By Austin Ogwuda
Expectedly, the inauguration cum 60th birthday anniversary thanksgiving of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State on Monday, drew unprecedented crowd from far and near.
What else do you expect, eye service which is a game or gimmick usually employed by political jobbers to realize their goals, selfish ones, of course, was at play.
Even some people who have not stopped into a church hall for years either due to backsliding or are opposed to the Christian faith were found there struggling to occupy the front seat in the church for the governor to mark them present.
Some saw the occasion as an opportunity as last minute lobbying to curry the governor’s favour as the governor is expected to submit the list of Commissioners to be appointed immediately the newly inaugurated State House of Assembly resumes this week.
No wonder the governor had to plead that these lobbyists should please give him a breathing space right there at the
anniversary service held at the Living Faith Church, Asaba.
Said the governor “I want every one to be patient, more appointments will come and there will be more development for the state, even as I sincerely thank all our leaders for their show of love to me.
“My celebration today is in two-fold, first is to give God all the glory for my successful inauguration as Governor of Delta State and secondly is to appreciate God for adding another year to me.
“When I joined politics, I did not have the ambition to be governor. Like many politicians, it was purely out of a desire to contribute my quota towards the growth and development of our state and country.
“But by divine orchestration, I found myself serving as Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly in the 6th and 7th Assemblies, and now Governor”.
The governor further added “my appreciation also goes to my predecessors and all our party leaders and stakeholders whom God used in making me Governor of our dear state. I thank you all and I assure you that we shall make good use of this mandate to the glory of God and for the good of our state”.
Ibori’s conspicuous absence…
Yes, the governor thanked “the party leaders and stakeholders whom God used in making me governor of our dear State”, but political watchers must have observed the absence of former Governor James Ibori at such an auspicious event.
Same was witnessed during the inauguration on May 29 and it is on record that Ibori was quick to visit President Tinubu at Aso Rock shortly after his inauguration.
But back home here in Delta, the PDP family is playing the ostrich as it doesn’t matter whether Ibori is with us or not. Well said.
The question is how far can the godfather of Delta politics, Chief James Ibori, Ogidigboigbo be overlooked?
Immediate past governor Ifeanyi Okowa told the world immediately his tenure ended that the rift between him and Ibori was because he (Okowa) was opposed to the candidate Ibori was presenting because that candidate betrayed him.
Can the relevance of Ibori be blown into the wind just like that, time will provide the answer as Governor Sheriff Oborevwori marches on.
But one thing is clear the political outsmarting played by Okowa while in power in displacing him is unsettling as Ibori continued silence can be described as ominous because many of Ibori die-hard loyalists even though they are hanging on, dancing to the new political tune can be land mines in the waiting.