Former Deputy President of the Senate, Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege, has called on Nigerians to give their unflinching support to the administration of President Bola Tinubu, stressing that his government will succeed despite gang-ups.
This is even as the ancient and commercial city of Ughelli in Delta State stood still on Saturday as leaders and thousands of supporters and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) across the state welcomed him home after eight years of meritorious service to the country as the senator that represented Delta Central from 2015 to 2023.
Omo-Agege, who had earlier been received at Osubi Airport in Osubi town by Senator Ede Dafinone, Rep Francis Waive and other top leaders of the party, drove in a motorcade to Ughelli amidst cheers and praises from market women and residents.
It was the first time the 2023 APC governorship candidate will be returning home to Delta since the last general elections where the party won two Senate seats, House of Representatives seat and seven seats in the State House of Assembly.
Addressing leaders and APC supporters at the open field of Oil City Hotel in Ughelli, Omo-Agege said President Bola Tinubu is committed to alleviating the sufferings and economic challenges that Nigerians were currently facing.
He noted that some of the policies initiated by the Tinubu’s administration were already yielding positive results, and pleaded with Nigerians to pray and support him for the general good of all and the country.
Omo-Agege said, “We championed and fought for the aspiration of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We took his ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ to every nook and cranny in Delta.
“Like Senator Peter Nwaoboshi has said, I want to appeal to those of you who have not received your just recompense, please be patient. Some have had theirs. I am confident that Mr President would remember everybody.
“But one thing is clear; Mr. President has not disappointed us. When we went out championing him and fighting for his emergence, we knew what his track record was as governor of Lagos State. We made the case then that we want what he did in Lagos State to be replicated across Nigeria.
“Today, when he started, we all saw the turbulence. We saw the economic downturn. The dollar spiraled out of control, but the Asiwaju we have always known step forward and things have started taking shape gradually. This is just the beginning.
“I am sure he would succeed. Let’s continue to pray for him. He’s our own. When President Bola Tinubu succeeds, we also succeed. When it’s good for him, it will also be good for us. Let’s continue to pray for him and protect him. He has a mandate of eight years and in that eight years, he’s going to turn around things for the good of this country. It will be good for this nation.”
Flanked by his deputy in 2023 general elections, Rt. Hon. Friday Osanebi, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, Senator Ede Dafinone and other leaders of the party in the state, the former Deputy Senate President thanked and commended Deltans and APC members for their support and voting for the party in 2023.
Omo-Agege said although the party lost the 2023 gubernatorial election, he was confident that the party will sweep the 2027 general elections in the state considering the success it recorded in the last election where it won Delta Central and Delta South senate seats and other lawmaking seats.
“As we all now know, the Supreme Court ultimately decided to retain the status quo. A decision we accepted as democrats but disagree with as a matter of law, fact and truth.
“Our conviction that your good labour actually produced a resounding electoral victory to take our State to a new and better direction therefore remains unshaken and unshakable.
“Thank you for your firm commitment to our vision of a modern society that runs on innovation, rule of law, our values of honest living and honorable service, and transformational ideas.
Thank you for believing in the strength of our oneness and the beauty of our diversity. Thank you for always helping to push back every false narrative against the plainness of our hearts in the affairs of all our people.
“I am deeply touched and humbled by your broad sacrificial giving to organize this unbelievably massive homecoming ceremony. Today eloquently testifies that our humble efforts to engineer the wheels of politics for the good of our people is not in vain. Thank you indeed.”
In his welcome remark, the chairman of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege Homecoming Committee and Senator representing Delta Central, Senator Dafinone stated that Urhobo Nation and Deltans are happy with Omo-Agege’s performance at the Red Chamber.
Dafinone said Omo-Agege raised the bar of representation in Delta Central by attracting projects and sponsoring bills as well as the establishment of two federal education institutions.
Also speaking, the member representing Ughelli North, Ughelli South and Udu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Francis Waive, specifically praised Omo-Agege for leading the party to victory in 2023 general elections.
Others who spoke including Senator Joel Onohwakpo-Thomas (represented by Architect Amby Okuhor), Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, Rt. Hon. Friday Osanebi (former Deputy Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly and Omo-Agege’s 2023 running mate), Rt. Hon. Monday Igbuya (former Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly and present Commissioner, NDDC) and Rt. Hon. Daniel Reyenieju praised Senator Omo-Agege for his excellent representation at the National Assembly as Deputy President of the Senate.
They also called for unity of the party in the state, saying that it’s only through that APC can consolidate on its performance in the last general elections.
Amongst those who attended the Omo-Agege’s homecoming included Hon. Blessyn Brume-Ataguba (Federal Commissioner, National Population Commission), Hon. Francis Atanomeyovwi (Federal Commissioner, National Assembly Service Commissioner), Mr Sunday Areh, Mr Efe Duku, Mr Godwin Anaughe and Hon. Moses Anaughe (Federal Commissioner, Federal Character Commission).