DESOPADEC ‘ll be functional, adequately funding, if elected – Omo-Agege

Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship candidate in Delta, on Tuesday promised to ensure adequate funding of the Delta Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), as governor in 2023.

Omo-Agege made the promise during the continuation of his party’s ward-to-ward campaign visit to Burutu Ward 10 and 11 in Burutu Local Government area of the state.

The Deputy President of the Senate said that DESOPADEC needed adequate funding to enable it to meet its mandate of developing the oil-bearing communities in the state.

He noted that the interventionist agency had been starved with fund over the years, promising to change the trend.

“Unlike Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa’s era, the DESOPADEC will be fully functional and funded to meet the yearnings and aspirations of the oil and gas producing communities in the state during my tenure as the state governor.

“My administration will ensure that 50 per cent of the derivation fund must be seen to be expended on behalf of those who produced the wealth.

“The era in which few persons hijacked DESOPADEC funds for their personal use is over. If we say this money is for DESOPADEC, it must be used for the benefit and development of the oil-producing communities.

“We are going to appoint credible people who will effectively manage the resources of DESOPADEC for the benefit of our people to establish industries and ensure that there is electricity in our communities,” he said.

Omo-Agege, representing Delta Central Senatorial District, also said he had reached an agreement with the APC Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to revive the ailing seaports in the state, if he wins the 2023 presidential election.

He said that Burutu used to be the economic hub of the state with one of Nigeria’s best seaports and Delta Timber Industry (DTI).

According to him, Burutu has been left to rot away despite its monumental contributions to the nation and Delta’s economy.

Omo-Agege promised to restore Burutu to its glorious days and also end marginalisation of any section of the state through various development as a governor.

The APC governorship candidate promised that his administration would tackle the issue of absence of power supply in Burutu area.

He further promised that to ensure that the all-important Ayakromo Bridge, which connects several Ijaw and Urhobo communities, is completed.

“I can assure you that as a Governor in 2023, I will restore the glorious days of Burutu when Elder Godsday Orubebe was the council chairman, when there was electricity and the Delta Timber Industry was thriving.

“Today, Burutu is a shadow of its old-self, and yet, we have a sitting governor who came to Burutu to campaign in 2015 and 2019 where he promised prosperity for all Deltans.

“But, when you go round Burutu today, what you see is lack and decaying infrastructure.

“But, we are here with your leader and former council chairman, Orubebe, to assure you that we will restore the glorious days of Burutu Council and even make it better.

“I can assure you that we are going to bring electricity back here, because this is the goose that lays the golden egg.

“We are going to pamper Burutu. We are going to pamper the Ijaw, Itsekiri, Ndokwa, Isoko, Urhobo and Anioma Nations,” he promised.

Omo-Agege, while soliciting for votes from the people of Burutu for all APC candidates, further promised to attract investors to the state and revive all the ailing state-owned industries.

In his remarks, Mr Seikemiengan Moni, the Chairman of APC in Burutu Local Government area, said that the people of the council would vote for Omo-Agege and other APC candidates in the 2023 general elections.

According to Moni, the ruling PDP in the state has failed their people for too long, saying that more PDP members were defecting to the APC.

“They are defecting because the people believed the capacity of Omo-Agege, who has performed credibly well as a senator representing Delta Central,” he said.

Also, Elder Godsday Orubebe, the Director-General of Delta APC Campaign Organisation, lamented that Delta Timber, which employed over 500 staff, was dead.

“There’s no light. Omo-Agege will give us light. The port will work again. It will come back to life. He will empower our youths, women and the aged,” he said.