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By Olomu Onyiye.

Not a few were ruffled by the call for support of the President by Gov Oborevwori of Delta State. But did he speak amiss?

I understand that Gov Oborevwori does possess executive powers bestowed on him by the good people or electorate of Delta State. These are powers expected to be deployed for the overall wellbeing of the populace but frankly speaking, they are not still mutually exclusive when juxtaposed with the powers of the President.

First, Nigeria as a geopolitcal entity runs on a constitution that apportions executive powers under three distinct Lists – the Exclusive, Concurrent and Residual.

Whilst it’s not my intention to delve into them in actual details, keen observers will admit that the Exclusive List, under which falls the rights, privileges and duties of the Federal Government, possesses such elements that make the FG appear almost all-powerful in relation to the State Governments the LGAs. The matter is compounded further by the Revenue Allocation Formula which disproportionately allocates a whopping 54 per cent of the nation’s monthly accruals while the 36 States (alongside the FCT) and 774 LGAs are left with the remainder of 48 per cent.

Well, whether the FG is justiciable in utilizing these huge monthly allocations in the various States is a matter for another day but it suffices to say that any State Governor (especially those in the opposition) who wishes to have the FG look in the direction of his State for the purposes of siting critical projects or infrastructure, cannot afford to become adversarial to the President and the FG. But why?

Nigerian Presidents, for good or ill, have become literally the most powerful in the World in terms of the powers they wield in office. Even President Jonathan, at the time, alluded to this fact. Hence, it becomes commonsensical for every Governor to be friendly and courteous when dealing with this behemoth called the FG or else, some things may go amiss especially in terms of infrastructural gains.

Second, I personally subscribe to the argument of Gov Oborevwori that the President, being the father of the nation, deserves our love and support especially for him to succeed.

Moreover, the 2023 Elections have all been won and lost; now, is the time for governance and mutual cooperations- between governments at ALL levels – for the good of the generality of Nigerians.

Thinking of it dispassionately, what will Gov Oborevwori really stand to gain by being an antagonist of the President?

I may not actually be labelled a fan of the President but in all fairness, he has variously extended his hand of fellowship to the State Governors, including of course, those in the opposition. It is therefore natural to want to reciprocate just as Governor Oborevwori and almost all his colleagues (both in the APC and PDP) have done.

Lastly, the Bible rightly advises that there is time for everything. So, when the time for electioneering comes, Gov Oborevwori knows what to do.

Right now, I believe that the major concern for him is to deliver the dividends of Democracy to the teeming population of Deltans who voted him as their Governor.

Nay, this onerous responsibility need not be achieved by being adversarial to the President and this is where the rumour that the friendly posture of Gov Oborevwori to the President and the FG is only signposting his defection to the APC, becomes a mere hoax or ruse.

Gov Oborevwori still dey kampe in the PDP!