The Deputy Senate President and Candidate of the All Progressive Congress, APC, in Delta state, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has picked a former lawmaker representing Ndokwa East Local Government Constituency, Rt. Honourable Friday Ossai Osanebi to be his running mate in the forthcoming Delta state gubernatorial election.
In a statement titled: “RT. HON. FRIDAY OSSAI OSANEBI IS MY RUNNING MATE AND DEPUTY GOVERNORSHIP CANDIDATE OF OUR GREAT PARTY, THE ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS (APC) FOR THE 2023 DELTA STATE GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION”, Omo-Agege described Osanebi as a “leader of impeccable character and highly competent political bridge-builder and unifier of people”.
Read the full statement below:
“Consistent with section 187(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and in furtherance of the firm resolve of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State to provide responsible and balanced leadership to realise our strategic vision to take Delta from extreme bad governance and Build A New Delta (‘BAND’) on the four pillars of Employment and Empowerment, Development, Good Governance and Enduring Peace and Security (‘EDGE’), and after broad consultations with the leadership of our party, stakeholders within and outside the party and diverse interests across our State in a painstaking vetting process, it is my pleasure to announce to our people that The Rt. Honourable Friday Ossai Osanebi is my nominated running mate and the Deputy Governorship candidate of APC for the 2023 Delta State Governorship election.
“This momentous decision is for the greater good of all our people and consistent with our unshakeable faith in the immense leadership strengths, innovative energies and resourceful spirit of the youths of this great country.
“Born on October 7, 1980 to the family of Mr. and Mrs. Ossai Osanebi of Umuedem Quarters, Beneku Town in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State, Rt. Honorable Osanebi is a vibrant, focused, humble, diligent and upward mobile young leader with vast legislative business, general public governance and corporate management experience. He had his elementary education at Eke Model Primary School, Kwale before proceeding to Orogun Grammar School, Orogun. Thereafter, he attended Enugu State University of Science and Technology where he studied Material and Metallurgical Engineering.
“In January 2011, Rt. Honourable Osanebi attended a Public Governance course at the International Centre for Parliamentary Studies (ICPS), London. He was at the University of Oxford, England for an Administration and Policy-making program in July 2012. He participated in the June 2016 edition of the USA Legislature Revenue Management and Budget Process organized by the International Law Institute, Washington DC. In April 2018, he undertook a Leadership Development program of study organized by the London School of Economics and Political Science.
“Rt. Honourable Osanebi is a leader of impeccable character. He is a highly competent political bridge-builder and unifier of people. A very successful former National President of Ndokwa Youth Council (NYC), he holds the record of the youngest member of the Delta House of Assembly – representing Ndokwa East Constituency. His sterling qualities earned him several important leadership roles in the Delta State House of Assembly, including the Chairmanship of the House Committee on Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC); Deputy Chief Whip; Chairman, House Committee on Inter-Parliamentary Affairs; Chairman, House Committee on Culture and Tourism; and eventually, the Deputy Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly.
“Rt. Honorable Osanebi constantly demonstrates mature, humane, resourceful and impactful leadership in public governance, legislative business, youth affairs, community relations, and corporate engagements, more particularly in the oil and gas industry where he has carved a niche for himself. He has a unique capacity to make sound and courageous decisions for the good of society. Trustworthy and God-fearing, Rt. Honorable Osanebi is a Christian and happily married to Mrs. Ogechi Osanebi, and they are blessed with children.
“Rt. Honourable Osanebi is a philanthropist whose humane, meek and compassionate heart identifies and beats with our everyday and challenged people. For this, he is popularly referred to by many as “The Empowerment Master”. He therefore undoubtedly fits perfectly into our ‘EDGE to BAND’ transformational agenda to reorganize our dear State. His life and beliefs clearly complement my vision of Delta State as a land of respect for and investment in all our people and their interests. He brings huge leadership capital to the table in our collective quest to rescue Delta from indescribable governance rot and restore hope to our people.
“May I quickly mention here that Rt. Honourable Osanebi emerged as our Deputy Governorship candidate from a painstaking internal vetting process in which many notable and highly qualified Deltans were also considered. Our Constitution only allows one choice and we know that Rt. Honourable Osanebi is a great choice. Nonetheless, I am confident that with God on our side and by the electoral will of our people, each eminent Deltan who was considered in the vetting process will be given a chance to add value to public governance in strategic roles after the 2023 general elections.
“I am confident that working with the Rt. Honorable Friday Ossai Osanebi as our Deputy Governorship Candidate offers Deltans, especially our youths, a unique opportunity to repair our broken leadership foundations and Build A New Delta. This unique moment in our political evolution is clearly orchestrated by God Almighty for His greater glory and greater good of all our people. I humbly urge all our people to embrace this as our real chance for true greatness. We are marching towards the New Delta of our dream, and we are unstoppable.
“May the good Lord bless our State and Nation and protect us all.”