Emerald News, one of the leading online newspapers in Delta state weekend took a cursory look at the administration of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori. The following piece is the report.
On May 29, 2023, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori was sworn in as executive governor of Delta state. Prior to the swearing in, many people did not believe in his ability to pilot the affairs of the state. Many were of the view that Oborevwori will be a marionette in the hands of the former governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa. With that erroneous mindset, they hold the opinion that his administration will be a continuation or an extension of Okowa’s government in the oil rich state. Their view may not be unconnected to the fact that Oborevwori ascended the seat of power through the effort and doggedness of the former governor. Okowa fought many to pave way for the emergence of Oborevwori. This, he did, because he believed in the ability of the governor.
True to the belief of the former governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori has taken some great steps which have proven wrong the claims of those who do not believe in the will-power of the governor. While it is true that in certain decisions, incumbent governors consult their predecessors on critical decisions that may affect majority of their people if not well-advised, Oborevwori cannot be seen as a puppet in the hands of his predecessor. Emerging facts in the state speak volume to that effect. Oborevwori has taken certain steps to exert his influence and build a personality for himself in the state.
One of the first laudable moves the governor made was the award of a landmark project to Julius Berger, the biggest construction company in Nigeria. Since the creation of Delta till date, Delta state government has never awarded any contract to the German construction giant, Julius Berger. Among construction firms operating in the country, Julius Berger is repute for its expertise and skill in handling construction projects, hence, any government whether federal or state that wants to execute durable projects that will be celebrated by their people will always resort to Julius Berger construction firm. That is why former Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike, employed the services of Julius Berger to construct all the flyovers he did in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital.
That is also the reason the federal government employed the services of Julius Berger to construct the second Niger Bridge which is already in use between Onitsha and Asaba. The simple reason is that Julius Berger has built a reputation for itself in the Nigerian construction industry, a reputation which no construction firm in Nigeria has equaled or ever tried to surpass. Therefore, Oborevwori’s resort to Julius Berger to construct flyovers and bypass in Warri and Effurun is a milestone achievement which has garnered applause from industry players and majority of Deltans. Though there are reports of some local contractors raising eyebrows, these are seen as detractors.
His resort to Julius Berger is a departure from the status quo in the state. Delta state has been employing the services of local contractors which some persons refer to as village contractors to execute projects, hence roads they construct have never lasted beyond one year or less. They are quickly washed away or overtaken by flood. Governor Oborevwori must have studied this phenomenon and took decision to go the way of professional road construction giants. Though it is certainly going to cost more, the multiplier effect cannot be quantified. This is a jinx Governor Oborevwori has broken and he needed to be applauded for the bold step.
Besides the flyover being constructed by Julius Berger, there are other projects ongoing or completed within the eight months of the life of his administration. Besides the Julius Berger project in Warri, there are roads, bridges and drainage projects the governor is constructing across the three senatorial districts of the state. This is even as he is completing projects inherited from the previous administration. Some have been completed and ready for commissioning. His resort to completing projects of the previous administration is in recognition of the fact that government is a continuum where one continues from where the other stops.
Coming close to the state capital, the Okpanam/Ibusa road in Oshimili North is receiving attention from the governor. The phase 11 of Ibusa/Achalla/Asaba road is lso being worked on to increase the length from 6.83 to 13.08 km; the Oko-Amakam/Oko-Obiakpu Road, with 900 metres access link to the Second Niger Bridge; and the two phases of flood control measures around Madonna College Road in Asaba are receiving attention from the governor.
In the same Warri and Effurun axis of the state, there are the access road from Nigercat Junction on NPA Road through Izakpo Road to the New Tankers Park in Ekpan, Uvwie LGA; the DSC Roundabout link road off the Ughelli/Patani Expressway; and the Kokodiagbene township road in Warri South local government area of the state.
Other roads being constructed by the governor are the Orere Bridge which is ongoing. The state government is also constructing a road from the Benin Expressway through Aghalokpe to Agbaroh running through Effurun roundabout. This is also ongoing. As part of keeping criminals away from Warri at night, the governor is lightening up the oil city, making it safe for night life and other businesses in the oil metropolis.
There is a ring road being constructed in Ughelli through to Okogbe in Ughelli axis. In the same vein, the governor is also constructing a road from Port Harcourt Express leading to Asaba road. In Ika axis, a road is being constructed in Owa, a community in Ika North east local government area of the state.
In the education sector, the governor has done marvelously well within the period under review. In the University of Delta, Agbor, there is an ongoing project in the faculty of engineering. A government house spokesman told this medium that “We have just completed 500 seating capacity auditorium at Dennis Osadebay University in Asaba. There is also the administrative block that has been completed in the university by the eight month old administration.’’
At the Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro, the admin block of the institution has been completed by the Oborevwori’s administration. Internal roads have also been constructed in the same institution. The administration has completed some classroom blocks in the university demonstration secondary school. Available reports to this online portal reveal that the state government has not borrowed money from any financial institution to construct these projects within the eight months under review.
“It is on record that within the eight months under review we have not borrowed money to fund any project. We have not borrowed money to do anything in terms of governance. We have been using the resources we have to do all these projects.
“When we came on board, there was this issue of nagging arrears of local government pensioners which we have cleared. This is over N40billion. We have also taken care of promotion arrears for civil servants of over N5billion. We have done palliatives for students, acceptance fees for newly admitted students was slashed by 25 percent as a way of giving them palliatives. This was done in all the four universities in the state,” the chief press secretary to the governor, Festus Ahon, told Emerald News.
He also said: “For salary payment, we pay as at when due. We have not owed one month. Even before we came on board the state government was paying promptly. It’s a tradition in Delta to pay salaries without delay. The state government has never owed salaries for one month. We are working on a lot of things which we will unfold in the course of time. There is also this farm settlement in Mbiri that has been completed. We are already planting vegetables there. We call it green house. We are also trying to complete a rice mill at Ogwashi Uku in Aniocha South.”
These developments and a host of others are indicative that the governor is bent on transforming the state for good. His promise prior to his election was that he would run an all-inclusive government that will be favourable to all Deltans irrespective of political party affiliation. This, he showed in the surprise visit he made to late Chief Frank Kokori, a former secretary of NUPENG and a staunch member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) prior to his death. The state government is also involved in the burial arrangement of the deceased.
It must be stated that the governor is working assiduously to create a conducive atmosphere for residents of the state. He is set to run a detribalized administration devoid of political colouration and away from ethnic influence.
Governor Oborevwori has proven his mettle in many other areas of good governance. In terms of appointment of young persons which has been the clamour of people in the state, he has shown commitment to empowering the youths in Delta state. A larger percentage of his appointees in the media, community development, youth development, cabinet members and other strategic areas have been youths drawn from the 25 local government areas of the state. He also retained many from the past administration of erstwhile Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
This is why Chief Victor Wayles Egukawhore, an indigenous marine, construction cum oil magnate, said, “The governor’s months in office have been miraculous as manifested by the number of projects he had executed in the state. It is miraculous because other than the projects he’s commissioned, he has done much more. If you follow the news trend you’ll see the various projects he has approved for execution. Today is a very happy moment not just for me as an individual but for the entire people of this state. We can see the road the governor has commissioned, it’s a thing of pride for us.
“The projects he has so far commissioned are significant for us and is an indication that he’s ready for the development of the state and we are going to partner with the state government in terms of quality contributions on projects as the state needs a lot of support from all of us.” This Egukawhore said during the commissioning of the newly completed Okpolo/Enhwe/Uwheru road.
Edwin Clark, an elder statesman in Delta state, after careful examination of the development in the state recently said Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has started well. In an open letter to the governor, Clark listed some of the contracts of the governor as the proposed construction of a flyover at the Enerhen junction to Marine gate and the expansion of DSC/NPA expressway from Effurun roundabout to the Delta Steel Complex (DSC) round-about, among others.
“I write to express, on behalf of the people of Warri and elders of Warri referred to as ‘WARRI BOYS,’ our gratitude and appreciation for the great plan you have for the rehabilitation and urban renewal of our hometown, Warri/Effurun,” he wrote.
“Particularly, the recent award of some major contracts to a reputable company such as Julius Berger in the sum of N78billion is a show of your sincerity of purpose. Indeed, I understand that part payment has been made to the contractors.”
Clark said he is sure that when the projects are completed, they will bring joy and satisfaction to the inhabitants of the old Delta province and return the old glory of Warri.
“It is obvious that you have started your tenure very well and I am confident that you will extend this pattern of development to other major towns in the state,” he added. “Already, I understand that you have awarded similar contracts for work in some of the federal highways connecting some of the major towns in the state.”
