…Reiterates Partnership With FG
BY SUNDAY EGEDE
delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori has assured the people of Ogbe-Ijoh in Warri South West and Aladja in Udu Local Government Areas of the state of unbiased and peaceful resolution of their feud.
Governor Oborevwori gave the assurance during a thank you visit to Ijaw traditional rulers and political leaders who gathered at the Ugborikoko residence of the Pere of Ogulaha Kingdom and Chairman of Delta Ijaw Traditional Rulers Forum, Captain (Elder) Joseph Timiyen.
He applauded the people for not resorting to violence, adding that he was quite impressed that the two communities ceased hostilities after listening to his counsel.
The Governor urged them to remain peaceful while reiterating his assurance to the two communities that he will not be sentimental in resolving the crisis.
He applauded the traditional rulers and political leaders of Ijaw ethnic nationality in the state for their overwhelming support, which led to his electoral victory in the 2023 gubernatorial election in the state.
The Governor, who noted that the Ijaw nation was very peaceful, loving and kind people, said he was very grateful to them for their support to him and his administration.
“The Ijaw nation are very peaceful people, they are very loving and kind to me and my administration and I am grateful to God for all the support that they have been giving to me and my administration.
“I was here during the election and you people gathered and prayed for me. I was supposed to return last year after my Supreme Court case, but I wanted to do some things; I was waiting to make sure I was able to award contracts across the Ijaw Nation, and that is what I have done in the last State Executive Council where a lot of projects were approved for the Ijaw Nation.
“Ijaw people were very patient with me as there was no pressure from them. Everywhere I go, they support me and there is nothing that I would say that the Ijaw people in my government would not support.
“I am enjoying the support of the ljaw nation, I will listen to you and I will do more in Delta State. And I want to thank all of you for that support. I did not fail in the Ijaw Nation as you all supported me overwhelmingly during the election.
“I am here to, also, commiserate with the Ijaw Nation over the demise of our leader, Pa Edwin Clark. I was there in Kiagbodo two days ago for condolence visit,” Governor Oborevwori said.
The Governor, who was responding to the requests made by the traditional rulers during the visit, said the Ayakoromo bridge project was receiving attention from the state government, stressing that the project was on Irrevocable Standing Payment Order (ISPO).
According to him, a model school was being established in Gbaramatu by the state government, assuring that his administration would look into other issues raised by them with a view to addressing some of them.
Receiving the governor and his entourage, the Chairman of Delta Ijaw Traditional Rulers Forum, the Pere of Ogulaha Kingdom, Captain (Elder) Joseph Timiyen who expressed appreciation to the governor for the visit, assured him of sustained support of the people of Ijaw nation in the state.
He appealed called for the posting of teachers to primary and secondary schools in the riverine communities of the state with a view to promoting effective teaching and learning in the areas, even as he on the management of DESOPADEC to pay their contractors regularly.
Other traditional rulers who spoke during the visit, appealed to the governor to support the Ijaw nation in Delta South to produce the governor of the state in 2031 after he must have completed his second tenure in office as governor.
They, also, appealed for the establishment of tertiary institutions in Ijaw nation, construction of more roads, speedy completion of the Ayakoromo Bridge, restoration of electricity supply to Isaba Kingdom and peaceful resolution of the Ogbe-Ijaw/Aladja crisis among other requests.
…Reiterates Partnership With FG
Meanwhile, Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori has reiterated the state government’s willingness to partner with the Federal Government for the overall socio-economic development of the state.
Governor Oborevwori disclosed this in his remarks at the inauguration of the reconstructed 9.6km Abraka – Oben Road and flag-off of reconstruction of failed portions of Abraka – Agbor Road (Phase 1) in Abraka, Ethiope East Local Government Area of the state.
Represented by the State Commissioner for Works (Highways and Urban Roads), Comrade Reuben Izeze, Governor Oborevwori said his administration remained irrevocably committed in its partnership with the President Bola Tinubu led Federal Government for the transformation of the state. He said the Oborevwori governance philosophy believed that if the Federal Government succeeds, it would dovetail in the success of the subnational governments.
He commended the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for the initiative to reconstruct the all-important access road from Abraka to Oben and called for the completion of the road to Benin. “I thank the Board of the NDDC for the vision and for acknowledging the challenges and for giving the policy guideline for the execution of this laudable project.
“I am glad that the NDDC is giving special attention to reconstruction of failed portions on roads across the region. “ “The Government of Delta State believes very strongly and firmly that we are partners in progress with the Federal Government led by President Bola Tinubu.
“We believe in the success of the Federal Government because of the nature of our Constitution and its operations, the success of the Federal Government will naturally translate to the success of the states as well.
“Governor Oborevwori, therefore, wishes to commend President Bola Tinubu for his support for the Board of the NDDC thus far and urging him to continue to do more for the people of the Niger Delta,” he added.
On comments by former Speaker of the State House of Assembly and member representing Delta State on the NDDC Board, Governor Oborevwori said the Delta State Government had shown verifiable commitment in its interventions on federal roads across the state, recalling the state of the Benin – Warri Road before the state government intervened.
“I recall vividly that Mr. Speaker as he then was, approved funds for the rehabilitation of the Benin – Sapele Road by the Delta State Government.
“While he was Speaker, the Delta State Government saw the need to intervene on the Benin – Warri highway particularly from Amukpe to Effurun.
“It was important we intervened at that time because vehicles were spending days to commute from Benin to Warri. “The Government as at that time rehabilitated that road under his watch as Mr. Speaker, therefore, to give the impression that Delta State Government was leaving everything for NDDC is a fallacious misrepresentation which I needed to correct here and now.
“Let me inform you that the bridges coming up in the Warri area is a Federal trunk A road and the state government is intervening there to reduce travel time.
“The Ughelli-Asaba dualisation project is about 180km, I urge you to take a drive from Ughelli-Asaba and see the wonderful intervention of the Delta State Government on a federal highway.
“This road you have come here to flag-off, I can tell you that we have intervened severally on this road. “Governor Oborevwori’s good works have been acknowledged by THISDAY/ARISE News and now New Telegraph Newspaper as Governor of the year (Infrastructure).
“I don’t know if the NDDC mobilises contractors but today in Delta State we mobilize our contractors up to 40 per cent so that they will not suffer from the vagaries of inflation.
“I thank Mr. President for picking very good people in managing different ministries departments and agencies for the good of Nigerians,” he added.
The Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, thanked the NDDC for heeding to President Tinubu’s directive to reconstruct section one of the road from Abraka – Oben.
He commended Governor Oborevwori for his interventions on federal roads in the state, the Minister urged Governors across the country to see interventionist agencies as partners in progress and not as competitors.
The Chairman, NDDC Governing Board, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, commended the executive management for giving vent to the Board’s directives, adding “we are glad that work has started along the Abraka – Agbor Road and the Uromi Junction at Agbor.
Managing Director of NDDC, Chief Sam Ogbuku said NDDC was working well under the full guidance of President Bola Tinubu to improve on infrastructure in the Niger Delta.
“Before reconstruction of this road, we intervened in some areas of the East West Road to ensure the people do not suffer unnecessarily,” Chief Ogbuku added.
He commended state governments for their contributions to the development of the Niger Delta, adding that the NDDC was just an interventionist agency aimed at complementing the state governments.
