Sapele, Nov. 29, 2022 – The federal government has released N80 billion for the reconstruction of the failed Sapele-Benin road and Amukpe-Agbor-Uromi roads in Delta State.
Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, the Deputy President of the Senate and APC Gubernatorial Candidate in Delta, said this in Sapele on Monday at a meeting with members of the Christian Council of Nigeria (CAN).
He said that he requested from Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, to know the status of the road all the way from Petroleum Training Institute to Agbor as soon as he became deputy president of the Senate,.
Omo-Agege said this was because he knew the contract had been awarded previously and hence requested for a review so he could put it in the Niger Delta Development Commission budget.
He said that with the reconstitution of the NDDC board, Buhari ordered that N500 billion of the commission that was frozen be released for development projects and the sum of N80 billion was approved when he pleaded with the President to consider the Sapele-Benin road and the Amukpe-Agbor roads.
He assured that he would create an enabling environment for companies that had left the state to return if elected governor
“When I become governor in 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,” he said.
Omo-Agege spoke on the issue of the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the APC presidential and vice presidential candidates, saying “we want power for development and progress. That’s what we use power for.”
“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, met and signed a communique in Asaba. Okowa read the communique.
“But no sooner had that been done, during the PDP national congress, Okowa asked delegates of Delta to vote for a northerner. The same Okowa 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,” he queried.
The Chairman of CAN in the state, Rev Dr Jonathan Iwhiwhu, commended the contributions of the Church to development of the state and called for assistance in terms of construction of a secretariat and official bus.
He drew Omo-Agege’s attention to the deplorable Sapele-Benin road and the Amukpe-Agbor-Uromi road and pleaded that policies that had negatively impact on the economic ventures of the church such as schools should be moderated if he becomes governor.
Iwhiwhu also called for provision of job opportunities for youths of the church as a reward for the church’s support for his election as governor. (GBN)
