By Sunday Donatus, Lafia
Mr David Ombugadu, PDP gubernatorial candidate in Nasarawa State has pledged to construct an abandoned 7 kilometre road to link Agwada and Udege Communities in Nasarawa state, if elected governor in March 2.
Ombugadu made the pledge on Thursday at the palace of the Osu Agwada of Agwada community, Alhaji Abubakar Obagu where he had gone to seek Royal blessings from the royal father.
Ombugadu told the traditional ruler that apart from seeking prayers and blessings, he and his entourage had visited the community to assure residents that his party would not neglect them if voted in as the ruling party in the upcoming polls.
He said he was sympathetic to the plight of residents of the community with regards to easy transportation and other basic amenities.
He assured the traditional ruler that his first priority as governor was to construct an abandoned 7 kilometre road linking Agwada and neighboring community Udege for easy transportation and boosting of commercial activities between both communities.
“Your Highness, many things will change for good in your community once we are voted in. That is why we have come to seek your royal blessings and assure you of our commitment to this community with some basic amenities that your people dearly need.
“I was in Udege and the traditional ruler there made the same request to me on the road leading to this place. Now, let me make this commitment and I want the press and the world to bear me witness.
“My project 001 if elected as governor is the proper construction of the 7 kilometre road linking both communities, it is called the Agwada-Udege road,” he said.
Ombugadu said that apart from the road commitment, he would build a health facility, additional boreholes, provide electricity transformer and job opportunities to the unemployed youths.
He also promised adequate security for residents of the community so they could live in peace, harmony and thrive in whatever engagement they chose to do.
Speaking, Sen. Wallie Jubril, PDP Board of Trustees Chairman assured the traditional ruler that apart from the pledges reeled out, Ombugadu had also assured of a 50 per cent reduction in hajj fees for Muslims in the state if voted as governor.
“Your highness, as at now, hajj fees to Mecca is about N1.5 million but I want to reveal to you today that our aspirant has repeatedly confided in me that once he takes over, Muslims in the state will only have to pay N750, 000 henceforth.
“This is about 50 per cent reduction and a huge relief for our muslim brothers and sisters who has been toiling hard to fulfil this Islamic obligation but have not been able to do so due to lack of adequate funds.
“That is why I humbly plead that you pray and bless his ambition,” he said.
Mr Francis Orogu, Chairman of PDP in the state corroborated the claims of the PDP Board of Trustees Chairman but added that the gesture would cover both Christians and Muslims in the state.
Orogu assured the traditional ruler that Ombugadu is a seasoned politician and a dedicated community developer hence the reason party stakeholders picked him to contest for governorship and provide dividends of democracy to residents in the state especially those in the grassroots.
Responding, Alhaji Abubakar Obagu, Osu Agwada expressed joy over the visit and prayed God to give the state a foresight leader who would take Nasarawa state to a higher level of development, security, peace and progress.
He appealed for the construction of the 7 kilometre road linking his community to the neighboring community, Udege saying, if constructed, the road would open up many opportunities for both communities.