By Dr. Ifeanyi M. Osuoza

When an institution that is expected to conduct itself on the basis of informed facts begins to act and react on the basis of speculation or rumour, we must see that something must have gone wrong with its medulla, its core.

It is therefore no wonder that, acting through its State Publicity Secretary, Barr Valentine Onojeghuo, the Delta State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress allowed itself to issue a public statement, as recently reported, in reaction to what Onojeghuo himself clearly termed “speculations” that His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, is seeking to defect to the APC.

It is even sadder that Onojeghuo describes himself as a lawyer who ordinarily should know the need to act on the basis of facts, but we can understand that the Delta APC is suffering from incontinence and cannot help itself.

Incontinence in common parlance is “peeing in the pants.” In addition to adverse medical conditions, it occurs when someone is seriously stressed, stricken by deep fear, loses his brain control, becomes unable to control his vital organs, and thus drips involuntarily.

That appears to be the condition that is currently afflicting the Delta State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, pitifully.

Consumed by the psychological trauma, pathological grief, chronic sadness and irreversible depression over the massive rejection of its candidate by Deltans in the 2023 Governorship election, it has numbed itself into recurring nightmares and now suffers anxiety, self-suffocation and pervasive fear as Deltans look determined to re-elect Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori in 2027.

Oborevwori being not a self-conceited person and not given to unnecessary showmanship, they had imagined that their candidate, Ovie Omo-Agege, would defeat him in the elections, but Deltans made a rigorous character judgment of the two, and supported Oborevwori massively to hand Agege a crushing defeat.

Feeling woefully disgraced, they instigated the institution of about 38 litigations to upturn the victory, but Oborevwori also defeated them in all.

Deflated, they resigned with the hope of relaunching their bid in 2027, but the responsible, inclusive leadership style and sterling performance being delivered by Oborevwori is already assuring his return, at the same time showing them that they will suffer even more disgraceful defeat in 2027.

All across the state, Deltans are pleased with the projects and programmes of the administration. They richly appreciate the pace of work on the Ughelli-Asaba Expressway, the Warri and Effurun three flyover bridges, a cloverleaf and massive stormwater drainage channels projects, all going on simultaneously in the metropolis.

They had thought that they have been disregarded and forgotten and did not ever anticipate the projects, talk less of the engagement of Julius Berger to handle them, but as they commute daily, they are pleasantly surprised to see the projects taking shape rapidly. This is in addition to the Trans Warri Ode-Itsekiri Road and hundreds of other internal roads and drainage projects in the area.

It is the same for the people of Ndokwa East for whom the Beneku Bridge has been done while over 26 other road projects are on across Ndokwa and Ukwuani.

It is the same for the Ijaw nation where the Bedeseigha Bridge has been done, while action is now on the Ayakoromo Bridge, the Ohoror-Bomadi road, Ogulagha-Odimodi road, with various other internal road projects completed and ongoing from Patani, Burutu to Bomadi LGAs.

In Oshimili/Aniocha axis the people are happy with the completion of the Okpanam-Ibusa Bypass, the Isheagu-Ewulu road and several internal road projects also completed or ongoing in Asaba, Ibusa, Ogwashi-Uku and a number of other towns and villages.

Deltans can see that Ughelli area is already wearing a new look, not only with the reconstruction of roads in Ughelli Township and other suburban centres, but especially with the speedy work on the Orere-Ewu bridge with spurs to connect over 26 communities.

Such critical road projects have been delivered and more are ongoing in Isoko, Ika, Sapele, Udu and Okpe lands. In fact, as at the last count, there are over 500 road and drainage projects going on across the state.

Other sectors, from education, transportation, agriculture and housing, are not left out. In health, about 260 Primary Health Care Centres and 64 General Hospitals are being renovated, upgraded and re-equipped.

Perhaps, the more immediate results are the administration’s social investments, with D-CARES beneficiaries raised from 36,000 to over 250,000 under two years, besides the deliveries of the MORE Grant, the MORE Biz-Up programmes to strengthen micro, small and medium enterprises, and the intensified output of the Job Creation Office.

The same goes for the state work force, retired or in active service, who have had all their dues and more provided, and the youth and student communities who are enjoying the Delta “ukodo” like never before, with regular bursary and free medical services anywhere they are.

Truly, any opposition is bound to “pee in the pants” seeing these remarkable performances and knowing that they effectively destroy any formidable chance or hope for them to come to the contest in the next election.

Their condition is worsened by the acknowledgement of Oborevwori’s outstanding performance and rising profile in the national political sphere.

Why would Delta APC not pee in the pants when President Bola Tinubu has come publicly to acknowledge, describe and commend Oborevwori as a Governor for all, Pan Deltan, a detribalised leader and bridge-builder, adding that if we have more of his type, this country will be better?

Why would the Delta APC not pee in the pants when the Nigeria Governors Forum in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Health conceded to Delta State the Bill and Melinda Gates Awards for Primary Health Care Development in a peer review with other states?

Why will the Delta APC not pee in the pants when Oborevwori’s infrastructure building projects have been reported to the President as “unimaginable” by no less a person as the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, a gentleman who says it as it is.

In comparison, in the last election the Delta APC paraded a candidate whose best public reputation is about the brigandage of mace snatching, an image that President Tinubu would never associate with to trade off his long and hard earned reputation as a democrat.

But perhaps, the most woeful betrayal of irresponsibility by the Delta APC is in their inability to understand why Governor Oborevwori has called for public support and hugely collaborating with the Tinubu administration to ensure the success of the ongoing socio-economic reforms.

Need it be emphasized that the country is one nation and the success of the Federal Government has a corresponding success effect on all the states?

For the avoidance of doubt, the PDP is basically driven by these establishing principles: the pursuit of the socio-economic development and growth of the nation, the prosperity of the people and the deepening of democracy for the sustenance of good governance, and they have remained the guiding values of the Delta State Governor.

But like we have noted, the Delta APC is living in a crippling fear of him, so we can understand why they have become sleepless and incontinent.

They are only hoping to survive through unintelligent propaganda as they are currently engaged in. Pitifully for them, “e no go work.”

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 decisive 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.”