By Victor Lewis
In recognition of the contributions of the Muslim community to the development of the State, the Delta State APC Governorship Candidate for the 2023 general election, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has assured that, in constituting his cabinet as the next governor of the State, he will ensure that he appoints a Muslim as a member of the State Executive Council.
Omo-Agege who gave this commitment during an interactive session in a Town Hall Meeting with representatives of the Muslim community in the State today in Effurun, also promised to sponsor members of the State Muslim Pilgrim Board to Mecca on Pilgrimage, as well as extend appointments to Non-indigenes without discrimination.
The APC Governorship candidate who used the occasion to appreciate the Muslim community for their unflinching support for his elections to the Senate in 2015 and 2019, also promised to extend compliments to the Muslims during their annual celebrations.
But more importantly, Omo-Agege promised to abolish the present discrimination in school fees in State-owned tertiary Institutions between Indigenes and non-indigenes in the State.
“On the issue of discrimination in appointment, I have said it before that if I emerge the governor, just the way Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu did it when he was the governor of Lagos State when he appointed different persons representing different religions, I will do the same here in Delta State.
“On the issue of discrimination in school fees between Indigenes and non-indigenes, as far as I’m concerned, we are going to abolish that system. For as long as you are resident here in Delta State and your child is going to school here, that child will pay the same fees just like the children of indigenes. So, that discrimination we will abolish it”, he said.
Also responding to a suggestion that, when he becomes the governor, he should appoint Special Advisers to interface between the government, farmers and herdsmen to address the problem of insecurity, Omo-Agege aligned himself with it, adding that he will fashion a way to create harmony between the farmers and the herdsmen.
“For us, we will protect everybody. We will look for a way to bring harmony in the relationship between the farmers who own and farm on the land and the cattle rearers who also need to have access to the land.
A cross section of the Muslim representatives
“But most importantly, we will appoint someone who will interface with us as Special Adviser as you have said. The same way we will address the issue of SA on religions affairs”, the Governorship Candidate concurred.
Omo-Agege also acceded to the suggestion of access to job opportunities for the children of non-indigenes and indigenes, adding that “you are Deltans. You reside here. You pay taxes here. So, if there are job opportunities, it is to the benefit of everybody. We will not discriminate against you. I can assure you of that.”
Earlier, Omo-Agege had assured the Muslim community that “before we take decisions especially decisions that will impact one way or the other on Muslim community, you will be consulted.”
He urged the Muslim community to vote en masse for all the candidates of the APC so that development that will also impact on them could come to the State, just as he reeled out his development policy as encapsulated in his EDGE Agenda.
Responding on behalf of the Muslim Community, the one of the leaders, Alhaji Yusuf, assured the Governorship candidate that they have put strategy in place to ensure that the over 200,000 members of the group cast their votes for Omo-Agege to become the next governor as they have always done for him in the past.
In the entourage of the Deputy President of the Senate are the Director General of the APC Campaign Council, Elder Godsday Orubebe, the Deputy Director General, Pastor Dr. Otive Igbuzor, Delta Central APC Chairman, Chief Paulinus Akpeki, Delta Central Coordinator of the APC Campaign Council, Olorogun Dr. Ominimini Obiuwevwi, amongst other oarty chieftains.
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