By Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe Esq
Heavyweight Gubernatorial aspirant and Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Sheriff Oboreveori, JP has again assured the good people of Delta State and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, that if elected to fly the party’s flag in 2023, his administration will work very hard to build massively on the monumental achievements of the incumbent governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa.
Oborevwori gave the assurance and also reechoed his preparedness to unite all ethnic nationalities and advance the economic fortunes of the state, during his interface with the State PDP Chairman, Barrister Kingsley Esiso and party Exco members on Wednesday 23rd March, wherein he formally informed the party structures of his humble ambition to succeed governor Okowa on May 29, 2023.
According to the Sheriffied Crooner and longest serving Speaker since the advent of constitutional democracy in the state, governor Okowa’s shoe is very large to step into but that he would work hard to do more so that the state will grow stronger in terms of infrastructure and socioeconomic development as well as job and wealth creation for women, girls, teeming young graduates, skilled and unskilled persons in the state.
Oborevwori told the state PDP Exco that his MORE agenda is premised on; Meaningful Development across the three senatorial districts; North, Central and South on equal basis, Opportunities for all Deltans devoid of tribe or ethnic colouration in all aspects of the state’s endeavours, Realistic Reforms that will facilitate rapid socioeconomic transformation and lastly, Enhanced Peace and Security across the state to promote tourism, attract local and foreign direct investments in the course of advancing Delta during his tenure if elected governor in 2023.
Mr Speaker who is also the National Deputy Chairman of Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, debunked the rumours making the round wherein some political detractors falsely alleged that he was involved in certain misappropriation of public funds as Speaker of the State House of Assembly, pointing out that his exemplary leadership and prudent management of resources made his honourable colleagues to reelect him in 2019 and subsequently endorsed him as their preferred governorship candidate to succeed the platinum governor of Delta State, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, in 2023.
Oborevwori posited that he was neither arrested nor charged to any Court of competent jurisdiction for misappropriation of public funds, saying that he has clean records without any criminal stigma. He urged Deltans and the general public to discard and ignore any fake news, propaganda, baseless and unfounded criminal allegations designed by irresponsible elements in the society who are frustrated over his rising political and leadership profile in the state and country.
“I am here today at the party Secretariat in Delta to formally inform our capacity PDP Chairman, Okakuro Barrister Kingsley Esiso and his Exco members of my humble intention to contest and to win the 2023 governorship election.
“I am eminently qualified to succeed our amiable leader and hardworking governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, whom I consistently referred to as my political coach and leadership mentor. I have studied his leadership style over the years and came to the conclusion that governor Okowa is indeed a leader to emulate. I perfectly fit into his large shoes.
“I will play the role of a Unifier to advance the socioeconomic fortunes, peace and security of Delta State. I have been in the system since 1999 and served in past administrations. By the Grace of God, I am the incumbent Speaker of the State House of Assembly, and the longest serving Speaker for that matter.
“The executive and the Legislative arms of government have worked harmoniously as partners in progress and I have ensured that Bills from the Executive designed to facilitate development, peace and security as well as for the good governance of the state were passed without delays after due process as required by rules of the House.
“I have been able to manage the affairs of the State House of Assembly successfully for five years and still counting. I have been part of the SMART and Stronger Delta agendas of this administration in the discharge of my constitutional duties as the head of the legislative arm of government. I am therefore eminently qualified to govern this state and I have come here to respectfully seek your blessings to enable me succeed in my genuine ambition and willingness to offer selfless service to the good people of Delta State.
“I want to use this medium to also debunk the fake news sponsored on social media platforms alleging that I was either arrested by security operatives over unverified and unscrupulous financial transactions or convicted over any financial misappropriation.
“As speaker of the State House of Assembly for over five years, I am bold to say that I have never been accused of financial mismanagement. I run open door policy with established criteria for funds disbursements and prudent management of resources.
“I have never been arrested and prosecuted or convicted on grounds of financial misappropriation. It is a product of hate speech, political propaganda and a fruitless attempt to tarnish my good image and enviable reputation.
“I am a prudent leader and that is what has kept me going and succeeding as Speaker of the most vibrant House of Assembly in the Country.
“Today, I am here to consult with Stakeholders of our great Party of my humble ambition to contest and to win party primaries in May, this year and the Governorship election in 2023, under the largest political party in Africa, the PDP.
“If given the position, I promise not to disappoint the party and Deltans in general. I am ready to listen more, do more and achieve more,” Oborevwori assured Deltans.
In his response, the State Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Okakuro Barrister Kingsley Esiso said the Party will provide a level playing field for all aspirants to exercise their constitutional and democratic rights.
“As a Party, it is our responsibility to ensure we organised a free, fair and credible primaries, and any person or group of persons who may have boasted that they will decide who becomes the Governor of Delta State, tell the Person that I said dictatorship and autocracy is not possible in this dispensation under my watch as party chairman of PDP in Delta State.
“It will be impossible for any individual, no matter how highly placed, to impose a candidate on the party. It is not possible at the moment. Our Candidates will emerge through the Powers inherent or vested on the party’s delegates.
“Mr Speaker, you are free and qualified to aspire for the office of governor of Delta State, but you must at the same time realise that as you have the right to aspire, other eligible members of our party, PDP, also have same rights to do likewise.
“You are at liberty to go about the nooks and crannies of Delta State to sell your aspirations to the People but you must do it with decorum realising that other aspirants are your brothers and sisters, and by May 2022, one of you will emerge at the Primaries. Thereafter, we shall collapse all political structures to queue behind the governorship candidate, Esiso added.”
Earlier, the immediate past President General of Isoko Development Union, IDU, worldwide and a major stakeholder in Isoko nation politics, Chief Iduh Amadhe, introduced Oborevwori to the gathering of political heavyweights in Delta State politics.
Dignitaries Present includes; the Deputy Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Christopher Osho, Majority Leader, Hon Ferguson Onwo, Hon Charles Emetulu, Chairman, DESOPADEC and National Chairman, Delta Political Vanguard, DPV, Evangelist Michael Diden aka Ejile, State Director of Protocol/DG, Delta Political Vanguard, Hon Ifeanyi Eboigbe, JP.
Also present are; Delta North PDP Chairman, Chief Moses Iduh, Director General of Asaba Capital Territory Development Agency, Rt Hon Joan Mrakpor aka Ada Anioma, Chief John Oguma, Ughelli North Council Chairman, Chief Gidwin Adode aka Coach Tete, Chief Soso Enakerakpor, Executive Assistant on Political Matters to Delta State Governor, and others too numerous to mention here.