By Cmr. Wilbet Ijeoma
Three-time Honourable Member, Delta State House of Assembly, former Deputy Speaker of the House and APC Deputy Governorship candidate in Delta State, Rt Hon. Friday Osanebi charged Delta youths to be more concerned about their future as the State prepares for governorship election on 11th March 2023.
While addressing the youths yesterday at Benvo Hall, Kwale in a one-day interactive session titled “Galvanizing support for the party’s victory next Saturday: The role of the youth”, the three-time Honourable Member DTHA commended the spirit and outing of the Labour Party supporters popularly known as “Obidients”, and charged APC party supporters to imbibe the “Obidients” spirit displayed the just concluded presidential election which made them a force to be reckoned with.
The APC Deputy Governorship candidate’s discussion with youths was centred on why they cannot win election; in other words; what could stop them from winning the forthcoming gubernatorial election. He underscored two pointers to winning elections; which are by being honest and keep saying it; talk to one person, the person talk to another person, and so on. He commended the commitment and determination of Obidients and urged that such spirit should be displayed by youths across Delta in choosing who becomes their Governor and Deputy Governor. “My encouragement to them (Obidients) is not give up. It is a wake up call for the President of Nigeria and every other office holder to do well. They’ve always underestimated the power of the youth”, Osanebi remarked. He emphasize that youths should come out en mass to vote for him as a person and not the party just like in the case of Peter Obi where Obidients are not party but individual Nigerians who want a change.
The former Deputy Speaker derided the level of humiliation and intimidation the present Okowa-led PDP government has brought upon Ndokwa and urged Ndokwa youths and Deltans to vote out PDP government come next Saturday. “There is nothing PDP government has done for Ndowka people” Osanebi lamented; while juxtaposing what Ndokwa contribute to the state’s and nation’s treasury to what has been done in terms of development in Ndokwa. He further expressed dissatisfaction over the lopsided development of Governor Okowa and marginalization of Ndokwa people.
“I have been a three-time member of DTHA, a former Deputy Speaker, meaning I have all it takes to be the number two citizen of Delta State; As a youth, I have been a community youth president; I have been Ndokwa National Youth President; I have been a Delta State Youth Coordinator and South South Youth Leader”; Osanebi expressed confidently while charging the youth to support him. In the concluding remarks, the former Deputy Speaker implored the youths to come out en mass and vote for him as a person and not the party in the spirit of “Obidients”.
The town hall meeting was rounded up by a Q&A interactive session, where the APC Deputy Governorship candidate responded to questions as it affects different interest groups in his constituency in Delta State. On the question about the pipeline surveillance job slots that came to Ndokwa, Osanebi responded that only two months have been paid. However, he maintained that the project was not meant for Ndokwa nation specifically but out of his magnanimity, he spread the slots supposedly N200,000 for 85 persons only across thousands of beneficiaries in Ndokwa on a N20,000 stipends.
While assuring the youths that more is coming, the unfolded the plans of his Principal and APC Governorship candidate, DSP Ovie Omo-Agege for the youths,and assured them that he will be a bridge linking the youths in Delta State to the Governor. “My Commissioner for Youths would be younger than me”; Osanebi expressed, as he assured the youths that a new university in Ndokwa nation will be announced soon.
The event was roundly attended by youths across Delta State especially youth representatives from Ukwuani, Ndokwa West and Ndokwa East LGAs, and Ndokwa National Youth Movement led by its President, Cmr. Benjamin Onwubolu. Also in attendance were Bar Francis Obigbo, APC Deputy State Chairman, Cmr. Chukwutem Nwogor, APC Youth Leader, Delta North, among others.
