The senator representing Delta south at the upper chamber of the National Assembly on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Joel Onowakpo, has paid glowing appreciation to former governor of the state, James Ibori, for his support.
Onowakpo, whose election was recently affirmed by the Court of Appeal, also thanked Ibori’s successor in office, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan as well as immediate past Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege.
While Omo-Agege is the governorship candidate of the APC, Ibori and Uduaghan are chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
Despite the party difference, Onowakpo said the political leaders stood by him tenaciously in the fierce political contest that saw defeat PDP’s Michael Diden, Uduaghan’s Itsekiri kinsman, in the senatorial election.
Reacting to the judgment of the Court of Appeal in a statement, Onowakpo said his “sincere appreciation goes to my political leaders, HE James Onanefe Ibori, HE Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan, CON, HE Ovie Omo-Agege, who started the story of this race.
“They all stood by me tenaciously and gave me all the support I needed to get here. Thank you so very much.”
The senator said with the court victory, the coast was now clear for him to contribute his quota to the realisation of the ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda of the President Ahmed Bola Tinubu administration.
He said that the victory has emboldened him to consolidate on actions already set in motion for the advancement of the country and his senatorial district, as he expressed hope of a greater and prosperous Nigeria under the President Tinubu’s administration.
Onowakpo appealed to his constituents to give him all the necessary support for adequate representation, assuring that he will not abuse the privilege given to him to represent Delta south.
“My dear constituents, the electoral process journey we started on the 27th of April, 2022, for me to represent you as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has come to a successful end and to God be all the glory.
“The Court of Appeal in the judgment, affirmed the mandate you gave me as the duly elected Senator to represent you. On this note, I want to thank God Almighty, the giver of all gifts, who, by His grace, I achieved this,” he said.
Onowakpo thanked President Tinubu, vice president Kashim Shettima, the leadership of APC, for also standing by his political pursuit, assuring of his “full support and cooperation, to give Nigerians the RENEWED HOPE that we promised them. I am sure that things will be better for Nigerians.”
Credit: Sun Newspaper except headline
