- Urges Politicians To Play By The Rules
- As Gov Adeleke Inaugurates Okpanam/Ibusa Bypass Road
Ahead of the July 13 local government elections in Delta State, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has assured chairmanship and councillorship candidates of various political parties in the state of a credible local government poll.
Governor Oborevwori, who gave the assurance, yesterday, during the inauguration of the Okpanam/Ibusa bypass road at Ibusa in Oshimili North Local Government Area of the state, said the council elections would be free and fair.
He urged politicians in the state to play by the rules and be tolerant of divergent opinions, no matter how strongly different they may be to theirs, adding that the beauty of democracy was that it has in-built mechanisms to address all real and imagined cases of injustice.
The Governor appealed strongly to all Deltans across the political spectrum, to use all the institutional frameworks offered by democracy to handle all their differences, even as he said that the local government elections would be properly monitored.
“Permit me to use this medium to appeal to all Deltans that as the local government election approaches, I urge all of us to play by the rules and be tolerant of all divergent opinions, no matter how strongly different, they may be to yours.
“The beauty of democracy which we all cherish, is that it has in-built mechanisms to address all real and imagined cases of injustice. I appeal very strongly to all Deltans across the political spectrum, to use all the institutional frameworks offered by democracy to handle all our differences.
“While we continue to enjoy the freedom, privileges and dividends that democracy offers us, let us continue to uphold all its tenets by employing dialogue in all our dealings and relationships.
“I am telling all the candidates not only in PDP but other parties, that the election is going to be free, fair and credible. So, if you think you will just have it because it is a local government election, you are making a very big mistake.
“Do your campaigns very well, the elections will be properly monitored because I believe in democracy and the rule of law. Go and talk to the people, show your capacity; tell them that you are capable for this job,” Governor Oborevwori said.
Speaking on the 5.3km Okpanam/Ibusa By-pass Road, the governor said it (the project) was a manifestation of his campaign promise that sustainable development would be spread across the state and that there will be no abandoned project anywhere. “This road is particularly vital as it reduces the heavy traffic along the Benin-Asaba highway, especially diverting traffic of those travelling towards Ibusa, Ogwashi-Uku, Isoko among other destinations.
“This road, therefore is not here to serve Okpanam and Ibusa people; it is for all Deltans, in fact, all Nigerians,” he stated, just as he said that he had taken note of all the requests made by the traditional rulers of the two communities (Ibusa and Okpanam).
Speaking shortly after inaugurating the road, Osun State Governor, Senator AdemolaAdeleke noted that his Delta State counterpart, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori was doing well in advancing sustainable development in the state.
He said he was particularly impressed with the performances of Governor Oborevwori in one year of his administration, stressing that he was in Delta because of Governor Oborevwori’ s impressive performance and urged Deltans to support the Governor in the delivery of more projects in line with his MORE Agenda for the benefit of the people.
“I am here today because the new Sheriff in town (Governor Oborevwori) is doing very very well in delivering dividends of democracy to residents of the state.
“Please Deltans, l want you to support him because, he cannot do it alone. He has built this beautiful road, don’t go and kill yourself on the road, just drive very carefully on the road and enjoy the road. Don’t drop dirt in the drains, the road has to be maintained,” Governor Adeleke said.
In his remarks at the ceremony, the Commissioner for Works (Highways and Urban Roads), Comrade Reuben Izeze who gave the engineering details of the road, said it comprised 5.3km length and10.6km drains with 10.3m pavement with width of 7.3km asphalt overlay. Comrade Izeze disclosed that the road was constructed in line with the Bill of Quantity and Bill of Engineering Measurement to check the perrenial flooding that had impacted heavily on the residents of the area and to make travelling along the corridor seamless.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Head of Personnel Management of Oshimili North Local Government, Mrs. Stella Jones said the completion of the Okpanam/Ibusa By-pass Road was a testament of the MORE Agenda of the Oborevwori-led administration in the state.
She expressed appreciation to the governor for ensuring the speedy completion of the road which was initiated by his predecessor, Senator IfeanyiOkowa, saying “with the completion of the road, we do not need to travel to Asaba before connecting to Okpanam from Ibusa.”
Speaking separately on behalf of the benefiting communities, the Obuzor of Ibusa, Prof. Louis Nwoboshi and the Ugoani of Okpanam, HRM, Dr. Michael Mbanefo Ogbolu, expressed appreciation to the governor for completing the road.
They said that the road was very economical and comforting, pointing out that it (the road) was one of the crucial roads requested for at the creation of the local government area, even as they appealed for the lighting up of the road.
The duo of Prof. Nwoboshi and Dr. Ogbolu, also, appealed to the governor to link Okpanam and Akwukwu-Igbo and Okpanam with Ugbolu for easy navigation across the council area. They also appealed for the lighting of the road.
