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All tax-paying residents are Deltans, says Omo-Agege as he outlines plans to end ‘discrimination’

By Ifeanyi Ibeh
17 December 2022   |   7:54 pm
Anyone who resides in Delta State, does business in the state, and pays taxes to the state government, irrespective of ethnic and religious background, is an equal stakeholder in the state and will, therefore, enjoy equal benefits without discrimination. Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, the deputy president of the Nigerian Senate and governorship candidate of the All…

Anyone who resides in Delta State, does business in the state, and pays taxes to the state government, irrespective of ethnic and religious background, is an equal stakeholder in the state and will, therefore, enjoy equal benefits without discrimination.

Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, the deputy president of the Nigerian Senate and governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta, gave the assurance on Saturday during a meeting with Muslim leaders in Warri.

He frowned at the reported discrepancy in school fees paid by indigene and non-indigene students in state-owned tertiary institutions, saying the discriminatory policy will be abolished when he becomes governor.

He said: “As far as you are in Delta State, whether you are a Christian or a Muslim, you will pay equal school fees for your children. You are all Deltans, you reside here and pay taxes so you are equal stakeholders and you must enjoy equal benefits.

“If there is a job opening both children of Christians and Muslims are free to compete and have equal employment opportunities. They will all be considered equally; no discrimination.

“The same principle of fairness will be applied for pilgrimages. As the State government sponsors Christians to Jerusalem for pilgrimage so we will sponsor Muslims for pilgrimage to Mecca.

“I assure you that I will carry you along. There shall be a special adviser from among you who will interface between my government and the Muslim community and also in terms farmers and herders relationship.”

He recalled that the Muslim community gave him their support in 2015 which saw to his election as senator, and described them as valued stakeholders in the state.

“So long as you own a PVC you have a right to determine how you are governed. You are all here, you reside here, when it is good for us it is good for you and when it is bad for us it is bad for you,” said Omo-Agege.

“You should know how the state is governed, where we are and why we are where we are. I am sure you know that in the past seven and a half years we have a government that has been led by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and Speaker Sheriff Oborevwori. They have received over 3.5 trillion naira from the federation account and yet you see the state of our roads, retirees have not been paid and some have died; yet we are the richest State in Nigeria. Something is wrong somewhere.

“Since you chose to leave your various states to come and live in Delta and we have accepted you, you have a right to your fair expectations. I am sure the Delta State of your dream is not what you are seeing . That is why I have offered myself to be governor. I have a social contract with all Deltans irrespective of ethnicity and religious leaning, that so long you are resident in Delta State you have right to equal opportunities.

“We will attract companies back to Warri and the old oil city will boom again. Warri, Koko and Burutu ports will be reactivated. As long as your women are resident in Delta, we will guarantee bank loans for their businesses.

“We will engage the ingenuity of 60 per cent of the state’s population who are youths and channel their creativity through tech hubs that would ultimately generate revenue for the state. We will invest and improve on our security architecture to ensure the prevalence of peace for businesses to thrive.

“I commit to you that whenever we decide as a government to make appointments into the Muslim pilgrim board, we will consult you,” Omo-Agege said

Earlier on, the Chief Imam of Oghara, Mohammed Maija, had complained that Muslims in Delta State were marginalized in job opportunities for their graduate children, in government appointments, and in payment of school fees in the state’s tertiary institutions. Over 500 Muslim leaders attended the meeting.

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