A Special Adviser to Senator Ovie Omo-Agege on Strategy and Communications, Godwin Anaughe, has rejected a claim by the member representing Ughelli North/Ughelli South/Udu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Rev. Francis Waive, that Omo-Agege directed him to abandon the Federal Medical Centre, Ovwian Bill during the Ninth National Assembly.
Anaughe, in a statement issued on Monday, September 21, 2026, described Waive’s allegation as false and said presidential correspondence and National Assembly records contradicted the lawmaker’s account.
According to him, the documentary evidence shows that the Federal Polytechnic, Orogun, had already received presidential approval before Waive’s Federal Medical Centre, Ovwian Bill (HB. 989) proceeded to second reading in the House of Representatives.
Anaughe said Omo-Agege received confirmation of presidential approval for the Federal Polytechnic, Orogun, on February 23, 2021.
He added that Waive’s FMC Ovwian Bill did not pass second reading until November 16, 2021, while it proceeded to third reading on September 29, 2022.
“Put simply, Orogun had been approved a full nineteen months before Waive’s bill reached Third Reading,” Anaughe said, arguing that the chronology did not support the claim that Omo-Agege pressured Waive to abandon the bill to make way for the polytechnic.
He challenged Waive to provide evidence of the alleged directive, including the date, venue, witnesses or any documentary record of the purported communication.
Anaughe also cited what he described as Omo-Agege’s legislative record in support of federal projects sponsored by lawmakers across political divides.
He pointed to the Senate’s approval of the Federal University of Education, Isiokolo, sponsored by Hon. Ben Ibakpa, and said Omo-Agege also co-sponsored the Federal University of Agriculture and Technology, Aboh (Establishment) Bill, 2021 (SB. 733), introduced by the then Senator Peter Nwaoboshi.
According to Anaughe, the examples demonstrate that Omo-Agege had a record of supporting federal institutions rather than obstructing initiatives sponsored by other lawmakers.
The statement, however, also contained strong political criticism of Waive. Anaughe accused the lawmaker of attempting to damage Omo-Agege’s reputation ahead of the 2027 Delta Central Senatorial election and described the allegation as politically motivated.
He further alleged that Omo-Agege’s political structure and support contributed to Waive’s election to the House of Representatives in 2019 and 2023.
Anaughe also criticised Waive for making the allegation without, according to him, providing supporting evidence, and cited passages from the Bible concerning false testimony and lying.
He urged Waive to produce evidence of the alleged directive if he had any, insisting that the available timeline did not support his account.
“Until then, the facts are settled: Omo-Agege did not stop the FMC Ovwian Bill. The timeline does not support Waive’s claim,” Anaughe said.
