Oborevwori appoints Ogboru, Clark’s sons, Agbi, others as SA

By Akpos Oghenetega,

Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori has appointed the sons of Delta serial governorship candidate, Chief Great Ogboru, and Ijaw National Leader, Chief Edwin Clark as Special Advisers, in a move to shore up the governor’s support base.

He also appointed another failed NNPP governorship candidate, Dr. Goodnews G. Agbi, and a former APC Delta State House of Assembly member, Barr. Charles Oniyere as a Special Adviser.

Governor Oborevwori on Monday, in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Kingsley Emu approved the appointment of Barr. Michael Ogboru, son of Chief Great Ogboru, Hon. Ebikeme Clark, son of Chief E.K. Clark, Dr. Goodnews G. Agbi, another failed governorship candidate, and Hon. Barr. Charles Oniyere, a former APC House of Assembly member as Special Advisers.

Others who were also appointed include, Sylvester Oromoni; Hon. Shedrack Ekene Rapu; Dr. Donald Onyibe Peterson; Hon. Peter Uviejitobor; and Chief Nath Azuka Igbadi.

Recall that Chief Great Ogboru who has contested all governorship elections in the state since 2003, ran as the All Progressive Grand Alliance Candidate, in an election many believed he ran just to undermine the chances of APC candidate, former Deputy President of the Senate Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege, whom he had political scores to settle.

There were unconfirmed reports of a deal between Chief Ogboru and Chief Oborevwori ahead of the 2023 governorship election with an alleged promise by Governor Oborevwori to give two commissioners slots to Ogboru and his team should he divide Delta central votes with the APC candidate.

A prominent People Democratic Party source in Delta State who spoke to Advocate.ng anonymously said that they overpriced Ogboru’s impact in the 2023 election at the time of negotiation, but after the election, it was clear that he contributed no significant value to Oborevwori’s victory, hence the party reneged on the promise to give him two commissioners and 6 Special Advisers.

He added that “Oborevwori was advised by many PDP leaders to forget the Ogboru deal because he (Ogboru) did not bring much to the table, but the Governor as you know, is a man of his word, hence, he reconsidered his position and made Ogboru’s son a Special Adviser, which is more or less like a commissioner.

The source added that in the case of the NNPP governorship candidate, Dr. Goodnews Agbi, “he was promised commissioner too like Ogboru, but his performance at the election was abysmally poor even with the huge financial support given to him by the former governor, but unlike Ogboru he nominated himself for appointment.”

The date for the swearing-in of the Special Advisers will be announced in due course.