By Austin Ogwuda
DELTA State Governor Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori says he has not stepped out of the State since the ongoing nation wide End Bad Governance protests started just to ensure that he remains on the ground to monitor developments.
Oborevwori disclosed this while receiving, on courtesy visit, the Delta State Executive of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) led by the State Chairman, Bishop Kingsley Enakhireri at Government House, Asaba, on Wednesday.
But he however was silent on the kidnap of former female Commissioner in his cabinet, Hon Joan Onyemaechi Mrakpor (Ada Anioma) including the visiting State PFN Chairman throughout the courtesy visit.
Assuring Deltans that his administration is very determined to guarantee the safety of their lives and of property despite the alarming security challenges, the governor describes it as a phase which will come to pass.
His words, “I want to thank the PFN for the role it played at this trying times of a national protest. We can see that the State is peaceful. People were expecting violence like the way it was during ENDSARS.
“But our fathers of faith prayed and all of us also resolved that we do not need crisis in Delta State. We are all working together. Today (Wednesday) is the 7th day of the protest and you can see the State is peaceful. People are going about their normal businesses.
“I was watching one of the TV stations when somebody said that they made the peaceful ambience in Delta State during this period of national protest possible. How? When people talk at times, they talk out of ignorance.
“Our fathers of faith prayed and I have been in this state since, I didn’t go out of the state, in order to monitor the protest and we are monitoring it.
“The Civil Society organisations and other groups understand and said this time, they are not going to protest. They know that if they go into it that people will hijack it. So, people should not come to take glory. We return the glory to God Almighty.
“Some of these people talking do not even stay in the State, they don’t know what is happening.
“On the issue of security”, he went on, “we are doing our best. In section 14 (2b) of the 1999 Constitution, it states that, ‘the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government’ and we are doing that. We want to assure Deltans that this is just a phase and it will come and go. Continue to pray for us while we will continue to serve the people”.
The Governor expressed regret on the passing of the Executive Director Projects on the board of the State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, Olorogun Taleb Tebite, Governor Oborevwori described his death as unfortunate, noting that the State Government did its best to support him during the health challenge.
Said he, “in the passing of Hon. Taleb Tebite, we cannot question God. We did our best but God chose to take him at this time. May his soul continue to rest in peace”.
Both the governor and the visiting Bishop Enakhireri were totally silent on the issue of kidnapped former Commissioner, Joan Onyemaechi Mrakpor.
Photo caption: Delta Governor, Rt.Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori (middle), Secretary to State government, Dr. Kingsley Emu (3rd left), Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon. Johnson Erijo (2nd left), the Chairman, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Delta State branch, Bishop Kingsley Enakirerhi (4th right), state Treasurer, PFN, Bishop Sam Oyeve(4th left) and others shortly after a courtesy visit to the Governor by the State Exco of the body at Government House, Asaba on Wednesday.
Photo credit: SAMUEL JIBUNOR, Press Unit, Government House, Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria.
