Beyond its bustling streets and vibrant markets, Warri stands out among Nigerian cities with its distinct identity. As the commercial heartbeat of Delta State, it has long played a crucial role in Nigeria’s economic sustainability. Yet, Warri’s influence extends beyond commerce—it has also shaped the nation’s linguistic landscape, infusing English with a local flair that captures the essence of its people, their realities, and the uniqueness of non-native speakers.
One striking example of this linguistic ingenuity was the global reaction to critics following Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s recent visit to inspect projects in Warri and other parts of Delta State. In the unmistakable Warri parlance, Deltans declared, “Governor Sheriff dey show workings, no be chor-chor-chor,” a phrase that powerfully dismisses empty rhetoric in favour of visible action.
However, this phrase would be better appreciated in the light of outbursts from the opposition arrowed by the former Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, accusing Governor Oborevwori of seemingly doing less or neglecting a section of the state. While Omo-Agege’s sentiments, having lost his bid to be governor in 2023 can be pardoned, it pales against the reality visible to all.
In a recent chat with journalists in Asaba, the Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, reiterated that Governor Oborevwori would not reply to critics except with projects. He added that the governor yet again demonstrated that when he led top government officials on inspections of projects across the three senatorial districts.
He said, “When we got to Warri last week during our project inspection tour, our people in Warri were magnanimous in giving us what will become our global response to anybody who decides to paint pictures that are at variance with reality. In their words, ‘Governor Sheriff Oborevwori dey show workings, nor be chor chor chor’, meaning it is not a question of ‘carry-talk.’
“In continuation of projects’ inspection in line with our value for money, Governor Oborevwori led us to many projects in the three senatorial districts. We started with the twin Ubu bridges along the Ughelli-Asaba Expressway. People were stunned that the bridge had been completed, and we had shortened travel time between our commercial city, Warri and our capital city, Asaba. Besides shortening the travel time, Governor Oborevwori has been able to promote smooth motoring along that corridor.
“We proceeded to the Isoko Ring Road where the Governor is determined to fast-track the completion of the project, but needed to be sure of where we were to know how to proceed with the project. We have examined it and the needful is being done by the Ministry of Works, Highways and Urban Roads.”
Aniagwu said on getting to the Southern Delta University, Ozoro they were surprised to see that the College of Health Sciences was almost completed, adding that “the full block has been completed and an additional block is being built to complement the medical building”. Governor Oborevwori commended the Vice-Chancellor and his management team for attracting other projects to the institution.
At the Orerokpe campus, Aniagwu said several projects have been completed, assuring that the campus would be ready for students in September. At Omadino Technical College in Warri South, Governor Oborevwori said the school would be ready for students by the next academic session and assured that his administration would continue to deploy education as a tool to fight insecurity, believing largely that if education was provided for the youths, they would not have the time to navigate towards crime and criminality.
“We also inspected Hospital Road in Warri South with accompanying drains where Governor Oborevwori made very profound promises to provide CT scans at the Central Hospital Warri, Asaba Specialist Hospital and the Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara.
“We also visited the stormwater drainage around the Warri Township Stadium, the three flyovers. The work is progressing speedily, the construction giant, Julius Berger is keeping to schedule and Governor Oborevwori is paying accordingly. On the third day, we headed to Orere Bridge where he urged the contractor to fast-track the completion of the project. We proceeded to the 47km Ohoror-Bomadi Road where we intervened in 30km of that stretch.
“We also inspected the Edo Road and others in Ughelli and we could see that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori ‘dey show workings, nor be chor-chor-chor!” Aniagwu added that Governor Oborevwori was able to broker peace between Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh communities which had been at loggerheads over a land dispute, adding that both communities accepted the terms of settlement and promised to continue living in peace, even as he said that the state government had earlier approved the construction of Aladja/Ogbe-Ijoh Road.
Aniagwu also took a swipe at the opposition for impersonating some ethnic nationalities in their faceless and directionless criticisms of the Oborevwori administration. “In the midst of all these, Governor Oborevwori will not be distracted and we will not confuse politics for governance, assuring that more projects would be approved for Deltans.
In another development, the state’s spokesman said Governor Oborevwori was concentrating on delivering on his four-point agenda and would not be distracted by those seeking to play politics with developments in the state.
“Governor Oborevwori is concentrating on governance and the people of Delta are seeing it and little wonder they were clear that Oborevwori dey show workings, nor be chor-chor-chor. So, if there are individuals who think that governance is about talking here and talking there and raising issues, Oborevwori says ‘Come and see what we are doing’. Now, we have challenged anybody, irrespective of the local government, we are no longer talking but come and let us show you what we are doing in Delta.
“We are pinning it down to local governments and the way we are proceeding, in the not-too-distant time, we are going to pin it down to wards, in which case we bring it closer to the people. There is no local government; mention it, of the 25 local government areas, we will tell you what Oborevwori is doing.
“In the education sector, in the housing sector, in the road infrastructure sector and the health sector, there is something that is being done across the 25 local government areas. So, when those who want to begin to play politics are playing politics, Oborevwori says, ‘I have not even exhausted the mandate given to me to add value to Delta, let alone getting involved in political talks.
“So, his performance is the major reply. We are not disturbed by those who may have decided to pitch tents with different political groups, but let me also tell you that many persons have also come to pitch tents with Oborevwori because they are quite happy about the development in Delta.
“Any time, any day, we can take on anybody by showing them what Oborevwori is doing so that when they tow the path of chor-chor-chor, we tow the path of showing them what we have been doing,” Aniagwu said, adding that Governor Oborevwori was uniting ethnic groups in the state with massive development and life-changing empowerment.
“So, Governor Oborevwori is using all aspects of the MORE agenda to be able to drive this harmonious coexistence that has characterized our different communities,” the Commissioner added. ‘’In Delta, Governor Oborevwori is leading us quite profoundly and we are happy with how he has been able to manage our resources such that we are making appreciable progress across the state.”
On the streets of Warri, the raw joy expressed by the people was palpable. Men and women, old and young, strong and feeble heaped praises on Governor Oborevwori for his profound commitment to service. They particularly hailed him for fulfilling his campaign promises as contained in the MORE Agenda, even as they admired him for visiting their communities to ensure that projects were executed according to value for money.
Further dismissing the shenanigans of the opposition, the Coordinator of the Delta State Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Deacon Okezi Odugala affirmed the performance of Governor Oborevwori. According to Odugala, ‘’Without any iota of sycophancy, Governor Oborevwori has been committed to the MORE Agenda. It is very visible that Delta State has become a huge construction site. Today, Warri is taking a new look, even Asaba. The good thing about it is that the Governor is not just initiating new projects, he is also completing projects inherited from the previous administration and that is sustainability.
‘’The Governor is on top of his game in ensuring that there is no shoddy job in Delta State which aligns with the campaign of the Forum of Delta NGO that we do not want fake contractors in the state. So, the Governor is going about monitoring all projects and campaigning against shoddy jobs. I believe that Governor Oborevwori is very passionate about the development of Delta State and he needs our support for a better Delta’’ Odugala said, even as he appealed for an improvement in the poor power sector.
Responding to Governor Oborevwori’s critics, Odugala said, ‘’I will say this clearly; this is the only country where politicians will always want to tag something good to be bad. That political behaviour should be discouraged. Politicians should partner because nobody knows it all. Today, the number of higher educational institutions in Delta cannot be found elsewhere in the country. You can drive now from Asaba to Warri and you won’t find a pothole. So, we should support the Governor. When we see what is good, we should commend and when we want to criticize, it should be constructive not just because we want to play politics’’
Likewise, the President of the National Association of Delta State Students (NADESSTU), Comrade Wiska Monday, who spoke to The Pointer expressed confidence in the leadership of Governor Oborevwori, citing his significant contributions to students’ welfare and educational development in the state.
Comrade Monday highlighted several key initiatives by the Governor that have positively impacted students across the state. “In a short time, Governor Oborevwori has made a significant impact on education in Delta State. He has ensured that school fees remain stable, preventing any increments that could burden students.
‘’Additionally, as part of efforts to address the shortage of healthcare professionals, his administration is establishing the Delta State University of Science and Technology (DSUST) in Ozoro, Isoko North, complementing the existing Delta State College of Health Sciences and Technology, Ofuoma, Ughelli. Construction is already underway, having commenced last year,” he said.
The student leader also praised the governor’s approval of bursary payments to thousands of Delta State students, with 30,000 beneficiaries last year and 32,000 students receiving bursaries this year. ‘’Furthermore, Governor Oborevwori implemented a 25 per cent reduction in acceptance fees for new students and approved funds for the accreditation of courses in universities and polytechnics.
“In addition, the Governor provided a bus for our association, which has significantly eased transportation, especially during the election period for new executives,” Comrade Monday added. He reiterated the students’ appreciation for the governor’s policies and expressed optimism that more initiatives would be introduced to further enhance the quality of education in Delta State.
Meanwhile, the Non-Indigenes Communities in Delta State lauded Governor Oborevwori’s humane leadership disposition and the phenomenal developmental strides recorded by his administration since it came on board about two years ago.
Speaking on behalf of leaders of the Non-Indigenes Communities in the state during a solidarity visit to the Governor at Government House, Asaba, Prof Pius Ike noted that the Governor had done exceedingly well in the areas of infrastructural development, human capital development, education, healthcare, security and the general wellbeing of Deltans and residents of the state.
Prof Ike disclosed that the achievements recorded by the Governor had won him several awards which he listed to include ThisDay/Arise Television Governor of the Year 2024, Silverbird Governor of the Year 2023, New Telegraph Governor of the Year award on Infrastructure as well as the $400,000 Bill and Melinda Gates award for infrastructure on Primary Healthcare (PHC).
He said the leaders of the Non-Indigenes Communities have come to the realization that leadership is truly measured, not just by policies and projects but by the depth of compassion and fairness extended to all, regardless of origin or background.
“Your Excellency, we the 150-man strong leaders of the non-indigene community in Delta State, comprising but not limited to the Igbo, Hausa, Fulani, South-South States, Yoruba and Middle Belt States feel highly delighted to visit you.
“For nearly two years now since you mounted the saddle as Governor of Delta State, the leadership of the non-indigene community drawn from all over the 25 local government areas in the State have noted your giant strides in the areas of infrastructural development, human capital development, education, healthcare, security and the general wellbeing of Deltans.
“Your Excellency, we have realized that leadership is truly measured, not just by policies and projects but by the depth of compassion and fairness extended to all, regardless of origin or background. It is, therefore, with immense gratitude and deep appreciation that we assemble today to acknowledge and celebrate your exemplary leadership as Governor of Delta State.
“By your administration’s policies, actions and personal disposition, you have affirmed that Governance is about people, not just place and that leadership embraces all,” Prof. Ike said. While saying that the Non-Indigenes Communities in the state had decided to reciprocate the Governor’s kind and magnanimous gestures by playing active roles in his 2027 re-election process, he disclosed that they had set up strong machinery to mobilise all their members across the 25 local government areas to participate in the Governor’s 2027 re-election bid.
He, therefore, requested that the non-indigene community in the state should be officially recognized as a pressure group that can be incorporated into the Governorship campaign organization when the time comes for the 2027 Governorship election, adding that this would enable them to fully participate in the election as stakeholders.
The Non-Indigenes Communities who unanimously passed a vote of confidence in the Governor, also, presented the ‘’All-inclusive Governor Award 2025′ to him (Governor Oborevwori) in recognition of his inspiring achievements.
