For the avoidance of doubt, I am not here to enumerate Governor Oborevwori one year achievement because it has been appropriately captured and documented in the right places and time. My duty here is to address your pedestrian comments paragraph by paragraph.
I read through the above piece by one Ovasa Ogaga in an online newspaper called the BigPen. It was clear to me that this particular article deserves a Right of Reply since the writer and his pay master are totally in darkness arising from their loss at the gubernatorial elections of last year and the subsequent loss they recorded in the post elections litigations in the courts. That they are terrible losers is definitely not in doubt, but what is shocking and saddening is their penchant for spilling lies and malicious falsehood in the public domain.
It was Gen. Obasanjo, the former Nigeria leader that left for posterity a very profound assertion that one of the first thing he leart in his military career was that in war and in battle, a General should never ‘reinforce failure’, that all resources and materials used in reinforcing failure will result to massive wastages. In the 33 Strategies of War, a best selling book written by Robert Greene, he posited that every war and battle requires new strategies and approach not a rigid formation.
Having followed a failed principal and master, Ovasa Ogaga, should have concentrated his energies towards ensuring that our capacity Governor, Rt. Hon. (Elder), Sheriff Francis Oborevwori succed in his fresh approach to governance, an approach that is novel, new, modern and strategic which is blinding haters and people that are suffering from ‘lock in thinking’.
The first lie that came out of Ovasa Ogaga write up was that “during the campaigns, the governor did not promise Deltans anything specific, only stating that he would “Do More” of whatever the immediate past governor did”.
A capable and intelligent public affairs analyst should not tell bareface lies and misinformed the public. I advise him and his master to please avail themselves of the comprehensive ‘MORE AGENDA’ document and go through it thoroughly. It is one of the most comprehensive and engaging vision ever enunciated by any governor in Nigeria. A keen observer of events in Nigeria will testify to the authenticity of that document and after just twelve months the Delta State Governor has been rated as one of the best performing Governors in Nigeria by no other person but the erudite, articulated, versatile, exposed, impartial columnists and economist par excellence, the reverend Dele Shobowale in his Sunday Varguard column, ‘Frankly Speaking’. He went further to say he is carrying out further research on the performances of the governors, and once concluded he will publish it for public consumption. At no cost, I promise to avail Ovasa Ogaga a copy when it is ready.
As a public affairs analyst, making wide allegations devoid of empirical evidences as captured in his second and third paragraphs is a huge deservice and an insult to the tag ‘public affairs analyst’ and to the sensibilities of all well meaning, enlightened Deltans. Stating that the APC governorship candidate, Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege, warned Deltans that electing Governor Oborevwori was essentially a third term for Okowa is a huge joke taken too far. How can you begin to compare a man who was elected to represent the entire Urhobo nation in the Senate of the Federal Republic and became the Deputy Senate President, citing every projects his office attracted from the Federal in his village alone, not even one to any other part of Orogun, not to talk of the rest of Urhobo land to a humanist, large hearted and compassionate pan Deltan of Governor Oborevwori status who supervised the creation of three state universities without citing any in Delta central to ensure there exist good, harmonious and peaceful coexistence among our various ethnic groups in the state. I recommend that Ovasa Ogaga and his pay master go and take a course in Peace and Conflict Management.
How can a sane and educated mind claim that the Julius Berger mega flyover bridges and road expansion projects in Effurun and Enerhen metropolis is over hyped and overinflated? How far will ‘failures’ not go to tag success as bad and failure as good. I asked, has any government in Delta State ever employed the services of Julius Berger before now? ‘Badbelle dey smell’. Thank God he reluctantly accepted that there is ongoing work in section A and C of the Ughelli-Ozoro-Kwale-Asaba road. As for equipping the Technical Colleges, half knowledge posing as knowledge is fatal to any society. Governor Sheriff Francis Oborevwori administration is a novelty and not ‘cut and nail’ of the likes of Ovasa and his pay master. Re-evaluation and new cost implications are ongoing even as we speak.
One will notice that Ovasa is holding onto straw, to anything just to cause disaffection between the Anioma nation and our capacity and compassionate Governor. This is clear from his observations that nothing appears to be on ground on the infrastructural facelift of Asaba and the agency responsible for the development of Asaba and environs. Yet as he claims, Governor Oborevwori is a placeholder to Okowa, and the so called puppet is now disobeying his master?. The residents of Asaba knows the truth however and no hogwash from haters will convince them otherwise.
Ovasa grudgingly acknowledged that the Ministries of Works (Higher & Urban Roads) and (Rural & Riverine Roads) are working, but wait a minute, he quickly added that these Ministries are working because, quoting him, “Comrade Reuben Izeze, represents Oborevwori’s interests and Charles Aniagwu was planted by Okowa to ensure the completion and full payment of road projects hurriedly awarded before the 2023 governorship election”. Say, what is wrong in awarding of road projects? What is infrastructural development? Do Ovasa think that Governor Oborevwori is like his pay master and his failed road project of the Sapele -Eku-Abraka-Agbor Federal road that has remained in a state of ‘milipudiants crawling’? What Ovasa and co don’t realized is that, their side of the world is getting darker everyday. Governance has moved on, and Delta State is in safe hands.
Trying to reduce the importance of prompt and timely payment of staff salaries is outright ignorance of the highest degree especially at this critical times of souring inflation and biting economic hardship. If the Sheriff Oborevwori administration is responsible to timely payment of staff salaries, then such feat should be applauded and not to be castigated.
He should have named the Ministries that their capital components has been left unattended to. He should have gone further to name these capital projects for the digestion of the general public. That files are not treated and that they are left to gather dust, is another evidence of a blind mindset. For your education, the civil service is a system of procedures that ensures that nothing happens when files are left unattended to. Salaries are being paid, arears are being prepared and paid, promotions are ongoing, various government initiatives are being carried out, how far can we carry our mentality of pull him down syndrome?.
If you have a problem with the Governor’s ‘street credibility’ please deal with it personally. Envy kills faster than malaria. The cure for an envious mind is the practice of love. I advice you and your master to emulate our street credibility Governor by practicing love to humanity. Equally please go and undertake an in depth study of the ‘MORE AGENDA’ while comparing notes with the reality on ground. I assure you, you will be amazed pleasantly.
Delta State has taken flight on the wings of the MORE AGENDA. Join us.
WRITTEN By:
HENRY PRINCE IGHOTEGUONOR EDERAINE
Lecturer, Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe-Oghara and a Public Affairs Analyst.
