By Emmanuel Ekebe
Overtime, I have come to terms with the vintage Nigerian Politician’s knack for deceit, broken promises, botched dreams and outright failures to keep to campaign vows. I have equally learnt not to build any hope that things will change for the better, especially with the crops of political actors being thrown up from one regime to the other.
This stand point didn’t wane nor altered at the emergence of Elder Sheriff Oborevwori as Delta State Governor after a keenly contested primary and gubernatorial elections.
As if to prove me right, few months after his inauguration, words filtered in that the Governor has stripped the Delta State University of Science and Technology of the ‘lucrative faculties’ which will now be domiciled in his home town.
The rancorous backlash was monumental, just as the defences and attacks on the propriety or otherwise of the decision dominated the media space for days.
There were great lamentations and many of the Isoko folks regretted the homogeneous lump votes for the Governor which had fiercely tilted the scale particularly after BVAS demystified the hitherto ‘Sokoto votes’ from the creeks. While the imbroglio lasted, half truths, outright lies and vexatious allegations were traded across board.
But it as it were, the Governor wasn’t fazed, not distracted even when his avowed commitment to the Isoko nation’s plight as our inlaw was been quarried and doubted in very unbridled terms. The palpable disaffection was thick even in and outside the Isoko political turf.
However, despite the initial hiccups and mistrust, I can now say without hesitation that Governor Oborevwori has changed the narratives swiftly with empirical evidences like a skilled matador who has mastered the act of reigning in a rampaging bull. He has impressed not a few Isoko people with some land mark projects which have so far indicated that the Ukodo maestro means business.
How can one wish away the near completion of the Isoko section of the Ughelli -Asaba highway which had been abandoned by successive governments in the State. It is a promise kept and Isoko people are quite glad about it even though they are not the only ones plying that road.
In the same vein, renaming the Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro as Southern Delta University and making it assume the status of a regular University with more faculties backed with prompt release of funds is to me a political master stroke. What of the ongoing construction of the School of Health Technology, Ovrode and the construction of the Igbide-Olomoro road? I didn’t also loose sight of the appointment of Isoko sons and daughters into government positions. The distribution and balancing of the appointments accrued to the Isoko people, Wards and Constituencies can only be done by an informed and grounded administrator and leader who knows his onions in a mine infested multiethnic State like Delta.
As Governor Oborevwori glides towards the midterm point in a few months, I think the Isoko nation have not fared badly in the implementation of the MORE AGENDA, though it is obvious that it can be better and greater. The Ukodo is loaded with condiments and assorted crunchy delicacies and so the Isoko people, now assured of the inclusiveness in this joint venture are also salivating for MORE.
Top on the Isoko Nation’s need as of today is the completion and commissioning of the abandoned 33 kv line from Delta IV to Ozoro to ensure constant power supply in the area. This is followed by the upgrade and completion of the ongoing projects at the Engineering and Law faculties of the Delta State University, Oleh campus.
It is equally imperative that the Governor should match action with his words on the promise to release one billion naira for roads construction in every local government area as an integral part of the MORE AGENDA. In the same vein, the completion of the Irri Technical College as well as the failed section of the Uzere-Asaba -Ase highway will also earn appreciable milage for the Governor’s political chest.
Finally, while asserting here and from a non partisan point of view, in as much as the MORE AGENDA is on course across the State, Mr. Governor should include Town Hall Meetings with various ethnic nationalities in the State. This will enable him to access first hand feed back from the field, rather than sole reliance on reports from political aides and appointees.
In doing that, the MORE AGENDA will not only soar higher, but also set a ground swell for a smooth and credible marketing of the Sheriff’s’ bid for second tenure come 2027.
Stay Blessed.
