Barely two years of his election as Governor of Delta state, Rt.Hon. Elder Sheriff Oborevwori is not only winning awards and recognition for good governance, but the support of Deltans and Nigerians as he navigates the complex politics of the state. IGHO AKEREGHA examines his rising profile.
He was an underdog before the elections in 2023. Counting days to the crucial Delta state gubernatorial election held on Saturday March 18th 2023, some of his closest political allies and friends deserted him to join the opposition.
Undeterred, candidate Oborevwori, as he was then, navigated the complex political terrain of the state to win the election. He thus triumphed despite the intricate web of conspiracy and political adversity.
The road to the Delta state Government House, known as “Dennis Osadebey House” was very rough and turbulent for Oborevwori.
He defeated a formidable opponent, Chief Ovie Omo-Agege, a former Deputy President of the Senate who wielded massive political influence before the election, to emerge the fourth democratically elected governor of Delta state, created from the old Bendel state on August 27th, 1991.
The topsy-turvy path for the governor was scary and unpredictable from the onset. Many considered him an underdog in the race. In the calculation of his opponents, he was least qualified. They therefore underrated him. But many in the opposition ignored two critical principles. The divine wish of God and personal destiny.
These two principles worked in favour of Oborevwori to win the election. Since his victory, he has been delivering massive economic development and unprecedented infrastructure across the three senatorial districts of the state.
With his MORE Agenda, Oborevwori is breaking boundaries. He is pragmatically delivering meaningful development and creating opportunities for all Deltans, implementing realistic reforms across all sectors while also enhancing the peace and security of the state for development and harmonious coexistence.
In less than two years in office, the Governor has undoubtedly entrenched his administration in the minds of many Deltans who admire him for his humility and accountability, virtues that have become potent weapons for subduing his critics.
To achieve the objectives set out in the MORE development agenda, the Oborevwori administration emplaced a Standing Committee on Projects Inspection headed by the Governor. The committee regularly visits project sites across the state to assess progress of ongoing projects.
Whenever the Governor is not available to lead the team, the Deputy Governor takes charge and this approach, quite novel, is yielding results.
During a recent tour of completed and ongoing projects by the Governor in Asaba and its environs, Oborevwori, who is known as a contractors nightmare for his meticulous scrutiny of projects warned that ” if you are my friend and you fail to do a good job, I am ready to sacrifice our friendship in the interest of Deltans”.
Those who are close to the Governor, including engineers in the state ministry of works, are aware that he places a high premium on details as spelt out in the Bills of Quantity. Sources say that he does not compromise on quality and standards and anyone who does, faces instant penalties including contract revocation.
Governor Oborevwori personally supervises projects across the state and physically takes measurements of rods and other construction materials including asphalt and cement quality to ensure conformity with requirements and integrity test of roads and structures.
The administration, in February 2025, demonstrated that it would not tolerate under hand dealings and corruption in project execution when it demoted two serving engineers for issuing certificates of job completion on road projects which were yet to be completed.
The affected officers, Engr. Gabriel Evuarhere and Engr. Samuel Nwokolobia, were demoted from Deputy Director to Assistant Director and Assistant Director to Chief Engineer respectively. The action was sequel to a letter conveying the outcome of a disciplinary committee signed by William O. Ogolokpe for the Head of Service.
Engr. Gabriel Evuarhere was found culpable of corruption, dishonesty, and failure to adhere to laid down procedure and was reduced in rank by one salary grade level from the post of Deputy Director (Civil Engineer) SGL 16 to that of Assistant Director (Civil Engineer), SGL 15 with effect from 1st January 2024.
Similarly, Engr. Samuel Nwokolobia was indicted for corruption, dishonesty, and failure to adhere to laid down procedure and also reduced in rank by one salary grade level from the post of Assistant Director (Civil Engineer) SGL 15 to that of Chief Civil Engineer, SGL 14 with effect from 1st January 2024.
The action of the Governor immediately sent shock waves across the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the state government that the he will not spare erring officials. The action further demonstrates his resolve to wield the big stick against corruption and dishonesty when necessary.
During a recent inspection of road projects in Asaba, the state capital and its environs, Oborevwori personally caught some of the contractors napping. This resulted in the cancellation of some of the contracts over shoddy work while others were punished for abandoning site.
As the inspection team comprising the Governor, Commissioners, Engineers and the State Press Corps drove round the sprawling Asaba metropolis and communities adjoining the state capital, some of the contractors who had abandoned their sites and others who merely showed their presence without adequate deployment to site quickly mobilised back to work.
Many traders and market women trooped out to cheer the Governor as he walked on foot to inspect street roads and other ongoing projects in the capital city.
Emotion ran high among the traders as the surging crowd called out his chieftaincy title of ‘Ukodo’, translated to mean “There is enough for all”. Indeed, not a few Deltans are convinced that the Governor has enough infrastructure development for all.
As the inspection progressed, the Governor’s security team had a hectic time controlling the mammoth crowd that turned out to catch a glimpse of their leader. Oborevwori who intermittently waved back at the crowd with a broad smile had to caution his security details to allow the people enjoy the rare moment.
During his inauguration on May 29, 2023, Oborevwori promised to run an inclusive administration where the people will be the pivot of governance. Many residents in the state have commended him for adhering to this promise and they are happy.
To ensure the success of its people-centric policy, the state government recently opened a telephone hotline where Deltans can track official accountability and directly report contractors who are delivering sub standard and poor projects in their communities.
Indeed, many Deltans agree that the administration is delivering good projects and infrastructure to every part of the state in equal measure without discrimination.
Oborevwori has vowed that he is committed to specifically focusing his attention on Asaba, the state capital by transforming it to a modern city that every Nigerian would be happy to call a home.
For the year 2025, the administration appears to be more determined to deliver life- changing projects for the state ahead of the Governor’s second year anniversary on May 29, 2025.
Evidence of this renewed vigour to transform the state came during Oborevwori’s opening remarks at the maiden State Executive Council meeting for 2025 at the Exco Chamber in Government House on February 13, 2025. He had revealed that the administration has lined up humongous projects across the three senatorial districts that will transform the entire landscape of the state.
To ensure success of the new plan, the Governor urged Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to fastrack the process of awarding the projects in line with his administration’s M.O.R.E. agenda.
Across the state, many projects have been delivered while others are at different stages of completion. Some ongoing road projects scheduled for delivery before May 2025 include the repairs of the Okirighwre-Benin road, construction of the Ughelli-Asaba expressway and the Issele-Azagba-Otulu road project in Aniocha North local government area.
Others are Esezi road dualisation, Ayakoromo bridge and Trans-Warri roads and bridges. To combat flooding in Ugolo-Okpe, Okuokoko, Osubi and its environs, the administration has built storm drainages. It has also arrested flooding menace in Orerokpe, while construction work is ongoing in the Orerokpe – Okuloho – Oviri-Okpe – Aragba road.
Apparently determined to positively alter the development trajectory of the state, the Oborevwori administration, in its February exco meeting approved a whopping N275 billion for the implementation of infrastructure in the three senatorial districts.
Speaking to his cabinet during the meeting, Oborevwori said, “Today, Deltans will know that my administration is ready to do more for them. There are a lot we hope to achieve with today’s exco meeting because it promises to be the best exco meeting since our administration started.
“We are touching all the Senatorial districts and all local government areas have been carried along with the huge amounts we are spending this period.
“We are doing it so that the people will be happy and I want to advise the Ministries, Departments and Agencies to make sure they fast track the process of award of these contracts.
He added that “We are already in February; we just have few months to the rainy season and I believe that we will have a lot of projects for inauguration during our second year anniversary in office” .
Giving a breakdown of the projects, Mr Charles Aniagwu, Honourable Commissioner, Works (Rural) and Public Information said, “Virtually all the projects we approved today are coming with 40 per cent mobilisation without our government having to go and borrow, and that tells you how solvent we are as a state.
Explaining the government’s effort in addressing housing deficit in the state, Aniagwu disclosed that the state government had commenced the construction of 30 units of three bedrooms and 20 units of two bedrooms pilot phases in Ozoro, Kwale and Owa-Oyibu.
He said the exco also approved the remodelling of the Warri City Stadium, construction of Uruagbesa Oria-Abraka road, phase 1; construction of Egodo-Ogbeinbene road and the construction of Faculty B at the Southern Delta University, Orerokpe campus.
Others are the construction of Amai-Aragba road; construction of Inam-Abbi access road; construction of internal roads at Ugbolu Hilltop Government layout (Phase 1); the construction of Umuoshimi road with spurs to Ogbe-Aku and market road in Onicha-Ugbo; the construction of Okerenkoko – Pepeama – Kokodiagbene road with a spur to Teiteipur in Warri South-West, and the construction of Benikrukru Township roads (Phase II).
Also approved are the rehabilitation of Bomadi-Gbaregolor road and the construction of Okwetolor – Okobia – Aragba roads.
Aniagwu assured that these projects span different sectors targeted at giving value for money; promoting urban renewal and making the cities much more liveable.
Also approved are the rehabilitation of Bomadi-Gbaregolor road, the construction of Okwetolor – Okobia – Aragba Road; the construction of Ogbe-Isogban Road in Abavo; Owa-Ewere Road in Owa-Oyibu; approval for upward review of Ayakoromo bridge; the rehabilitation and asphalt overlay of Okpanam Road from Post Office Junction to Catholic Church Roundabout to Okpanam Bypass Junction.
Equally approved are the construction of Iwride-Iyede internal roads (Phase 1); the construction of Ogbe-Ijoh/Aladja Road phase 2, and the construction of Okwighele – Amuokpokpor Road, among others.
The Commissioner for Works (Highways and Urban Roads), Comrade Reuben Izeze, commended Governor Oborevwori for the massive provision of 40 per cent mobilisation for all the approved projects.
He stated that no government in the state had shown more commitment to the sustained funding of projects than the Oborevwori administration.
Izeze added that Governor Oborevwori had cleared outstanding certificates owed contractors, including N8 billion previously owed on the Trans-Warri road and bridges, as well as putting the project on the Irrevocable Standing Payment Order, ISPO module.
Izeze disclosed that additional storm drainage work was approved to take care of Koka Junction and Achalla-Ibusa area, in addition to what CCECC was doing around Winners’ Chapel on Ibusa Road.
The Commissioner noted that the exco considered and approved the upward review of Ayakoromo bridge with provision for ISPO, adding that review of the design of cloverleaf on Effurun Roundabout to ensure property owners around the area were not encumbered was also approved.
The administration is also serious with agriculture. It is partnering with Afritropic, an Agriculture based Service Provider to build Greenhouses in farm settlements at Mbiri, Ika North East LGA, at Kpakiama, Bomadi LGA and Deghele, Sapele LGA. The scheme, Accelerated Agricultural Development Scheme (AADS), a 2020 Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) loan initiative, would engage 370,000 youth in agricultural production of 13 agricultural commodities. The state has also invested N1billion in counterpart funding in the partnership between Delta Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (D-CARES) and Africa Union Development Agency, New Partnership for African Development (AUDA/NEPAD).
As at December 2024, 203,204 persons have been empowered under the D-CARES scheme, 5,426 persons received cash grants under the MORE Grant Scheme for petty traders, artisans and female entrepreneurs while 6,000 farmers were empowered with agricultural inputs to boost agricultural production in the state.
In the health sector, the state government recorded over two million Deltans in the state’s health insurance scheme. The considerable annual premium of N7000 which guarantees access to 560 public and private hospitals in the state is being applauded as a game-changer.
By July 2024, the Delta State Contributory Health Commission (DSCHC), has paid the bills of over 300 Cesarean Sections (CS) monthly at the cost of over N500,000.
In December 2024, Delta State won $400,000 from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Primary Health Care (PHC) Leadership Challenge. The award recognized the state’s efforts in improving primary healthcare.
The award, given in recognition of Oborevwori’s health sector initiatives is further bolstered by the state’s recent approval to renovate over 150 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHC) to deliver quality healthcare as first responders at the community level.
The state government, during its exco meeting in February approved N1.6bn for the Contributory Health Scheme and a monthly release of N100 million to ensure sustainability of health coverage for Deltans.
Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, the State Commissioner for Health disclosed that the Oborevwori administration recently approved the establishment of a Specialist Hospital at Osubi with Public Laboratory and Psychiatric Clinic; total rehabilitation of General Hospital, Ekpan and the completion of Library building at Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara to boost admission intake for the university.
With these achievements, it did not come as a surprise as the apex Urhobo Cultural Organisation, the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) inducted Oborevwori into its Hall of Fame.
Many see this induction as an overwhelming endorsement and acceptance of the Governor who is one of their own for his sterling performance.
The icing on the cake was the award by THISDAY as Governor of the Year for his stewardship in Delta. “Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State was underrated,” said Chairman of THISDAY and ARISE Media Group, Prince Nduka Obaigbena.
“But in his 18 months in power he has not borrowed any cent from any bank and he keeps building infrastructure across the state.” In fact, to the doubters, including ‘those who may have underrated Oborevwori prior to 2023,’
As the Governor’s performance profile rises, political pundits in the state predict that his critics may be mourning and ruing their fate with their political future increasingly becoming doomed .
Some antagonists of Oborevwori who are scampering to find a strategic response to his popularity allege that the Governor concentrated more projects in the Delta central senatorial district where he comes from. They also accuse him of being too frugal and do not not give out free cash.
The Governor has dismissed these claims but he previously acknowledged that the Delta central area, particularly Warri and its environs had for long been neglected in terms of good roads and other basic infrastructure.
To address this challenge, he had to approve the creation of the Warri, Uvwie And Environs Special Area Development Agency ( WUEDA), to bridge the infrastructure deficit.
While Oborevwori has seized every opportunity to assure Deltans that he remains committed to equal development of the state, current records of completed and ongoing projects and infrastructure shows that the Delta central area still lags behind.
For example, in Ndokwa nation, Oborevwori approved award of contracts for the construction no fewer than 15 km of roads.
Aniagwu who is from Delta North says “We have completed the Obi-Ibabu road which is over 4km awaiting inauguration, the Ndemili-Utagba Uno road and the Eweshi – Utagba-Uno roads.
“We have also awarded a road in Amai which has progressed to stone base; at Aboh in Ndokwa East, work is also ongoing. “The Beneku bridge has been completed and the Governor has also awarded the construction of Asaba – Ase bridge in Ndokwa East linking Uzere in Isoko South.”
Aniagwu disclosed that the State Government currently runs four public universities, adding that no state in the country could boast of a university in each of the Senatorial districts of the state.
Responding to allegations of being financially conservative, sources close to the Governor insists that his preference is to utilise the resources of the state to deliver democracy dividends and quality infrastructure to all.
But in spite his achievements, two prominent politicians in the state leads the pack in opposing the Oborevwori administration.
Chief Ned Nwoko, Senator representing Delta North Senatorial district who has since defected from the Governor’s party, the People’s Democratic Party, PDP to the All Progressives Congress, APC, is one of his hardline critic.
Nwoko claimed that he faced opposition from PDP leaders regarding his quest for the creation of Anioma State. In his words, “I left because I want to be able to get the support of the ruling party in the creation of Anioma state”
The lawmaker further alleged that the Governor obstructed his efforts and refused to support key projects discussed during the election campaigns citing financial constraints.
But Nwoko’s allegations have since suffered haemorrhage of logic as his ambition for the creation of Anioma state was dismissed along with 34 similar requests by the House of Representatives for failing to meet constitutional threshold.
The billionaire politician has also not succeeded in getting his new party to approve any significant federal projects for his constituency.
Nwoko also faced backlash from many Deltans who accused him of becoming a distraction to the state government and reminded him to focus on his primary task of lawmaking.
In the case of former Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege whom Oborevwori defeated in 21 out of 25 local governments in the last elections, not a few believe that his criticism of the Governor is borne out of bitterness over the loss of the election.
Omo-Agege had expressed frustration over the choice of Oborevwori as ThisDay Governor of the Year 2024. He took a jab at the award claiming he did not deserve it.
For many Nigerians who are daily inundated with the achievements of the Governor, Omo-Agege’s belly-aching spews bitter venom over his current state of political hopelessness.
A few of the awards and recognition underscores the Oborevwori’s four star performance since he came to office. ThisDay/Arise Governor of the Year 2024 for Infrastructure development and prudent financial management, Merit Award in recognition for outstanding contributions to the educational sector by the National Association of Delta State Students (NADESSTU Worldwide), in conjunction with the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).
Others are the “Omorotomo of Urhoboland” by the Urhobo Council of Traditional Rulers led by the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, HRM Emmanuel Sideso, Abe 1 and induction into the Urhobo Hall of fame for Good Governance. There are many more and still counting.
Also, prominent Deltans and traditional rulers are queuing to support the transformation efforts of the Governor. His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III, the Olu of Warri expressed confidence that the Governor has shown bold determination to rewrite Delta history, the respected monarch has said while evaluating Oborevwori’s performance.
“Deltans made the right choice in election of Oborevwori” another verdict by the Pere of Akugbene-Mien who is 1st Vice Chairman, Delta State Traditional Rulers’ Council and King of Akugbene-Mien,
For HRM Pere Luke Kalanama VIII, “the leadership style of Governor Oborevwori had proved satisfactory two years after his election and Deltans made the right choice”
With more than two years left in his first tenure, it’s just about time for Oborevwori and his team to dance to the hit song by American R&B duo, McFadden & Whitehead, “Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now” from their debut album McFadden & Whitehead (1979).
Indeed, Oborevwori, the home boy, can celebrate his achievements as he has surmounted all odds to redefine good governance in Delta state.
