“Unsung heroes don’t seek recognition, but their impact is undeniable.”
– Steven Morris
Only very few people gave him a chance when words filtered out that he was interested in becoming Governor of Delta State in 2023, succeeding Senator Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, who was rounding off his eight-year tenure as helmsman of the State. Some dismissed his ambition outright with a wave of the hand and boasted that it would not happen in their lifetime.
Soon, conspiracy theories began to fly, gang-ups and arm-twisting took over the political space. Then the legal fireworks were unveiled, all in a desperate effort to stop Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori from taking over from Okowa, who had given support to the bid.
Then, there were the sceptics, who even though were strong allies of Okowa, did not believe that Oborevwori was a perfect fit to take over the reins of power. They compared Okowa’s mercurial, suave and urbane demeanor to Oborevwori’s seeming abrasive outlook and felt he could not be the right man for the job. Okowa was known for oratory and eloquence, how could anyone expect Sheriff to succeed a Cicero, they wondered.
Matters were not helped by the fact that Oborevwori had not held any executive position. His longest stint in politics was in the legislative arm where he rose to be the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, the longest to have occupied that office. His tenure as Treasurer and later Vice Chairman of Conference of Speakers of Nigeria did not make any difference to sceptics to his governorship bid.
It did not matter that the House of Assembly under his watch championed financial autonomy for the legislature and the judiciary. Neither was his fight for improved welfare for the assembly staff seen as the sign of a man with empathy for the greater good of all. Even when he eventually returned a whopping N500 million unspent fund to the state Treasury, the sceptics still did not give him a chance.
But Oborevwori was not deterred by the conspiracies, backstabbing, gang-ups, legal fireworks and the outright display of incontinence from powerful forces determined to shoot him down. He was not moved by unfounded claims that he did not go to school, that he forged the results he was parading and that his actual age was in doubt.
Rather than allow negative sentiments weigh him down, he set out to prove the sceptics and naysayers wrong. It is remarkable that the Ikolo of Okpe kingdom won all 38 cases orchestrated to stop him, culminating in a landmark victory at the Supreme Court which gave legitimacy to his valid claims on all the issues raised by the opposition.
It is on record that Oborevwori trounced his opponents in the 2023 governorship election, winning 21 out of the 25 LGAs in the state. He also defeated his closest rival, former Deputy Senate President (DSP) by over 100,000 votes. His qualifications and age have been validated by the schools he attended, school mates and age mates alike.
Following his assumption of office as Governor on May 29, 2023, Oborevwori immediately rolled up his sleeves and set out to work. He has since confounded his traducers and doubters, embarking on monumental legacy projects that have etched his name permanently in the sands of time.
Needless to say that he has earned the sobriquet as Mr. Project on account of unprecedented prognathism in the governance system of Delta State. His impactful leadership have been felt at the grassroots, and even his worst critics have admitted that Oborevwori is a performing Governor, perhaps the best, when compared with what his predecessors achieved within their first two years in office.
From the three flyovers projects being executed by construction giant, Julius Berger Nigeria PLC in the twin cities of Warri and Effurun, to the completion of Beneku bridge which connects people of Ndokwa East to their kith and kin in Ndokwa West, to the near completion of Federal Government-owned Asaba-Ughelli Highway (including accelerated construction of the difficult Ubu bridge at Ogwashi-Uku in record time), to the record breaking rapid work on the Trans Warri-Ode Itsekiri road (with 18 bridges), Sheriff Oborevwori has shown uncommon capacity to deliver the dividends of democracy.
For the first time, Oborevwori approved construction of roads in all 25 LGAs, with each council having at least N2 billion, apart from sundry other projects also going on in the various localities. 150 primary health care centers (PHCs) are under massive upgrade, while a new College of Health Technology at Ovrode in Isoko North LGA is almost ready for take-off. Enrollment under the Delta State Contributory Health Insurance Scheme has doubled by over one million intakes.
More remarkable, however, are the over 250,000 persons that have been empowered under the Social Investment Programme of the government. This aside from clearing outstanding promotion arears of civil servants on assumption of office and prompt payment of workers salaries (even after the introduction of the new minimum wage) and pension to retirees as well as the recruitment of teachers and health workers across board.
Governor Oborevwori has displayed amazing prudence in the management of resources since 2023 when he took over the helm of affairs. He has not borrowed a dime from either banks or from individuals. He is not owing any contractor, provides 40 percent mobilisation for contracts awarded and pays up the balance as soon as certificates of completion of work are presented. He has also reduced the State’s indebtedness from N465 billion to about N190 billion with a promise to liquidate same before the end his tenure.
Yet, Oborevwori does not crave undue recognition. He has stepped on toes and warned that he was prepared to sacrifice friendship for quality job to be done. That is why the governor is seen on the streets, visiting project sites unscheduled and putting contractors on their toes. He has shown that he is a man that brooks no nonsense.
Despite his preference to work and abhorrence of praise singing, some notable awards have been bestowed on him, including that of Governor of the Year by ThisDay/Arise News media group, Daily Independent newspaper, Vanguard and New Telegraph newspapers among others. Delta also won the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation award for Primary Health Care, carting away $400,000 with the Contributory Health scheme ranked number one in West Africa.
As the Governor marks the end of his second year in office, there is no doubt that many milestones lie ahead to be conquered. His disruptive governance style that has transformed Delta into a huge construction site will not wane on account of a determination to do even more to transform the state. Definitely there is renewed hope for Deltans who voted for the new Sheriff in town.
