Oborevwori Disabusing the Minds of Detractors Through his M.O.R.E Agenda

By Victor Efeizomor

He proved he was capable of delivering when he was the speaker of delta state house of assembly (DTHA), working without blemish, as all member of the state house of assembly were in love with him and the ways he was piloting the affairs of the hallowed chambers.

So, when he came on board to assume office as the governor of the state, only few were skeptical over his ability to steer the affairs of the highly pluralized ethnic state like Delta.

Those with such a misgivings were however his detractors, who like the doubting Thomas’s never believed, even when they knew he was capable, he could paddle the canoe of the state to safety.

Today, they have all been proved wrong and made to bury their faces in shame.

They now try to leave people with the impression that their doubts were only construed almost tongue-in- cheek, not really meant or serious.

Since this one year plus, he came on board as the number one citizen of the state, it has been a win- win situation for him.

He is one Governor today who has been working to the delight of Deltans without borrowing money from any source to augment the money allocated to the state.

Like his predecessor, Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, he has been managing the affairs of the state, making every senatorial district feel the impact of his administration, not discriminating, or ever willing to do so because he has the yam and the knife now.

One year plus on the saddle, this amiable governor has proved his arm- chair critics wrong by doing some remarkable, laudable developments some of his counterparts in some other states are yet to be alive to, or even come into their subconscious mind.

And like a devoted servant actually out to work and serve his people, Rt. Hon Sheriff Francis Oborevwori, hit the ground running on assumption of office by declaring his intension to restore the lost glory of Warri, make Delta state the envy of all Nigerians, despite the hordes of litigations that trail his election raised by those that lost out who were all out to stifle his victory at the polls, and ensure he never stepped into government house, Asaba.

Beyond expectation of those who thought he could only do but a little, he has, like a soaring giant, held his developmental project, the MORE agenda high in the sky, with all eyes including those of his detractors, stirring wide in admiration.

His many mile stone achievements include the contract award for roads expansion, bridges and flyovers to construction giant, Julius Berger Plc, which when completed, will turn Effurun and Warri around, and add to the beauty of the twin cities.

Only recently, the governor inaugurated some completed road projects in the capital city of Asaba.

He invited his Osun state counterpart, senator Ademola Adeleke to commission the 5.3-kilometer Okpanam-Ibusa bypass and drains both in Oshimili north council area of the capital territory.

The Ibusa-Okpanam bypass was constructed to ease the movement of people from both communities.

For instance, residents of Okpanam can now access Ibusa instead of having to travel to Asaba first before getting to Ibusa; same thing for Ibusa residents coming from Benin-city for example they do not need to get to Asaba first before accessing Ibusa community.

They can now stop at Okpanam and go through the bypass to Ibusa town; the rehabilitation of the road beside the Nigeria union of journalists (NUJ) state secretariat in Asaba, the state capital was also carried out by governor Oborevwori’s administration.

As part of measures to address the problems of potholes and reconstruct roads across the state, governor Oborevwori approved a total of N825 million for the overhaul and repair of moribund equipment of Direct Labour Agency (DLA) to enable it carry out its interventionist assignments.

The Director-General of the Delta State Direct Labour Agency, chief Emmanuel Ighomena, disclosed this while interacting with journalists in Asaba, adding that the agency was currently handling the repair of failed portions of the 85 kilometers Asaba/Ugheli expressway, Osisa/Kwale axis.

In area of education, he has shown he has a great interest in improving the welfare of students and staff of the various institutions in the state.

Not long ago, school of midwifery in Asaba and Sapele were upgraded to colleges of nursing with improved learning environments.

Some levies imposed on the students by the college authorities were made to be refunded by the authorities concerned to the students as they complained.

As a listening and caring governor, he was able to address the issue in order to bring relief to the students and their parents.

School of Health Technology was established at Owhriodein Isoko north local government area to reduce pressure on the only existing school of Health Technology at Ufuoma-Ugheli.

In his bid to turn the state to a construction site, he also initiated over 76 roads, inheriting more than 300 road projects.

While some have been completed, others are still on-going, the Esezi road dualization at Orerokpe, Adagbrasa/Ohorhe road and the Okan junction to Agbarho internal roads.

Just recently also, he gave approval to the phase three of drainage project for Warri south and Uvwie local government council areas.

This was disclosed when the Director-General of Warri, Uvwie and Environs Special Development Agency (WUEDA), Godwin Ejeyeren paid visit to the Ovie of Uvwie in his palace at Effurun.

The Director-General said with what the governor has invested in the rebirth of the DLA, challenge of potholes on state roads would soon be a thing of the past and pledged the readiness of management of staff of the agency to bringing professionalism to bear in the discharge of their duties.

With these and many more projects the governor is still handling across the state, there is nothing more assuring to Deltans that he is poised for action, trying to turn the state to an enviable one.

Prince Victor Efeizomor is Senior Special Assistant (SSA) Media to Governor Sheriff Oborevweri of Delta State.