By Austin Ogwuda
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta is rattled following allegations levelled against him by his kinsmen (Urhobo ethnic nationality) for abandoning their interest while concentrating development in other parts of the State.
The allegation really shook him to the marrows prompting the Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads and Public Information), Charles Aniagwu to hurriedly address a press conference debunking the claim.
Likewise, the State Commissioner for Works (Highways and Urban Roads), Reuben Izeze also rose to the defence of the governor.
He immediately paid a visit to Udu community where he reaffirmed the commitment of Governor Oborevwori’s administration to equitable development across all parts of the State, dismissing claims that the Udu Local Government Area has been sidelined.
The latest defence of the governor of alleged abandonment of his kinsmen is emanating from the Director General, Delta State Bureau for Orientation and Communications, Dr Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe.
Oghenesivbe in a press statement made available to The Townhall on Thursday stated that “Urhobo people of Delta Central Senatorial District and all Deltans are proud of the numerous achievements of governor Sheriff Oborevwori as can be seen from the overwhelming vote of implicit confidence on his administration”.
His words, “I urge those alleging that the governor had neglected Urhobo Nation or his Urhobo folks to have a rethink and reflect on the numerous completed and ongoing mega projects spread across Delta Central and other parts of the State.
“As a governor to all Deltans”, he went on, “Oborevwori must not be seen to exhibit excessive or open display of tribal or ethnic chauvinism in governance, noting that the pan-Delta leadership style of the governor had united and kept the people together, wherein each and every ethnic group or nationality have a sense of belonging as a critical and important stakeholder in the affairs of Delta State.
“Governor Oborevwori is governing the State with the fear of God as a leader and governor for all Deltans.
“Our amiable governor has not, and may never exhibit open and excessive tribal bigotry. And by the way, tribal bigotry is anti good governance and spread of development.The very essence of rotation of power is the collective pride of state ownership by all ethnic nationalities.
“Rotation of power has greatly sustained peaceful coexistence enabling the weak, the strong, majority and the minority to have equal say, lead and decide the state affairs. Open and excessive tribal display by any leader would fracture our unity and peaceful
coexistence.
“What the governor is expected to do is what he’s been doing in the past two years, which is to spread development, appointments and dividends of democracy to all Deltans, boost Delta economy, embark on mega projects and to upscale substantial progress in all sectors of the state economy.
“The governor did not, and will never neglect Urhobo nation or his Urhobo folks in the scheme of things. Governor Oborevwori is endowed with great wisdom and uncommon foresight. God will continue to direct and guide him to govern the state without blemish”, he added.
Recall that the people of Udu Local Government Area of State recently staged protests over what they described as gross marginalization of the people in the administration of Delta State, stressing that the celebration of 500 projects by the Governor Sheriff Oborevwori-led administration on his second year in office without a single project in Udu was the height of insensitivity.
They called on the governor to redress the issue and attend to the demands of the Udu people.
The placard-carrying protesters, which filed out in strategic locations of Udu last week Saturday, tabled their demands before Governor Oborevwori, noting that Udu had suffered for too long in the hands of successive administrations and that the current governor, having performed beyond expectations, should extend his performance streaks to Udu in other to give the people a sense of belonging.
Addressing newsmen during the protest, Comrade Goodluck Mukoro, President of the Emancipation Movement for Udu Progress, an advocacy group for Udu development founded by Udu Indigenes with membership drawn from the 32 Communities in Udu Kingdom to agitate for improved infrastructure for Udu, lamented the projects distribution by the Delta State Government which boasted of 500 projects in two years without one for Udu.
