By Ovie Okpare
The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, on Sunday gave insight as to how he emerged the Deputy President of the 9th Senate.
Omo-Agege said although his emergence as DSP was rough, but was sealed the moment President Muhammadu Buhari ‘chests’ out to support his candidacy for the office of the Deputy President of the Senate.
He spoke on Sunday at the Mother of the Redeemer Catholic Church in Effurun in the Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State during a thanksgiving service to celebrate his re-election as senator and his elevation to the office of DSP.
The thanksgiving service was graced by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmed Lawan; Secretary to the Federal Government, Boss Mustapha and Governors Ifeanyi Okowa, Hope Uzodinma, Badaru Abubakar, Nasiru El-Rufai and Nyemson Wike of Delta, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna and Rivers States respectively.
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The event was also attended by serving ministers including Minister of State for Labour, Olorogun Festus Keyamo (SAN); Minister of Petroleum Resources (State), Timipre Sylva and Senator George Akume and national chairman of APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
Others are serving former governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, Prof Amos Utuama (former Deputy Governor of Delta), Senator James Manager, Senator Peter Nwoaboshi, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori (Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly), Dr. Cairo Ojougboh (NDDC EDP), Chief Benard Okumagba, Senator Ighoyota Amori, Engr. Victor Ochei (former speaker Delta State House of Assembly) among others.
The Delta Central senator, who ascribed his present position to God Almighty, noted that God used President Buhari and other leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) including the national chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, to enable him emerged as the number two man in the senate.
Omo-Agege said the road to becoming DSP right from the primaries of his party to the 2019 general elections and subsequently Nigerian Senate leadership election was tough and rugged.
According to him, “Right from the primaries to decide who the candidate of APC will be, there were landmines erected everywhere that by any particular means, it can blow everybody out of the waters. A lot of people say Omo-Agege is tough, Omo-Agege can do this, he can do that. No! it’s not me. It’s God.
“After the APC primaries, the biggest battle was where I had to confront the political machineries of my governor (Senator Ifeanyi Okowa) and his party. It was not a tea party by any means. Any politician in Delta State will tell you that. But with God on our side, we survived it. All glory, praises and thanks be to Almighty God.
“Haven survived that, it was the battle for the leadership of the Senate. For my trajectory, for those who followed the development in the 8th Senate. President Muhammadu Buhari is not known for chesting out for people in situation like this, but for the very first time, Mr President put his foot down and said Senator Ovie Omo-Agege is the one that will be the Deputy President of the Senate.
“I want Urhobo people and the people of Delta Central Senatorial District to thank Mr President. The only reason your son for the very first time since the advent of politics is the Deputy Senate President is because of President Buhari. He didn’t do that alone. He has his inner cabinet. His caucus so to speak.”
“Our national chairman (APC) here (Adams Oshiomhole) if he never wanted me to be the deputy president of the senate, it wouldn’t have happened. But he put his foot down and working with Mr President and Vice President that the office of the DSP must come to South –South.”
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The Deputy President of the Senate said going by activities of the 8thSenate if not God and the intervention of Buhari not many would have given him the opportunity to be re-elected or even be in his present position.
He described Delta Central and Delta State as a difficult terrain to play politics, adding he had to fight struggle PDP structure in the state to be re-elected as senator representing Delta Central at the National Assembly.
“My heart is full of gratitude to God. Primarily, if men are to decide who should be re-elected senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria representing Delta Central, I am sure, that wouldn’t have be Senator Omo-Agege.
“If men are to decide among the 109 members of the Senate who should become the Deputy Senate President, I am sure too, it will not be Senator Omo-Agege. But there’s only one reason why this happened, that’s God. Delta Central and indeed, Delta State is a rugged terrain. It is a survival of the fittest.”
Omo-Agege, however, said he would use his position as Deputy President of the Senate to unite the country and support the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that the country surmount myriads of challenges confronting the country.
In his remark, Vice President Osinbajo, described Senator Omo-Agege as a loyal and committed lawmaker whose desire is to see that the country overcome its challenges and for the betterment of Nigerians.
Osinbajo said, “With the steadfastness in the Senate, we will get it right in the country. Omo-Agege is committed and we thank God that we are here with our brother to celebrate.”
