Former Niger Delta agitators of Urhobo and Isoko extraction have called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arrest Senator Ovie Omo-Agege for allegedly withholding the Pipeline Surveillance contract funds meant for the youths of Urhobo and Isoko ethnic nationalities.

Senator Omo-Agege is the current Deputy President of the Senate and leading Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the coming March 18, 2023, Governorship and House of Assembly elections in Delta State.

The aggrieved, wild-looking youths, armed with placards with various inscriptions and chanting revolutionary songs on Thursday morning, stormed the Ovwian Express Junction, Udu Local Government Area of the state, on a peaceful protest, calling out Omo-Agege to return the pipeline surveillance funds allocated to the two ethnic nationalities.

The youths, therefore, gave the EFCC a seven-day ultimatum commencing March 9, 2023, to carry out the arrest or be ready for more showdowns on the ystreets.

In a statement read by the Secretary General of the Ovwian community, Okoro Godspower, the youths alleged that they had, at different occasions, met with the Obarisi of Urhoboland concerning the slot, but nothing has been done.

According to them, their neighbours, the Itsekiri and Ijaw youths have been receiving N200,000 surveillance funds, and the Urhobo and Isoko youths are being given N60,000 with Omo-Agege allegedly withholding N140,000

The statement also alleged that Omo-Agege was cajoling them to tender a hand-written resignation letter stating that they have defected to APC, with a promise that their names would be included in the pipeline surveillance contract list.

The statement read: “Based on the exigencies at the moment, it has become paramount and imperative for us, the Ex-Agitators of Urhobo and Isoko Ethnic Nationalities, to stage a peaceful protest to let the whole world know about the evil schemes of Senator Ovie Omo Agege who has taken over the Pipeline Surveillance contract meant for the Urhobo and Isoko Nations.

“Since he has refused to listen to the voice of reason to remove his hand from this God-given opportunity, we unequivocally declare as follows:

"Commencing from today, March 9, 2023, we hereby issue a seven days notice to the EFCC to arrest Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and let him explain to the whole world what happened to the pipeline surveillance contracts funds meant or Urhobo and Isoko youths

“Ordinarily, we wouldn’t have joined issues with OMO-AGEGE, our Orogun Senator, in staging today’s peaceful protest march, knowing fully well that the Orogun Senator will learn a lesson in a week from today that power belongs to the people via the ballot

“However, we are saddened by his recent display of lack of empathy, and human consideration, wherein our Orogun Senator acquired a new Private jet aircraft, with funds meant for the payment of persons who are supposed to be guarding NNPCL pipeline that transverses the length and breadth of Urhobo and Isoko land.

“Unlike High Chief Government Owelzie Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo and Chief Emami Ayiri who have since commenced work at the payment of the youths of their ethnic nationalities as far as the Pipeline Surveillance Contract is concerned.

“Lamentably, the same testimony cannot be said of Urhobo and Isoko youths who have been pushed aside, Today, our Orogun Senator is busy cajoling our youths to tender a handwritten resignation letter stating that they have defected to APC, with a promise before their names can be included to be part of the Surveillance contract and also support him hook line and sinker so that OMO-AGEGE can be sworn in as Delta State governor.

“I wish to end this address by reminding the EFCC that, after seven days from today, the 9 of March 2023, no action is taken: against the Orogun Senator, we shall return to the street in a bigger way to agitate for our lawful rights.”

Meanwhile, Senator Omo-Agege has described the protesters as “hirelings of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s misguided PDP and government in Delta.”

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Sir Sunny Areh, the leading governorship candidate, said;

“Having lost woefully in the presidential election and presently struggling on all fronts in the governorship race in Delta, they mistakenly think they can dent the solid and untainted profile of the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, who is surging ahead to become the next elected Governor of Delta.

“Senator Omo-Agege is not a contractor and has no contract with NNPCL on pipeline surveillance. That is an easily verifiable fact. What you are seeing is just the last kicks of a dying horse. Ignore them as the losers that they are and will continue to be.

“We only pity the juveniles that they are paying peanuts to misbehave. Deltans have decided to sweep away Okowa and whatever looks like him, especially his lackeys and stooges.stooges.

“Nothing will change that. But we must seriously warn those who allow the wayward Okowa government to use them, to seek legal guidance on our laws concerning defamation," he added. (Nigerian Tribune)

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