WHEN a child is born, his time on mortal earth begins to count in days, months and years until it terminates when life expires. Life is not lived to eternity here on earth. Same applies to other earthly ventures: one generation comes and goes and another takes over. Life continues, and that's why many say: "nothing in life is permanent", be it wealth, position, office and even life itself.
Life can be cruel, rosy and sometimes rewarding. The world is like a theatre: some come as spectators, some major players, while others are onlookers; no matter where you belong nothing is permanent; no matter the office, retirement and constitutional limitation beckon.
The 1999 Constitution (as amended) gives a definite term of four years for the President, Governors, members of the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly. What is uppermost here is that nothing lasts forever. Since 1999 Presidents, Governors and other elected political office holders had come and gone. Democracy is like life that hates a void. As people die and are buried many are born. As the days are numbered we only record our deeds and misdeeds in immortality called History.
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori was elected and sworn in on May 29, 2023 and May 29, 2024 made it exactly one year he came to office. The question is: What has he done differently to indicate the direction of his administration? Though one year is short but one can see progress in steps as an indication of right steps taken; it's like moving forward in the right direction rather than being stagnant. The Oborevwori administration is anchored on 'street credibility', referring to how the ordinary man on the street who has no connection to the powers that be would access the Governor and other elected and political appointees in the state.
It's about how Governor Oborevwori is relating with the electorate, the ordinary people whose power and influence remain in the streets, their immediate vicinity and communities and not the corridors of power. Knowing who Gov. Oborevwori was as a community leader, councilor and aide to former Governor Uduaghan, before his election as a member of the Delta State House of Assembly and Speaker Delta State House of Assembly, he had passed through the mill, he knows where the shoe pinches, he understands the pains, deprivations and limitations of the ordinary man on the street and that's where his 'street credibility' comes from.
Secondly, the one year anniversary of Governor Oborevwori is not only about projects; projects are very important as ideas but what has made the difference is his connection with the ordinary man in the street; yes Oborevwori promised to transform the state and give attention to Warri, the state's economic capital, and he is doing that across the state in cities and rural communities. However, what has made him outstanding is his covenant with Deltans; he understands Deltans are the fulcrum of his aspiration, that the people are the beneficiary of any policy and development and so any policy or development should be tied round the people's hopes and aspirations.
The score card for Gov. Oborevwori points to a brighter future. Deltans, like Janus, have two-face aspirations, looking behind and the other looking forward; the face behind indicates what has been done by his predecessors and the face looking ahead is how we can harness the achievements of the past and build on them to meet today's needs and aspirations. Oborevwori has been able to bring diverse interests together in fostering his dreams and aspirations for Deltans; he is reaching out personally, steering the ship of governance from the tempest and storms to rescue the state and enable good governance. And one rare attribute that Gov. Oborevwori uses is the power of communication and humility; he reaches out to Deltans and he is reachable too; that's why he is 'Mr. street credibility' Governor. There is a lot to celebrate within the one year of his administration, in various spheres: in the area of rule of law and peace development, repositioning the health sector, civil service, infrastructural development and education, curbing corrupt practices and much more.
Delta State is on a right track, our health institutions are doing the needful, public hospitals are responding to the needs of Deltans, corruption in all public institutions is being curtailed and the right and proper things are being done; our educational institutions are functioning at their optimal best. With Oborevwori, we are occupying our peak height and discipline has become the focus once again; teachers are again proud to be teachers, the civil service is functional and government paying great attention to competence; ghost workers are being weeded out to give the service its right place of importance in rural areas and also in major cities.
In continuation of the Okowa administration, Gov. Oborevwori is transforming lives, with inter connectivity of rural roads to ease transportation of goods and services. The Oborevwori administration recognises the rural communities as the food basket of the state and therefore to curb high cost of food products and reduce rural-urban migration, rural development is being given its rightful attention. In the urban areas of the state, a lot is also being done. For instance, Warri is beginning to enjoy its pride of place as several roads are being constructed with strict supervision for excellence. There is no place for substandard execution of jobs. Several ongoing road construction jobs, including the Warri Township Stadium, had been revoked for either substandard execution or non-adherence to terms of contract. This is the new reality in Delta State.
Again, in the communities where these projects are taking place there is the active participation of the benefiting communities; they partake in choice of projects, participate in execution of the projects, thereby having or claiming the ownership of such projects as theirs as against projects that are imposed. This strengthens the relationship of the various communities with the government in planning, execution and commissioning of such projects. In other to curb the bottlenecks and the cases of corruption/incompetence of some local contractors, the Oborevwori government had engaged Julius Berger Plc. to undertake major projects, such as roads and flyovers in Warri. That is why Warri is now wearing a new look and the indications for the future is bright.
Apart from Warri, Gov. Oborevwori has also given a facelift to other major cities in the state like Agbor, Asaba, Ughelli, Sapele and they are now beautiful sights to behold at night, with solar lights brightening the streets. This has helped to reduce crime and also helped to sustain security in our major roads and highways as well as brightening of the streets which now enjoy aesthetic beauty.
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In the case of human relationship, the Oborevwori administration has maintained a good and cordial relationship with his predecessors, elder statesman Chief Dr. E.K. Clark and other major political and sociocultural leaders of the state. This healthy synergy is beneficial to the state in development and sustaining the concept of unity that was once elusive in the state. The mantra of Governor Oborevwori is MORE. The agenda is in furtherance of doing MORE for Deltans considering the achievements of his predecessor. MORE means Meaningful Development, Opportunities for all, Realistic reforms and Enhanced peace and security. It's on this social contract with Deltans that Gov. Oborevwori got elected. In his inauguration he said: "With what has been achieved by the immediate past administration, Delta State is about to move into an era that will witness the fulfillment of its full potentials".
There is no doubt that from whatever angle we may view his records, the fact speaks for itself: he has excelled in all ramifications. Though critics may refer to the Okuama incident as a set back to his peace and security agenda, those who lay claim to this are unsure of the history of the state, the okuama episode was a criminal act not a communal conflict.
·Prince Akpo. Abugo wrote from Uzere Delta State
