By Dennis Otu & Daniel Bayagbon
For hitting the ground running, executing a roadmap for enduring infrastructural projects in various sectors while still prioritising the completion of projects inherited from his predecessors, a cross section of Deltans, including students, market women, artisans and political leaders have applauded Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori over what they see as an eventful and hope-inspiring first year in office.
On May 29, 2023, Rt. Hon. Oborevwori was sworn in as Governor of Delta State with a promise to do more in advancing the state.
One year down the road, Deltans have hailed him for keeping to his electoral promises to the people, saying that they are satisfied with his performance and drummed support for his administration.
Chief Emmanuel Amgbadugba, immediate past Commissioner for Oil and Gas in Delta State, said: “First and foremost, I want to congratulate Deltans for having a Governor such as Rt. Hon. Oborevwori. One year on, you can see that this Governor came prepared, this Governor is a Governor who has been able to learn from his predecessors and improve on their performance. Within the space of one year, he has not reneged on continuing with the uncompleted projects of the previous administration. Take for example, the Ughelli-Asaba highway that has been under construction. You can see that most of the parts that were awaiting completion, are being completed. That is just on roads”.
According to him, “he has also continued with the good works of developing infrastructure in our various institutions, both secondary and tertiary, even primary, through the various educational intervention funds, like SUBEB and other intervention agencies.
“So, he has done very well. In terms of empowering the youth, he has put square pegs in square holes, as commissioner for youth and the programmes that have reached advanced stage have impacted on the lives of Deltans within the space of one year. Now, I just talked about the upland areas of the State.
“In the riverine areas, similar ground breaking projects are also going on. For example, recently he visited some riverine communities where government projects are ongoing, including Ogulaha, Okerenkoko just to name a few. He is building educational facilities over there that will better the lives of Deltans, both in the riverine and upland.
The former Commissioner added that; “I can’t continue this interview without mentioning the Julius Berger bridge projects in Warri and Effurun axis that is ongoing. They are doing it in a way that will not obstruct other road users, by creating alternative routes, as the job is going on, traffic is still flowing. I commend the Governor. I want to advice us ( Deltans ) to please be patient with him, continue to support him in prayers and every mechanism to support him so that he can continue to deliver on his MORE Agenda”.
The immediate past Chairman of Okpe Local Government Area, Hon Isaiah Onoriode Esiovwa, while speaking on the first year anniversary of the Governor said that Governor Oborevwori has made Deltans very proud as a result of his performance in office under one year, saying that the Governor will not fail the people.
The former Okpe Council Boss said; “First of all, we thank God for making him the Governor of the State, it is the Lord’s doing and we thank God for that. He has been doing alot since he was sworn-in and everybody is seeing it. There are different road projects ongoing in the state. Julius Berger is working in the state for the first time and we are glad about this. For you to see a Governor that goes out regularly for roads inspection is not an easy task. You can see the Campus they brought to Orerokpe today, formerly they wanted to use it for technical College , but now he is converting it. Massive projects are going on in all parts of the State at the same time and it is not easy within one year to achieve this. My message to Deltans is that, everybody should queue behind him to make sure he succeed, everybody should work, all the people he has given appointments should be up and doing to enable the Governor to succeed”.
On his part, Hon (Chief) Ferguson Onwo, former Majority Leader of the Delta State House of Assembly and now House Committee Chairman on Health in the House, expressed satisfaction with the performance of the Governor saying, that; “The Governor has done well and governance is on course. First of all, the indices of governance we should look at peace and cordiality. There is relative peace in Delta State, especially in the Warri axis and environs and this is what has been missing for a very long time. Before now, the crime rate was high in Warri axis, robbery and kidnapping was always in the news, but now, the government has brought peace to Warri axis. We no longer hear of such in Warri axis. In terms of peace, he has tried very well”.
Hon. Onwo added that; “My constituency is a testament to this. In Isoko, the road from Aradhe to Ughelli is almost completed and we are very happy about that. I will like to use the Warri axis as an example too. From PTI to NPA there is street light everywhere. Those areas used to be dark and a hide out for criminals, but now, there is light everywhere and there is no safe haven for criminals to operate.
“The pervading peace and security have brought back night life and night commerce back to Warri and we are very happy about that. If you go to infrastructure, what we see immediately you come into Warri is the Julius Berger presence. Work is ongoing in the three flyover bridges, businesses are booming and those areas are now back to life.
“For those of us in the legislature, the synergy between the House of Assembly and the executive arm is beautiful. We are experiencing peace and progress in the House. Recently, we came up with some bills that will impact positively on the people. Government is on course and the Governor has done extremely well”, Onwo said.
A youth leader in Agbor, Goshen Emeka said that; “My message to Deltans is to continue to support this government. It is a new government, our dynamic Governor needs the support of everybody”.
Another youth, Rume Famous, stated; “Our Governor has really impressed me since he came on board and the state has been peaceful under his watch. He has done a lot, he is a kind of a blessing to Delta state and let us continue to support his administration”.
The immediate past member of the Delta State House of Assembly (Isoko North Constituency) and recently sworn in by Governor Oborevwori as the Chairman, Delta Trust Mortgage Bank, Hon. Jude Omena Ogbimi, the coming of the Governor is cause for joy. “To God be the glory, in the next two weeks or thereabout, Delta State will be brought to the spot light, because we are going to see a mass unraveling of monumental projects, new and uncompleted projects from the previous administrations. I think one thing that strikes me about the Governor is his big heart like the slogan of Delta State. Apart from his doggedness, we have come to see transparency and sincerity of purpose and most importantly, is his dedication towards fulfilment of his pre-electoral promises to Deltans. So, Deltans within and across borders, will see not only the capacity of the Governor, but the excellent works that he has done so far within the period of time and that will be something that will build public confidence, most importantly. It will also show the whole world that we have a Governor who is transparent and working to surpass his predecessors”.
The newly sworn-in Chairman of the Delta State Investment Development Agency and immediate past member of the State House of Assembly (Ika North East Constituency), Hon Anthony Emeka Elekeokwuri, posited that “considering the exigencies of our towns and the nature of Delta State, I will give our Governor a big pass mark. He has done very well, he is proactive in his approach to governance. For somebody who has been Speaker of the House for six years, there is no better way to get prepared for the big job. When you look at infrastructure, education, health etc, he has been very proactive. The ongoing Julius Berger infrastructural projects in Warri and Effurun, even though there are other ongoing infrastructural projects across the three senatorial districts that he is putting in place is enough to say the Governor came prepared. We all know how Warri looked like before he came on board. But if you go to Warri today, it has become a beehive of activities. People are looking forward to the commissioning of those projects”.
“Looking at investment, he has given us a mandate to deliver to create employment for our people, there is no gain saying the fact that he knows his onions. We are going to run on speed to attract investors, whether local or foreign investors to Delta State. He is very concerned about our youths, he is very concerned about our people, he is very concerned about employment, he said.
A trader in Igbudu Market, Warri South Local Area of the State, Miss Lizzy Gbemi, said that; “Before the election, the Governor was in this market to campaign to us and he is keeping to his electoral promises to the people. All Deltans and non-Deltans living in the State should support him to succeed”.
Another trader in Urhuoka-Abraka, Ethiope East Local Government Area of the State, Fure Ufuoma, expressed satisfaction with the performance of the Governor.
The trader said; “He has done so much within one year in office. We should cooperate with the government because our Governor is somebody who is transparent, he is somebody who listens to people. We know that he is very proactive, very direct, he does not mince words, he is a promise keeper.”
A Mass Communication student in Delta State University, Abraka, Miss Tony Victoria, posited that; “Our Governor is very hard working and I want to appeal to Deltans to throw their weight behind him because he is determined to do more for the people”.
A Law student of the Delta State University, Oleh Campus, Lawal Lawson said that the Governor has performed to the admiration of Deltans, calling on the people to continue to support his administration.
A mechanic in Asaba, Nelson Ifeanyi, showered praises on Governor Oborevwori, saying that he is not “disappointed at all with him. He has performed extremely well and we should continue to support his administration in order to take our state to the Promised Land. Julius Berger is working seriously in the Warri axis. He should be lauded for everything”.
Another artisan, Karo Lucky, commended the Governor for the initiatives taken so far, pointing out that; “Development has been taken to all parts of the State by our hard working Governor under one year and we will continue to support his administration”.
By our Crew of DENNIS OTU (SSA NEW MEDIA) and DANIEL BAYAGBON (SA NEW MEDIA) who were on a Special Assignment to mark the one year anniversary of the State Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, As Assigned By Felix Ofu ( EA, NEW MEDIA).
