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By Fred Edoreh

In his inaugural address on May 29, 2023, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State re-established the finest definition of governance. In his words, it is “about improving the quality of life of our people, about building bridges of social cohesion, about giving our people the hope of a better tomorrow, and about accelerated development. And it demands creative thinking, proactive action, and exemplary leadership.”

The remarkable phrases in the quote, for me, are “building bridges of social cohesion” and “exemplary leadership,” without which the other objectives cannot be attained.

On this, he has repeatedly reiterated that he is Governor for all Deltans, not just for his political party, the PDP, and he has demonstrated that in, not only his fair distribution and commitment to the completion of multi-sector projects across all the senatorial districts, federal constituencies, local governments and ethnic nationalities, but also in his social and political engagements across all segments of the citizenry.

When our late respected elder statesman, former Labour leader, and chieftain of the APC, Chief Frank Kokori, took ill, he was among the first to visit him at the hospital to offer support.

Educating the public on that occasion, he said: “I know people will think that because he is an APC chieftain I won’t be here. Deltans voted for me as Governor, it is not a party matter now, because we have finished the election and all of us are one. Whether he is APC or not, I am Governor for all Deltans, so I am here as governor for all, not for any party.”

Acknowledging and pleased by the gesture, Chief Kokori said: “I never knew Governor Oborevwori is a good man, because immediately he heard about my condition, he came to see me. I am so happy that he is not a mean fellow. He is a real Governor, a man who has such a heart is a good man. I am happy with him and have also prayed for him.”

Oborevwori also took time off to attend the thanksgiving service of Chief Stella Okotete, former National Woman Leader of the APC, where he also reiterated his broad-mindedness, which is in consonance with the virtues of good governance.

“I do not segregate. I want all of us to be united with the interest of developing Delta State. The most important thing is to do what you should be remembered for while in office.”

It was in the same spirit that he invited various leaders of the opposition party to the anniversary of his first year in office, a mindset for which Distinguished Senator Joel Onowakpo (APC), Delta South, extolled him.

“The Governor of Delta State is the Governor to everyone in Delta State and I do not think he is Governor to only those who are PDP. His Excellency extending invitation to all the Senators from Delta State, irrespective of their political leaning, is the smartest and wisest thing that he has done. I want to say that His Excellency Sheriff Oborevwori should be commended for being broad-minded like our President. I want to encourage him to continue to be broad-minded and also be inclusive, (and) I want to encourage everyone to move away from primitive politics. This country needs cross-fertilization of ideas to have rapid development. We can be in different parties but with one common goal – the empowerment of our people and the development of our environment.”

Perhaps the most revealing testament came from President Bola Tinubu, who, at the wedding of Oborevwori’s son, acknowledged that since he came into office, he has been a Governor for all the people of the state.

Describing him as Pan Deltan, detribalised Governor and a bridge builder, he said if all leaders shun political and religious inclinations, like Oborevwori does, Nigeria would be a better place for all citizens to fulfill their God-given destinies.

These testaments and glowing tributes to Oborevwori have continued to haunt opposition elements in Delta State as they look, against all reality, reason and hope, towards 2027.

In their desperate fear of the wide commendations on Oborevwori, they went to town with propaganda that the Governor may be planning to defect to the APC, pointing to his recent call for citizens to pray for and support the ongoing national reforms by the Federal Government, explaining that if President Tinubu fails, then the states would also fail.

Their confusion and panic can only be because they do not understand the great leadership qualities being displayed by Oborevwori, and cannot draw the line between governance and politics.

It needs no explaining that the policies and reforms of the Federal Government affect all states of the federation, and responsible leadership demands collaboration in the overall interest of the nation. The opposite would only be tantamount to wishing oneself and nation evil, and in self-immolation.

They further tried to reinforce their lies by suggesting that Governor Oborevwori was recently in Ghana in wait to plead with President Tinubu to approve his defection, whereas in fact, he accompanied the President, alongside Governors Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau, Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa, Agbu Kefas of Taraba some ministers and other top government officials, as part of the Nigerian delegation to the inauguration of the new President of that country.

We know that they are not oblivious of such diplomatic practice which provides leverage for bilateral relations, they only wish that Oborevwori does not command such relevance in the national scheme.

That is why they have also been haunted by the recent acclamation of Oborevwori by the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Abudulrzaq Abdulrahman, during their New Year visit to the President, at which he described the infrastructure building projects under Oborevwori as “unimaginable.”

It is truly unimaginable seeing an administration with 513 roads, drainage and stormwater channel projects going on simultaneously across urban and rural areas, the magnitude and pace of work on the Warri/Effurun flyover bridges project, the commitment on the Ughelli-Asaba Expressway, the resolve on the Trans Warri Ode-Itsekiri 26km project with 19 bridges in which 15 have been completed, the determination with which the Beneku Bridge in Ndokwa East has been pursued as well as the Orere-Ewu Bridge and many more projects across all sectors.

It was for this reason, for instance, that the Nigeria Governors Forum and the Federal Ministry of Health awarded the Bill and Melinda Gates Awards for Primary Health Care Development to Delta State, an award that the state has never been mentioned in any category, talk less of winning, until the Oborevwori administration.

Sadly for the elements, despite their shameful denial of the obvious and plausible development index in the administration of Governor Oborevwori, which pitifully instills great fear in them ahead of 2027, and their attempt to confuse and deceive the public with baseless and illogical propaganda, there is nothing they can do to stop the good works of Sheriff nor the acknowledgment by both the President, his fellow Governors who do regular peer review and are aware of developments in their counterpart states, and most importantly, the Delta public for whom Oborevwori is working and they are seeing it.

In 2027, these misguidedly overzealous elements will weep again, and we would only say to them: “Weep not, little peeps, Sheriff is just too much.”