“The point here is that, Governor Oborevwori is quietly rebuilding the confidence of Delta citizens with so much capital projects all over the state. In fact, the one week I spent in Warri, during the New Year, gave me another notion about the governor’s vision to revive the once enviable oil city”
By Mark Orgu, News/Comments
John Quincy Adam, 6th President of the United States of America, once wrote: “Providence, has showered blessings upon me profusely. But they have been blessings unforeseen and sought. Non nobis, Domine, non nobis, sed nomini tuo do gloriam, (Not to us, Lord, not to us, but to your name be the glory.”
The politic fortune of Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, is not only divine but ordained by providence- having chronologically assessed his journey in politics and how he rose to political prominent through humility and loyalty, thereby becoming the Governor of the Oil rich state. In fact, some political watchers have said, “Sheriff Oborevwori became governor because he is an outstanding focused mover with less attention to unnecessary distraction.”
His Excellency seems to have proven the words of Massinger Philip (1583-1640), an English dramatist and author, right, when he wrote: “He that would govern others, first should be the master of himself.”
Now, from all indications, Oborevwori is a master of the game, take it not from him. In fact, he is a genius who knows his worth as a governor. No wonder Edward Robert Lytton Bulwer-Lytton, (1831-1891), an English Statesman, conservative politician and poet reminded us that, a genius does what it must, and talent does what it can. In this case, Oborevwori is both a talent and a genius, a double edge of blessings to the good people of Delta.
Mr. Oborevwori was born on June 19, 1963 to the family of Late Chief Samuel and Mrs. Esther Oborevwori, of Osubi town in Okpe local government Area of Delta State. He bagged a bachelor’s degree in Political science at Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, Edo State and also obtained Master’s degree in the same field. luckily, the Okpe people are well read, and also involved in art works, farming and trading with rich cultural heritage of the Urhobo people.
The Political turnaround.
On the 11th of May, 2017, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, took the mantle of leadership as Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, after the former Speaker, Rt,Hon. Monday Igbuya, (now representing Delta state at the NDDC Board), was removed. Fortunately, out of the 29 lawmakers, 26 unanimously signed and endorsed Oborevwori for the speakership, for his meekness, tenacity, strong-will, and ability. Indeed, he was an enviable speaker among his equals.
At that time, the lawmakers had accused Igbuya of incompetence, high handedness and unacceptable leadership style, just as the Lagos State House of Assembly lawmakers removed former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa on January 13, and elected Hon. Mojisola Meranda, citing similar reasons.
The new Lagos speaker in her address pledged to respect lawmakers and work in synergy with the state governor. Mr. Babajide Sanwo-olu just as Oborevwori did when he replaced Igbuya and worked harmoniously with the immediate past Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
Also, when Oborevwori took over as speaker, he proved leadership capacity with humility and respect for fellow Honourables. In fact, Oborevwori had told his fellow lawmakers that, even if he was the first among equals, he would show leadership by example, by respect; and he would preserve the integrity and sanctity of the House and ensure unity among all. These, he kept as virtues and promise.
Unfortunately, those who didn’t understand the grace and the spiritual vessel behind Oborevwori lamented and lost their voice in vain, and by the time they could realize Roman 9:16: “So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy.” it was too late.

A very silent achiever and uninterested democrat who is more focused in delivering dividend of democracy to the people of Delta State. There is no more doubt that Oborevwori is a leader with fortitude tendency, brave and determined to succeed.

A resource manager who has not borrowed a dime since the assumption of office, yet, civil servants are not complaining about their salaries. His Excellency action as a working governor reminds me of some part of the great Malcolm X, address in 1960-1964 at Harlem Rally: “We want brave leaders as our spokesmen, who are not afraid to state our case, who can intelligently demand what we need, what we want, and what is rightly ours” Malcolm X went further to state, that no society will survive with leaders of compromise, puppet or parrots, including greediness, but stressed however that only brave leaders with salient ability will succeed better than noisemakers.
Drainage construction, Uvwie and environs
The point here is that, Governor Oborevwori is quietly rebuilding the confidence of Delta citizens with so much capital projects all over the state. In fact, the one week I spent in Warri, during the New Year celebration, gave me another notion about the governor’s vision to revive the once enviable oil city. I have not been in Warri and the State for one and half year until my recent visit.
The Governor is proving that the brave, bold, will succeed greater than mere thinkers. That is why am happy and glad to watch His Excellency receive Thisday Newspaper/Arise TV Governor of the year, because the indices of good governance from building infrastructure to human capacity, peace and inclusive government remains visible.
Importantly, Oborevwori ideologies about good governance and development are not in doubt except those who wants to play opposition politics forgetting that, after politics, it is governance-That is what Governor Oborevwori is giving the good people of Delta and he should be given all the necessary support.

Below are some of his landmark achievements and ongoing projects in the state: Building of three flyovers in Warri and Effurun, the ongoing constructions of Trans-Warri road, Asaba waterfront city, storm drainages in Warri, Effurun, Asaba and Agbor axis, completed Okpanam-Ibusa bypass, completed and ongoing multiple roads in Asaba/Okpanam, completed Emevor-Orogun road (phase 1, as phase two is ongoing, ongoing building of Orerokpe campus of Southern Delta University, Establishment of College of Health Technology in Ovrode, establishment of Medical School in Southern Delta University, Ozoro, donation of 60 patrol vehicles to security agencies, upgrading of Oghara teaching hospital with modern medical equipment, ongoing construction of Asaba international market, renovation of over 150 health centres across the state, Ongoing completion of the Agro Industrial Park at Azagba-Ogwashi, recruitment of over 2500 teaching and non-teaching staff in 22 LGAs, ongoing construction of the phase 2 of the Orhere-Agbarho-Otokutu link road which includes a bridge across the Otokutu river, emergency repair works at PTI junction inward Osubi, provision of 500KVA Transformer for residents of First Marine Gate in Warri, approval and commencement of the reconstruction of Uti road, Effurun, Uvwie, ongoing construction of the Isoko ring road, payment of N5.522bn promotion arrears for civil servants, Executive order for the evacuation of the illegal market at Otovwodo, executive order for the demolition of illegal structures that are blocking water channels, facilitated and guaranteed N40bn pensions payment to LGA pensioners,. approval of palliative payment of N10,000 to each of the 50,196 civil servants in Delta State including the 10 tertiary institutions for three (3) months, approval of rotational work schedule for all civil servants between grade Levels 1-14 for a maximum of three (3) days a week till further notice while levels 15 and above are to work out what is convenient in their respective MDAs while encouraging working remote, reconstruction of the collapsed Umeh bridge, ongoing construction of Orere-Ewu bridge at Ewu, Ughelli South Local Government Area, desalting of blocked drainage and gutters as part of measures to tackle flooding in Warri, Uvwie and environs, ongoing construction of Kwale-Beneku bridge, approval and commencement of the construction of Ohorhe-Adagbrasa-Ugolo-Okuodiete road with a spur from Adagbrasa to Ughwagba community to Okan junction along the Eku-Osubi-Effurun Road in Okpe Local government Area.
Others include, the construction of an access road to Federal Housing Estate, Ugboroke. This project was initiated by the last administration and completed by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, approval and commencement of the reconstruction of Upper and Lower Erejuwa Roads in Warri, approval and commencement of the rehabilitation of Esisi Road from Warri Sapele Road to Estate roundabout with a spur to Nana College to link Ajamimogha, approval and commencement of the rehabilitation and asphalt overlay of the failed sections of PTI Road in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area, approval and commencement of rehabilitation and asphalt overlay of Oviri Court-Adagbrasa Road in Okpe Local Government Area, approval of the construction of roads around Otovwodo junction in Ughelli North Local Government Area, approval and of the construction of Nsukwa-Umute-Adonte Road Phase 1 from Nsukwa to Umute in Aniocha South Local Government Area, remedial works for the failed approach to the bridge at Bedesegba along Ohoror-Bomadi Road in Bomadi Local Government Area, approval for the installation of all-in-one LED solar powered street lights along NPA – DSC Expressway and its environs in Uvwie and Warri South Local Government Areas.

Approval of the payment of the 2023 counterpart fund for the Universal Basic Education Programme and for the organisation/hosting of the 7th Edition of the National Youth Games in the state, ratification of the appointment of some traditional rulers including; the appointment of HRM Macaulay Popo Ovbagbedia, Uhurhie-Sadjere II as the Ohworode of Olomu Kingdom, ongoing construction of the Isoko and Ogwashi-Uku sections of the Asaba-Ughelli Highway, Ongoing completion of Ishiagu bridge, ongoing completion of the New High Court Complex at Asaba, reconstruction of the bridge railings at the Udu bridge among others.
Orgu, is a public affairs analyst and social commentator. He is the Editor-in-Chief, Afrikanwatch Network (mcnext8@yahoo.com), wrote from Lagos
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