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By Olomu Onyiye.

I know many who initially underrated Gov. Oborevwori. At some point in the immediate past, some of his former opponents dismissed him as merely their underdog. Today, the story is no longer same.

In comparison, Gov. Oborevwori may be said to be a man of few words. In short, I think that he inclines more towards taciturnity than verbosity both in his private and public engagements. Even at that, I see him as a model for advancing the argument that ‘politicians must do more and talk less’.

One remarkable incident that has exposed the Governor as a time-tested and shrewd political leader is the recent mass defection of the political establishment in the State. It was indeed a make or mar endeavour.

You see, Delta State has been traditionally a PDP State. When the chips are down, the PDP had always relied on the State as one of the aces for staying politically afloat or relevant.

But then, political parties do not exist mutually exclusive to the wellbeing and needs of its members. If it’s no longer competent to assure their wellbeing, aspirations and common good, then it becomes plausible to perhaps, look elsewhere and that, the Governor has rightly done.

However, in navigating the audacious and far-reaching move, the Governor knew there would be attendant effects- both positive and negative-arising therefrom.

I shall be making allusions to three of these effects.

First, the Governor was saddled with the onerous task of convincing the rank and file in the Party to join the train of movement. Chief among this was the remnant in the PDP who argued that, no matter the drift and detour of the Party away from the intentions and ethos of the Founding Fathers, remaining and perhaps sinking with it was acceptable.

Second was the fear of some stakeholders that joining the APC was likely to imperil their aspirations and positioning. The State APC, they argued, already had its layout or structures which presupposed that in joining the Party, one would be expected to join the back of the long queue as it were.

Third, the Governor had beloved and concerned Deltans to deal with. How would he convince them that such a defection wasn’t serving as an alibi for slowing down on the unparalleled spate of development which has attracted him awards and accolades across board?

The memorable event witnessed on the 28th of April at the Cenotaph, Asaba, was only a summation or culmination of series of highwired consultations, rapprochement, fence-mending, concessions and assurances that the Governor had to deploy in bringing all stakeholders in the APC and PDP on board.

Aside the notable fact that the Governor has remained unwaveringly committed to delivering the dividends of his MORE Agenda to Deltans, so much went into convincing the bigwigs in both Parties and leaders in their various rights (including Senators, House of Representatives members, Honourable Members of the DSHA, LGA Chairmen, Party Chieftains etc), foot soldiers, diehards and so on to gladly join the train without anyone of note, firing any dissenting salvos even till now. That’s novel indeed.

Earlier today, at the 2nd Year Anniversary Thanksgiving of the Delta State House of Assembly held at the Regional Headquarters of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Asaba, virtually all who matter in the political firmament of Delta State was there. Just name it- they were all there in person.

At the service, I watched and listened to the speakers reel out the enviable achievements of Gov. Oborevwori just 2years in office.I equally watched the unfeigned felicitations, testimonies, camaraderie, healthy banters coming from political players, many of whom never saw eye to eye in the immediate past.

In all of these and more that I witnessed today, what fact my heart began to bear testimony to is actually this: that Gov Oborevwori is undoubtedly a unifier, trailblazer and natural leader whose acts and carriage will continue to stand him out among his contemporaries.