DELTA 2023 : REFLECTIONS ON OVIE OMO-AGEGE’s ROBUST SOCIAL-ECONOMIC BLUEPRINT

By Ibru Nejuvie

“We must have a blueprint not only for a guided economy but for a social order based on justice and ensuring the well-being of the people.” -Sukarmo (Former Indonesia President)

That Senator Ovie Omo-Agege came adequately prepared and resolutely determined to root out the inept PDP leadership in the state is not in doubt but the depth and content of his developmental blueprint to transform and leapfrog a once-promising state to the league of advanced states in Nigeria are sending shock waves to the camp of the opposition.

At the well-attended World Press Conference to herald the flag off of the APC Presidential/Gubernatorial campaign in Asaba last week, the Deputy Senate President and Delta State APC Gubernatorial candidate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege was unambiguous on the way forward and the credible alternative to the ill-fated and bad governance Deltans have faced in the last 24 years.

That a once vibrant and promising state is in the throes of bankruptcy and now one of the leading most indebted states in the country without any meaningful Infrastructural transformation calls for a radical and dramatic change of guards to save the ship of state from an imminent shipwreck.

Rivers State Governor, Barrister Nyesom Wike’s recent revelation and acknowledgement of President Buhari’s release of the backlog of arrears of 13% derivation funds to Niger Delta states, further buttress Ovie Omo-Agege’s assertion of the continuous haemorrhage and pillage of the state resources in the last seven years of the PDP led government in the state.

According to Omo-Agege, “I entered this race because I am deeply dissatisfied with the state of affairs in Delta State. This event, therefore, marks the beginning of a historic journey, which I have committed into the hands of the Almighty God for direction, strength, guidance and wisdom. It is a journey for the good of the generality of the people of Delta State.”

On his plans for agriculture, he said:” I will address our scary unemployment rate by giving priority to public investment in agriculture and tech-driven entrepreneurship. My plan as stated in our manifesto will change and create an investment-friendly charter that makes access to funds and infrastructure a natural way of life. Human capital development, agriculture, tourism, infrastructure, housing and other labour-intensive interventions will be at the core of our agenda.

” We shall establish a Delta State Employment, Entrepreneurship and Empowerment Program (DEEP), and facilitate the establishment of cluster industries in each of the twenty-five Local Government Areas of our state. We will deliberately create an enabling environment for industries and manufacturing; establish tech hubs, set up small businesses loans guarantee schemes, promote skills acquisition and set up a Career Development Centre for Deltans.

” As part of our plans to promote ease of doing business, we will undertake institutional and prices review, remove red tape and bureaucratic bottlenecks, improve Infrastructure, and re-engineer our peace and security strategies while establishing a one-stop repository of business knowledge and information. We will guarantee the rights of women and invest their unique energy to drive social and economic development in the state. We will initiate a youth development program that moves them away from the hopelessness of today, connect them to creative endeavours and generate energy for honourable work.

“We will make aggressive investments in modern infrastructure capable of opening up the total economic energies of our people, we will lift the state out of a mono-economic dependency by launching diversification into tech and business incubation. We are deeply committed to the cause of changing the current development path of our state. However, we cannot do it without the support and cooperation of our people. Democracy and development thrive in a watchful and active citizenry that should hold us accountable every step of the way.

“To kick start the real development of the state, our administration will focus on massive industrialization through agriculture and integrated rural development, facilitating the establishment of food processing industries, industrial estates, transportation, including land, air, sea and maritime, promote free and compulsory basic education, free primary healthcare, development and expansion of educational opportunities for Deltans from primary to tertiary level, urban renewal and regeneration that will focus primarily on cities like Asaba, Warri, Ughelli, Sapele, Agbor, Kwale and other riverine areas of the state, including Burutu, Oleh, Ozoro, and others. Our government will promote innovation by investing in information and communication technology as a way of modernising and simplifying government operations”

Addressing thousands of APC supporters at the Warri Township stadium on Saturday, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege re-emphasized his determination to drive an aggressive industrialization policy when he said with the collaboration of an APC-led federal government, he will change the current narrative by reactivating the Warri and Koko ports and take a review of the privatization of DSC which was once the flagship of development in the state.

Ovie Omo-Agege’s exhaustive blueprint encountered in his 60-page manifesto anchored on the EDGE to build a New Delta (BAND) which covers critical areas of governance that would drive Agege’s agenda when elected in 2023 is hereby recommended for all Deltans.

Like the great American singer and actress, Janelle Monae Robinson, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege is “always thinking about the next generation and creating a different blueprint for them…

to let them know there’s another way.”

Undoubtedly, Ovie Omo-Agege for Governor is an idea whose time has come. Let us all support him for the love of Delta.