Governor Sheriff Oborevwori: “Seeth thou a man diligent in his duties”

By Fred Edoreh

During the march on Washington for jobs and freedom on August 28, 1963, Rev Martin Luther King Jr, in his famous “I have a dream” speech, left the world an eternal guide on assessing human beings:

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

The world’s legendary “prisoner of conscience,” Madiba Nelson Mandela, re-echoed this in another famous speech.

“My respect for human beings is based not on the color of a man’s skin nor authority he may wield, but purely on merit.”

To construct that merit, he pointed out that “a good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination.”

That combination comes into play in defining the quality of leadership in which the key requirements are vision, action and empathy.

But, as Shakespeare wrote, “there is no art to find the mind’s construction in the face.” We can only find it by what the person says and does because, as the Bible put it, “from the abundance of the heart speaketh the mouth” and “the good tree yieldeth forth good fruits.”

It is almost one full year of the new administration in Delta State and, in Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, the state is blessed to have a Governor who converges those key qualities of leadership, in personal character and in his sense of administration and management.

On April 8, on his way back to Asaba from a working stay in Warri, he stopped at a number of project sites, including the Section C1 of the Ughelli-Asaba Expressway, to ascertain the progress of works.

While Deltans are understandably anxious for the completion of the road, not many are aware that it is a federal road. Happily, Gov Oborevwori has intensified work on the road, and when asked if he is expecting a refund from the federal government, he had this to say:

“When we get to that bridge, we will cross it. Even the flyover bridges that we are doing in Warri and Effurun are all federal roads. But any road constructed in Delta State will be used by Deltans and other residents of the state as well as those coming to the state.

“So, any road that we are doing, whether federal or state, as a government, we are doing what we know that will benefit the people, that will make our people not to suffer. Their wellbeing is more important to us.”

Presently, the Sector C2 of the road, Ughelli through Isoko axis, is almost completed and work is speedily going on on Sector C1, the bridge across Obo River in Ogwashi-Uku, which is the most difficult and critical aspect of the project.

What Sheriff did was to sign an Irrevocable Standing Payment Order, (ISPO) for the funding of the project, just as he also did for the Warri/Effurun flyover projects.

“So, they will not complain that they are not being paid. They get their money every month on ISPO. That will make the work move very fast,” he said. I add that that is head and heart not just on the projects but in the best interest of the people.

It is in the same spirit that he is taking measures to complete the inherited projects from the administration of former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, while he is also initiating new ones.

Some uninformed critics have suggested that he should rather have focused on new projects, to carve a niche for himself, but he had this to say:

“Government is a continuum and it is the duty of successive administrations to put the resources of the state to good use by ensuring that projects are completed in a timely manner.

“One of the reasons for abandoned projects in our country is because of the failure or refusal of political leaders to continue with projects started by their predecessors. This is usually informed by the fear that their predecessors will get the credit. This should not be the case if the focus of the incumbent is on the collective good of all.”

This is just apt, right and atruistically correct. Nothing to add.

At the inauguration of the new board of the Delta State Internal Revenue service, Oborevwori also showed the content of his heart as it relates to dealing with the people.

The state surely needs loads of funds to meet the myriad of social and infrastructural needs across communities but which can never be met by the monthly allocations from the federal government, but he is also mindful of the need to protect the people from multiple or over taxation in the generation of internal revenue, and he spoke for them as a leader.

“Often, when new taxes are introduced, it is imposed on the same people and businesses already captured in the tax net, which often leads to over taxation and the attendant frustration, anger and resentment. What is required is to expand the tax net in such a manner that the informal sector would be adequately covered.

“Our people are generally understanding and cooperative. I believe once they are made to see reason, they would gladly and willingly comply with their obligations to the government.”

This effectively describes not just empathy but also an understanding that development and progress is a partnership of the government and people.

The result is that, against the IGR target of N95 billion in the 2023 budget, the board generated N114.088 billion, surpassing their target by N19.088 billion or 20.09 percent and exceeding the 2022 collection of N84.040 billion by N30 billion or 35.75 percent. The board is now aiming at between N136 billion and N140 billion in 2024.

Satisfactorily, the revenues from both allocation and IGR of the state are being applied for the development of all the districts, ethnic nationalities and economic sectors for the overall physical, social and infrastructural development of the state.

The princely thing about Delta’s new Sheriff is his recognition that the development of the state is above partisan, sectional, ethnic and political interests.

The late icon of labour unionism, Frank Kokori, testified to this on his sick bed before he demised.

“I never knew Governor Oborevwori is a good man because immediately he heard about my condition, he came to see me.

“He wasn’t close to me. It is Great Ogboru and Ovie Omo-Agege and co that are close to me. So, I am so happy that he is not a mean fellow. He is a real governor. A man who has such a heart is a good man. I am happy with him and have also prayed for him.”

While such a statement from such a revered statesman would remain instructive and inspiring, Oborevwori’s response on that occasion deeply confirms the heart of the Governor that the all loving, Almighty God, has provided for Deltans:

“Whether he is APC or not, I’m the governor for all Deltans. I am governor for all, not for any political party.”

According to the Barean Bible in Proverbs 22:29: “Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will be stationed in the presence of kings; he will not stand before obscure men.”

That man is Sheriff Oborevwori.