*Says It’s Time To Vote Out PDP, Vote in APC for Development
*Ayiri, Tuoyo, Others Promise To Deliver
By Victor Lewis
After a gruelling two-hours boat ride to the riverine Communities of Gbokoda and Egbema in Warri North LGA where poverty, lack of health facilities and other important social amenities have become a way of life of the people, the APC Governorship candidate of the party, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has declared that enough is enough of Okowa and PDP marginalization and neglect of the oil-producing Communities.
Omo-Agege who made this declaration when the APC ward-to-ward campaign train landed in Gbokoda and Opuama in Warri North Local Government Area today, was more particularly pained of the dearth of health facilities to cater for the people of the Communities who have to travel for more than two hours before reaching to the nearest hospital in Warri for medical attention.
The APC Governorship candidate however delivered a message of hope to the people that when voted for and he emerge as the next governor of the State, he will declare a state of emergency for the rapid development of the age-long neglected areas so that the people can breathe a fresh air of freedom from Okowa and PDP marginalization and neglect.
Omo-Agege lamented the humongous contributions of the Itsekiris and Ijaws Communities in the Warri North Local Government Area without commensurate development and improvement of the lives of the people, adding that it was wicked and inhuman for Okowa and the PDP government to continue to impoverish them.
But while addressing the people Omo-Agege specifically pledged that his administration will tackle the absence of hospitals to cater for the health needs of residents of riverine communities whose only access to quality healthcare is in Warri, which is two hours drive from Gbokoda and Egbema.
He appealed to the Itsekiri and Ijaw people to vote for him as governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for president and other APC candidates in the elections, saying that his administration will put an end to the marginalisation and underdevelopment of riverine communities across the state.
At Gbokoda, the Deputy President of the Senate, said stated: “The Itsekiris are marginalised by the current administration of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa-led PDP government. While coming on this two-hour boat ride, many questions were running through my mind. First, why is there poverty when Warri North contributes so much to our revenue development not here?
“This is an oil-bearing community and this is an oil-bearing LGA. The bulk of the money we receive as a state from the 13% derivation comes from the oil produced here.
“If not for Tuoyo’s contributions, you will not know that this is an oil-bearing local government. The Itsekiri people are marginalised by the Governor Okowa-led government, in spite of this, you still have some Itsekiri leaders saying, ‘where Okowa we will go’.
“If you look at the entire Itsekiri and Ijaw nations, there is no tertiary institution in Itsekiri and Ijaw lands, yet in one day, not too long ago Okowa and Sheriff created three Universities and Governor took one to his home town and never considered the Itsekiri and Ijaw nations.
“Okowa didn’t think that nobody in Itsekiri is important enough to be considered to be rewarded by placing a higher institution in Itsekiri land yet we have Itsekiri leaders dining with him and are now urging him on to continue the marginalisation of Itsekiri.
“We have suffered enough. I am also a stakeholder in Itsekiri Nation. So, when I say we, I speak also as a stakeholder. I am angry and I want the Itsekiri people to be angry too. You have a chance now to remedy the marginalisation, by voting PDP and Okowa out come 2023 elections.
“We now have a choice, and our choice is easy. l am very certain that Okowa has not visited Gbokoda and doesn’t know the deplorable condition our people live in, and he has been a governor for over seven years, in all these years what Okowa has to show for the Itsekiri people is market.
“Asiwaju is your in-law. When Tinubu becomes President, you have produced a president. When Asiwaju becomes president by your votes, we are going to collaborate to reactivate Koko, Warri and Burutu ports.
“I know the challenges you face. I will work with Yinka and other Itsekiri leaders to address them. Tuoyo has tried but I will take it up from there. I promise to address the challenges of health in this community. Our women who want to deliver do not need to be rushed to Warri for the hospital,” Omo-Agege pledged.
Responding, a leader of APC in Delta State who hails from the area, Chief Ayiri Emami, assured that all the wards in Gbokoda are for APC
He said: “The President that is coming is our in-law. He’s the husband of our sister. We must ensure that we vote for Tinubu. For the three of us (Tuoyo, Prince Yemi Emiko and Ayiri) to be here means Itsekiri is here. Vote for Omo-Agege.
“In the forthcoming elections, don’t be deceived by money. Vote for Tinubu, Ovie Omo-Agege and other APC candidates. Omo-Agege as a governor will perform and develop our communities.”
A former Executive Director, Project of NDDC who is one of the chieftains of the party in the area,. Mr. Tuoyo Omatsuli, in his remark, said that Itsekiris will vote for Tinubu and Omo-Agege because they know what they can do. “Omo-Agege understands the pains and needs of the Itsekiri People”, he said.
Also speaking, APC Warri North LGA chairman, Omatsuli Akatakpo said: “It’s the first time a gubernatorial candidate will be visiting Itsekiri riverine communities for the campaign,” stressing that the people of Warri North will support the candidacy of Senator Omo-Agege. “Our people will vote for him enmasse”, he stated.
The House of Reps candidate for the area, Ekpokpo Emmanuel, assured that Omo-Agege and other APC leaders that the Itsekiri and other tribes in Warri shall all be voted for, adding that an Omo-Agege-led government will be beneficial to Itsekiri.
Omo-Agege, was accompanied by top APC leaders in the state including former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and DG of Delta APC Campaign, Elder Godsday Orubebe, Delta APC chairman, Elder Omeni Sobotie; Itsekiri leader and APC Leader in the State, Chief Ayiri Emami, former EDP of NDDC, Engr. Tuoyo Omatsuli, Chief Michael Johnny, Prince Yemi Emiko, amongst others
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