By Austin Ogwuda
GOVERNOR Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State has raised the hope of Deltans, urging the people to expect more and brace up for an exciting adventure in his administration ‘s drive for the transformational development of the State.
Oborevwori stated this while speaking at the State’s Praise and Worship Day as part of activities lined up to mark the first year anniversary of his administration held today (Wednesday) at the Events Centre, Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria.
His words: “I have kept faith with the people of Delta State. The fair, objective, and realistic way to judge political leaders is by evaluating them by the promises they made while running for office.
“I promised while seeking your support during the electioneering campaign, that I will urgently address the issues of unpaid promotion arrears to both serving and retired state public servants and the protracted issue of pension liabilities in the local governments.
“Within three months of assuming office, I fulfilled these promises. Regarding the promotion arrears, we paid over N5.5 billion to 23,887 serving and retired public servants, along with the reinstatement as well as remuneration of promotion arrears for 362 retired officers.
“To the glory of God, the thorny issue of unpaid local government pensions was speedily resolved as promised. My administration helped to secure legislative approval for the local governments to obtain a N40 billion bank loan to enable them liquidate their backlog of pension liabilities.
“The loan, which is guaranteed by the state government, is payable over a five-year period, and will be deducted from the accounts of the local government councils.
“It is worthy of note that, as part of our administration’s desire to fast-track the rebuilding of the city of Warri and environs, we have also completed the reconstruction of Upper and Lower Erejuwa and the Esisi road corridor, even as work on the other adjoining streets is progressing as scheduled.
“When these projects are fully completed, they will radically change the landscape of Warri and environs, while tackling the perennial problems of traffic congestion in the axis”, he added.
In the area of social welfare, Governor Oborevwori said thousands of Deltans had benefited from the MORE Grant Scheme and D-CARES, and promised to do more.
According to him, “our social welfare agenda has been further rejigged with the introduction of our MORE Grant Scheme which was launched about a week ago, with over 5,000 beneficiaries who are mainly petty traders, vulnerable people and the elderly in the State”.
He said so far, the welfare of the state workforce had received uncommon attention through the prompt payment of promotion arrears and other incentives to boost their morale and commended his predecessors in office for their support, asking them not to relent in contributing to the growth of the State.
Charismatic Pentecostal Preacher and former President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Papa Ayo Oritsejafor in his sermon lauded Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for choosing to praise God on his first year anniversary, pointing out that prayer takes believers to God’s gate but praise takes them to His presence.
Papa Oritsejafor, who took his sermon from Psalm 100 Verse 4, told those in position of trust to embrace praise to God as a weapon to attain breakthrough and overcome challenges.
He congratulated Governor Oborevwori on an eventful one year in office and urged him not to deviate from putting God first in the affairs of the state.
In a welcome address, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon. Johnson Erijo, said the Delta Praise Day was established by law and urged all Deltans to praise God for all He had used Governor Oborevwori to do in the last one year.