As the nation continues to fashion out an enduring and genuinely national democratic culture in the mould of a new national identity on the global democratic stage, politics in Nigeria has opened a platform for committed, patriotic and genuine leaders to emerge. Men and women of great intellectual clout and moral sobriety are daily being recruited as a medium for shaping a new national consciousness, for contributing to the task of nation-building through conscious execution of the social contract between the leaders and the led, and for developing an intellectual cum legislative framework and world view for national action.
For the Deputy President of the Senate, His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, the journey to the Senate was an uphill task. However, he drew strength and inspiration from the support and goodwill of well-meaning people across the length and breadth of Delta Central Senatorial District.
During the 2019 senatorial election campaigns, Senator Omo-Agege promised the Urhobo people effective representation that will restore a steady, reliable and strong Urhobo voice at the national level.
Upon inauguration into the 9th Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege was overwhelmingly elected by his colleagues across party lines as the Deputy President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. To do this, The Obarisi of Urhoboland graciously secured the critical, all-important support of no other than the President and Commander-in-Chief, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, who saw in Omo-Agege a principled, courageous and dependable ally and an absolutely committed and loyal party man.
As usual, The Obarisi hit the ground running from day one. Without question, Senator Omo-Agege ranks among the best 10 senators in the present senate in terms of boldness, articulate contributions to debates on the floor of the Senate, mesmerizing texture of eloquence and the sublime grandeur of his logic and philosophical depth. His youthful and patriotic energy and zeal become handy whenever the opportunity arises for him to take the floor and make contributions to issues. He re-enacts the Chuba Okadigbo’s charm in his intellectually mercurial plenary presentations that often arrest national consciousness and the attention of his distinguished colleagues. He holds all with electrifying suspense, especially with his vast knowledge of the law and legislative engineering skills.
Omo-Agege is deft at brushing aside obvious partisanship. He is an expert at getting good results using both the power of superior brilliance and uncommon capacity to form a consensus with his colleagues. A super strategist, the Deputy President of the Senate understands that the Senate is a political ‘war theatre’ of some sort where only the strong, smart and strategically aligned breeds win. Otherwise, ‘simple’ intellectual confrontations and disputations over issues which should ordinarily meet members support can disorganize the unprepared and bring him to his knees. But Senator Omo-Agege continues to distinguish himself in this challenging environment as a leader who is fully prepared armed to stand for our people in the Senate.
LEGISLATIONS
In terms of legislation, Senator Omo-Agege unquestionably leads in the Senate in terms of highly consequential and impactful bills. He has sponsored the following Bills: Electoral Act 2010 (Amendment) Bill, 2019; National Electoral Offences Commission Bill, 2019 (co-sponsored with Senators Abubakar Kyari and Kabiru Gaya); Federal Polytechnic Orogun Establishment Bill, 2019; Dormant Accounts Fund Management Establishment Bill, 2019; Sexual Harassment Bill, 2019 (SB 77); National Industrial Court (Amendment) Bill, 2019; and Court of Appeal Act (Amendment) Bill, 2019.
CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW
In terms of reviewing the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he has sponsored the following Bills:
1. A Bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to preclude the Federal High Court from entertaining Pre-election disputes emanating from Congresses, Conferences, conventions or other meetings convened by political parties for purpose of electing members of its Executive committees or other governing bodies and for related matters, 2020 SB 318.
2. A Bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to preclude the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory from entertaining Pre-election disputes emanating from Congresses, Conferences, Conventions or other meetings convened by political parties for purpose of electing members of its Executive committees or other governing bodies and for related matters, 2020 SB 319.
3. A Bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to preclude the High Court of a state from entertaining Pre-election disputes emanating from Congresses, Conferences, Conventions or other meetings convened by political parties for purpose of electing members of its Executive committees or other governing bodies and for related matters, 2020 SB 320.
4. A Bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to provide for the establishment of separate tribunals to hear and determine pre-election matters and election petitions respectively, in the Presidential, National and State Houses of Assembly and Governorship elections and for related matters 2020 SB 321.
5. A Bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to amend section 308 of the 1999 Constitution by excluding immunity for public officers (Vice President, Governor and Deputy Governor) on misappropriation of public funds or sponsoring thugs to perpetrate violence resulting in death or injury of a political opponent, family member etc and for matters related 2020 SB 322.
6. A Bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to define who is an indigene of a State and for related matters, 2020 SB 323
7. A Bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to enable women to be identified as indigenes of a State by virtue of Marriage when running for office and for related matters, SB 324.
8. A Bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to specify the minimum number of Youths and Women appointed as Ministers, Ambassadors and State Commissioners and for related matters, 2020. SB 325.
9. A Bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to specify the time frame for the conduct of population census, 2020 SB 326.
10. A Bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to change the selection process of judges serving as members of an Election Tribunal, 2020 SB 327.
11. A Bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to empower the Accountant General of the Federation to make payment directly to the Houses of Assembly and judiciaries of States from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation for other related matters 2020, SB 439.
12. A Bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to bring in consistency in the retirement age of Judicial Officers of Superior Courts of record, the pension rights of Judicial Officers and enhancement of their remuneration and for other related matters 2020, SB 440.
PROJECTS INTERVENTION
Social responsibility in a democracy is predicated on the basic assumption that the man on whom a mandate is vested is endowed with a communal voice. Therefore, the tissues of his work and actions pulsate, with an energy that is public in origin. He addresses himself to the problems, issues and challenges that engage his own people.
He is the oracle, who is positioned to hear from and relate with higher powers in the political ladder for the benefit of his people. He feels their pulse and bears their pain to the point of personal discomfort.
If these are attributes of an accomplished democrat, Senator Omo-Agege has truly distinguished himself as one. If a true democrat is one who responds or yields to society’s demand on him, making such demands to define the nature of his actions and activities, then The Obarisi is a role model in democratic consciousness. A peep into some of his recent responses to developmental challenges will attest to this, as shown herein below:
1. Installation of 34 strands of solar-powered street lights in Ekakpamre, in Ughelli South Local Government Area;
2. Installation of two 500 KVA, 11/0.415 KV Transformers (Substations) at Queens Lane and Ighorowhonu Streets, Ughelli Town, in Ughelli North Local Government Area;
3. Installation of one 500 KVA, 33/0.415 KV Transformers (Substations) at Ekredjabor, Ughelli Town, in Ughelli North Local Government Area;
4. Installation of one 500 KVA, 11/0.415 KV Transformer (Substation) at G.R.A, Effurun, in Uvwie Local Government Area;
5. Installation of two 500 KVA, 33/0.415 KV Transformers (Substations) at Emonu - Orogun and Ovara - Umusu, Orogun, in Ughelli North Local Government Area;
6. Completion of Primary Health Centre (Phase 2) at Ophori - Agbarho, in Ughelli North Local Government Area;
7. Completion of Primary Health Centre (Phase 2) at Ubogo, in Udu Local Government Area.
8. Renovation/Completion of Primary Health Centre (Phase 2) at Omavovwe - Agbarha, in Ughelli North Local Government Area;
9. Supply of Medical Equipment to selected Primary Health Centres in Ughelli North Local Government Area;
10. Supply of Medical Equipment to selected Primary Health Centres in Sapele Local Government Area.
He has done much more.
HUMANITARIAN SERVICE
As part of measures to cushion the effects of the lockdown due to the ravaging Coronavirus pandemic, DSP Senator Ovie Omo-Agege commenced the immediate disbursement of cash to thousands of low-income households across the eight Local Government Areas that make up Delta Central Senatorial District. The eight local government areas in the senatorial district include Ethiope East, Ethiope West, Okpe, Sapele, Ughelli North, Ughelli South, Udu and Uvwie.
In a statement released by the office of the DSP, a total of two hundred (200) households from each Ward in the Senatorial District will receive the sum of Five Thousand Naira (N5000) per household. There are Eighty-Five (85) Wards in the eight Local Government Areas that make up Delta-Central. This translates to Seventeen Thousand (17,000) households in the Senatorial Zone. He also embarked on the distribution of ten bags of rice to old women of each of the 85 Wards in the eight Local Government Areas that make up Delta-Central.
There is no gainsaying that Sen. Omo-Agege’s cash handouts to his constituents in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic will form an indelible high watermark that others will inevitably be measured against. Indeed it is already the centre topic of discussion among the constituents of Delta central and beyond who are obviously overwhelmed by the altruism and the empathetic disposition of the Deputy President of the Senate.
It will certainly not be an overstatement to assert here that Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege has obviously redefined what is commonly known in our political clime as ‘’Empowerment’’ in Delta Central Senatorial district. It is premised on the above that I wish to enjoin all well-meaning Urhobos particularly those in elected political offices and as well as those holding appointive positions to take a cue from the selfless and beneficient initiative of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege.
RECOGNITION AND AWARDS
The People’s Senator, as he is fondly called, is a Pan-Nigerian as his representation at the Senate transcends his immediate senatorial district. He is a man who appreciates the dynamics of social responsibility to the people whose mandate he operates. He is first and foremost answerable to the people who made so much sacrifice to clip the wings of the rampaging political demons on the path of his political glory. In recognition of his sterling leadership qualities as the Deputy President of the Senate, he was bestowed with various awards from different groups/associations. Some of which includes the following:
1. Award for Excellent performance and nationalistic support (from the APC North-West Forum);
2. Award as Icon of the Niger-Delta (by the Niger-Delta National Leaders and Development Stakeholders Forum);
3. Award as Icon of Integrity and Exemplary Leadership (by the National Association of Northern States Students Union);
4. Award in recognition of effective representation of the Niger-Delta and projection of its development issues (by the Isoko National Youth Assembly);
5. Award for Exemplary Leadership (by the Northern Youth Assembly of Nigeria).
Senator Ovie Omo-Agege is resilient and dogged in fighting the common course of the people. His ingenuity in turning the pages, identifying those areas where good laws could intervene in the affairs of the people, moving on and growing personally from glory to glory in giving life to Urhobo National courses is second to none. He has earned his place in the Senate through the merit he possesses intelligence, grace, dignity, decorum, altruism, and talent. His work ethic, toughness, and encyclopedic command of the facts, are nothing short of breathtaking. He has written his name in gold and the only thing left is for Urhobo to rally round him and give him the necessary support for him to achieve his full potentials and chart an honourable course into the future.
Aruviere Martin Egharhevwa, Esq.
11/06/2020.
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