). However, political dynamics in the party took an unexpected turn.

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    A significant shift occurred when Governor Oborevwori defected to the APC, seizing control of the party’s structure in Delta State. He has positioned himself as the leader of the APC, working to unify various factions within the party. This development has left Omo-Agege feeling vulnerable and frustrated, as he did not anticipate that his former rival would join his party, thereby complicating his aspirations of becoming the state’s governor.

    Sources close to the situation indicate that Omo-Agege is discontent with the current state of affairs but feels compelled to maintain party loyalty amid these changes. His path to the gubernatorial ticket now appears increasingly uncertain, especially with the possibility that the party may favor the incumbent governor for the nomination when his term concludes in 2031.

    Moreover, despite Omo-Agege’s attempts to re-establish his political base and strengthen his support network, many of his once loyal supporters have begun to drift away. It has become clear that the complex interplay of his ambition, influence, and the ongoing internal conflicts has rendered him one of Nigeria’s most intriguing yet polarizing political figures. His efforts to undermine party unity in the lead-up to the 2027 election have inadvertently weakened his own position and support within the party, leaving his future in Delta politics hanging in the balance.

  • Omo-Agege: Delta PDP-led governments abandoned Burutu, Bomadi for over 25 years

    Omo-Agege: Delta PDP-led governments abandoned Burutu, Bomadi for over 25 years

    Former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege has condemned the persistent neglect and underdevelopment of Burutu and Bomadi Local Government Areas by successive PDP-led administrations in Delta State. 

    He emphasised that despite the significant economic contributions of these oil-producing areas, the state government has failed to improve their infrastructure and overall living conditions.

    Omo-Agege, the All Progressives Congress, APC governorship candidate in the 2023 elections, expressed deep concern over the deplorable state of roads and the general lack of development in the two local government areas. 

    He lamented that after 25 years of PDP rule, there has been little to no progress in these areas, leaving the people in hardship despite their wealth of natural resources and contributions to Delta  State’s treasury.

    At the APC interactive leaders and stakeholders’ meeting in Delta South Senatorial District at Torugbene in Burutu LGA and St. Paul’s Catholic Church Hall, Bomadi, Senator Omo-Agege recounted how his party’s victory in the two local government areas were stolen through electoral manipulation. 

    Citing INEC’s official results, he noted that the APC secured 48% of the votes in Burutu, despite the PDP’s perpetution of  irregularities to rig the election. 

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    Omo-Agege praised the resilience and determination of the people, particularly the youth and women, who played a crucial role in limiting the scale of rigging in the two local government areas.

    Omo-Agege raised pressing concerns about the state government’s failure to provide basic infrastructure in Burutu and Bomadi. 

    He described his journey from Warri to Burutu as frustratingly slow due to the horrendous condition of the roads, questioning why a region that contributes significantly to the state economy remains neglected.

    “For decades, Burutu and Bomadi have been major economic contributors to Delta State’s wealth. Yet, there is little to show for it in terms of development,” Omo-Agege said.

    He pointed out that while the PDP controlled Delta South’s Senate seat, the House of Representatives seat, and the two-state assembly seats for 24 years, successive governments have continuously failed to invest in these local governments.

    Omo-Agege noted that the Delta State government often cites the construction of flyovers in Warri as a defense against criticisms of underdevelopment. 

    However, he pointed out that these flyovers, being built by Julius Berger, were part of his campaign promises. Omo-Agege questioned the inflated cost of the projects, highlighting that Rivers State had built 11 flyovers for ₦80 billion, whereas Delta State is spending ₦85 billion on just three. 

    He added that the cost is likely to increase further due to anticipated variations, emphasizing that the project should not have been so expensive. 

    Furthermore, Omo-Agege challenged the government to explain why, despite receiving over ₦1 trillion in FAAC allocations since May 2023, it has failed to construct a simple 20km road connecting Burutu to Bomadi.

    Omo-Agege urged the people of the two Local Government Areas to demand accountability from the state government. 

    He stressed that political affiliation should not come before community welfare and insisted that the people of Burutu and Bomadi have the right to question how their wealth is being used.

    He assured them that if voted into power in 2027, APC would ensure that the Ijaw and Itsekiri people receive their fair share of development. “For too long, these nationalities have only been given political appointments without tangible improvements in their infrastructure and living conditions. This will change if APC is voted into power in 2027”

    He insisted that appointments are not a substitute for real development and vowed to continue advocating for the infrastructure and economic empowerment that Burutu and Bomadi rightfully deserve.

    Omo-Agege also reminded the people that the fight for development is not over. “The contributions of these local governments to Delta State and Nigeria as a whole must be recognized with meaningful investments, not just empty promises. Until that happens,” he vowed to continue holding those in power accountable for the continued neglect of Burutu and Bomadi.

  • Gbajabiamila leads delegation to Commonwealth conference

    THE Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila is leading the Nigerian delegation to the 50th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), Africa Region conference taking place in Zanzibar, Tanzania from September 1. A statement signed by Lanre Lasisi , his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity further reads: “Members of the Nigerian delegation include the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and lawmakers from both chambers of the National Assembly.

    “The 50th Conference, with the theme ‘E-Parliament: Seamless Platform for Facilitating Democracy’ will feature discussions at plenary sessions on different categories such as ‘Parliamentary Affairs: The use of ICT in strengthening public involvement in the Legislative Process,’ and Social Affairs: The use of Social Media in enhancing Parliamentarians’ Constituency engagement.’ Other categories are Gender Affairs: Empowerment of Women: Strategies to enable Women’s participation in decision making; Youth Affairs: Implementation of Youth Policies as a tool to combat Migration.

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    “The rest of the categories for discussion at the conference include Economic Affairs: Enhancing Information and Communication Technolgy (ICT) use in providing life-changing solutions in rural communities, and Political Affairs: The role of technology in developing democratic practices.” Speaking on the conference, Speaker Gbajabiamila according to the statement said the CPA platform would be maximized by the Nigerian delegation towards enhancing the country’s democracy and deepening cooperation with member countries to strengthen democracy in Africa.

  • Omo-Agege empowers 417 APC members, others in Delta

    THE Deputy Senate President, His Excellency, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege, at the weekend, at his country home, Orogun, Ughelli North local area of Delta State, empowered over four hundred and seventeen members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, across Delta Central Senatorial District.

    Among the beneficiaries of the empowerment are the eight local government APC party chairmen from Delta Central and other party members who went home with eight Executive Toyota Corolla, 45 tricycles for party women, 175 for ward chairmen and 189 branding machines for ward women leaders.

    Omo-Agege, who was ably represented by his younger brother, Mr. Jimmy Omo-Agege, said Sen. Omo-Agege is unavoidably absent; hence he was standing for him to continue to appreciate all party members who stood and supported him during the 2019 general elections through this empowerment.

    Omo-Agege said the empowerment is a sign of appreciation to all members of the party for their steadfastness and hard work, pointing out that no member will be left behind, but that it has to be stage by stage, saying that Delta central will continue to support the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Read Also: Nigerians won’t regret Buhari’s re-election, Omo-Agege assures

    He urged beneficiaries of the empowerment to make proper use of all the items that have been offered to the beneficiaries, pointing out that there shall be other empowerment programme of this kind and that this programme is a way of bringing dividends of democracy to the peoples doorsteps, that the empowerment will go a long way to change and make impact on the people’s lives and the economy of the state.

    Also speaking, the Director General of Sen. Omo-Agege Campaign Organisation, Chief Francis Atanomeyovwi, said those who worked assiduously to ensure that Delta Central was won by President Muhammadu Buhari and Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege during the 2019 general elections have done so well, pointing out that every labourer deserves his or her wages.

  • Omo-Agege, NNPC bicker over NGC relocation plan

    Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege on Monday tackled the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) over its alleged planned relocation of the Nigerian Gas Company (NGC) headquarters from Ekpan-Warri in Delta State.

    The NNPC had in a statement, described as unfortunate statement credited to Sen. Omo-Agege where he reportedly condemned alleged moves by the Corporation to relocate NGC headquarters from the Niger Delta region.

    While calling on NGC host communities and other stakeholders to disregard the relocation tale which it described as totally false, the oil firm maintained that Sen Omo-Agege has “been misinformed or was quoted out of context noting that the subject of relocation of NGC was never on the table for deliberation by the NNPC management.”

    Responding to the NNPC statement yesterday, the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the Deputy President of the Senate, Mr. Yomi Odunuga, said his principal spoke from an informed position.

    Read Also: Omo-Agege, NNPC tangle over NGC relocation plan

    “Our attention has been drawn to a statement credited to the NNPC stating that the Deputy President of the Senate, Distinguished Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, was either misinformed or must have been quoted out of context in his plea for multinational oil  companies to relocate their headquarters to the Niger Delta region.

    “Specifically, he had sought a commitment that the planned relocation of the headquarters of the NGC from Ekpan-Warri in Delta State should be dropped as it’s relocation could jeopardise developmental strides in the area.

    “While it is gratifying that the NNPC, in the statement signed by its General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, has assured all the stakeholders in the region that neither  the NGC nor any of its other subsidiaries would be relocated outside the area of operation, the following clarifications have become necessary.

    “First, there has been widespread anxieties among stakeholders in the Niger Delta over alleged plans for the relocation of the NGC; it has been on the front burner for many months before the Deputy President of the Senate drew attention to it during the ministerial screening.

    “The issue, it must be stressed, was the focus of a peaceful youthful protest by Niger Delta youths earlier in January this year at the premises of the NGC and this disrupted the activities of the gas firm until an official from the Delta State Government and other stakeholders  intervened and normalcy was restored. This particular event was widely reported and it was given ample coverage in The Guardian newspaper of January 8, 2019 with the title “Delta youths protest against planned relocation of gas company.’

  • Buhari greets Deputy Senate President, Omo-Agege, at 56

    President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege, on the occasion of his 56th birthday.

    The President, in a statement by his spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, on Saturday in Abuja, felicitated with the National Assembly, Omo-Agege’s family, friends and political associates on the auspicious occasion.

    He urged the senator to remain focused in the pursuit of national interest and ensure that his ”passion for helping the underprivileged in his constituency remains his priority.”

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    The president saluted Omo-Agege’s courage and party loyalty, especially in his election as the first senator from Delta State to emerge as deputy senate president.

    Buhari prayed for longer life, good health and wisdom for the senator as he continued to serve his people and the nation.

    NAN

  • Lawan felicitates with Omo-Agege at 56

    Senate President, Dr Ahmad Lawan, has felicitated with his Deputy, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege, ahead of his 56th birthday on August 3.

    In a congratulatory message issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr Ola Awoniyi, Lawan said: “I heartily congratulate Sen. Omo-Agege on the auspicious occasion.

    ”I wish him many more years of meritorious service to Nigeria at the Senate and in other capacities that the Almighty God may take him in future.

    ”He has consistently demonstrated trustworthiness in service and leadership in his professional and public service career as a senator.

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    “I praise the zeal and uncompromising commitment of the deputy senate president to the principles of participatory democracy, justice and equity.”

    Lawan noted that Omo-Agege’s demonstrated courage of conviction had distinguished him as a principled political leader and a beacon of hope.

    He affirmed his commitment to Omo-Agege and other senators in the 9th Assembly to attain a nation that would nurture the potential of Nigerians, promote their best interests and imbue them with pride in their citizenship.

    The senate president said that he looked forward to a lasting warm and fruitful working relationship with Omo-Agege in the leadership of the Senate and the National Assembly

    NAN

     

  • Delta APC berates PDP over attack on Omo-Agege’s choices of aides

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Hon. John Halims Agoda, on Saturday, lashed PDP stalwart, Mr. Latimore Oghenesivwe, for attacking the Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege’s choices of media aides, describing his attack as myopic, lacking in knowledge and exposure.

    Agoda who is the 2019, House of Representative candidate, Ethiope Federal Constituency under APC, made this statement while reacting to publications in national dailies, credited to Mr. Fred Latimore Oghenesivwe, saying that it is the sole prerogative of the Deputy Senate President, Sen. Omo-Agege to appoint who should be his media aides.

    Speaking further, Agoda said, “The Urhobo nation are profoundly grateful to all the senators who elected him as deputy senate president and we as Urhobo people have been conferred with participatory inclusiveness in the art of national parliamentary democracy.

    “It may interest Mr. Latimore Oghenesivwe to know that former President Goodluck Jonathan and the former governor of Rivers and Minister of Transport, Amaechi had in the past appointed their media aides from Delta State, (Ughelli North and South) and it was never read in pages of newspapers, so, l dont know what is the business of Latimore Oghenesivwe over who Omo-Agege appoints as his media aides.

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    “When fate throws up new player of significance in the political realm at the national level, dysfunctional discordant sentiments are spewed by persons in the opposition camps, considering the recent effusive diatribe dripping with hate-tears by persons who believe Omo-Agege should have called a town-hall meeting to deliberate on who to be appointed as media aides.

    “This is a misconception and a poverty of knowledge of the fundamentals of national political engagements, as the deputy senate president was elected from among senators and by senators of equal mandate across the nation, so the realms of the functions and authority of Omo-Agege preclude exclusionism as such new roles transcend catering only to his home constituency.”

     

  • Omo-Agege seeks re-organisation of Southsouth APC

    Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege has called for the re-organisation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-south.

    According to him, the re-organisation will make the party work towards clinching some positions in 2023. He added that it would change the notion that the region is a stronghold of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The senator spoke when the South-south APC members, led by the National Vice Chairman, Ntufam Eta, visited his Abuja residence to congratulate him on his election as deputy Senate president.

    Omo-Agege attributed his victory to the support and endorsement by the president, party at the national and zonal level.

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    He said: “The party in the South-south needs to be reorganised. You provided leadership for us, we want you to continue to provide that leadership, but the difference now will be the support you are lacking, the support the party did not have then. With this platform given to us, as a party man, we will provide the support for you to have a vibrant party because some of us feel bad when we hear that South-south is a PDP zone.

    “Some of us were in PDP, and we know what we need to do to wipe all those things away from the political space, but people need to understand that if you provide an enabling environment for our people, they will succeed; but if we just render ab-initio that that area is a PDP stronghold and leave

  • Southsouth APC picks Omo-Agege

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Southsouth on Saturday announced the ceding of the position of Deputy Senate President to the zone by the national leadership of the party.

    The zonal APC immediately adopted Senator Ovie Omo-Agege (Delta Central) as its candidate for  the position.

    Former Abia State governor, Orji Uzor Kalu (South East), former Kano State governor, Kabiru Gaya (North West) and Senator Francis Alimikhena (Edo North) are also eyeing the position.

    The APC Chairman for the Southsouth, Mr. Hilliard Eta and the Zonal Secretary, David Okumagba said though both Alikikhena and Omo-Agege are qualified for the position, they settled for Omo-Agege because Edo State has already produced the National Chairman of the party.

    They said: “the Zonal Working Committee acting on behalf of the Zonal Executive Committee, Elders and Leaders of the South-South geopolitical zone of our great Party, the All Progressives Congress, (APC) wishes to state categorically that we align ourselves with the decision of the national leadership of our great party in respect of the zoning of the Principal offices of the 9th National Assembly.

    “We commend our respected leader, President Muhammadu Buhari for his sterling leadership of the affairs of our great country and our illustrious son, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for his sound administrative experience in piloting the affairs of our great Party.

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    “The leadership of the South-South Zone is fully in support of Mr. President.  Our zone has been given the opportunity by our great Party to produce the Deputy Senate President for the 9th National Assembly and we are thankful.

    “It is important to state that our two illustrious sons, Distinguished Senators Francis Alimikhena from Edo State and Ovie Omo-Agege from Delta State had indicated interest to contest for the office of the Deputy Senate President.  Both of them are eminently qualified for that office as both are ranking Senators.

    “However, considering the current zoning of political offices in our zone whereby Edo State produced the current National Chairman of our great Party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, and other considerations, it became imperative that our zone supports the candidature of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege for the office of the Deputy Senate President.

    “The South South geo political zone had demonstrated uncommon faith, courage and vigour in the just concluded general elections by voting massively for candidates of our great Party at all levels. We implore all Distinguished Senators to please stand by us and support Senator Ovie Omo Agege for the position of Deputy Senate President.”