On Wednesday, January 1, 2025, the Board of Editors of ThisDay/Arise News media group, announced the nomination of five persons for the award of Governor of the Year, 2024. They are Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, his Lagos State counterpart, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde. Governors Peter Mbah of Enugu, Una Sani of Kaduna and Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom states complete the circle.
The nomination of the five governors was the highpoint of rigorous debate, scrutiny and assessment of the 36 governors in Nigeria. It was the outcome of a painstaking effort by the board of editors of one the country’s reputable media group to recognize hard work, innovation and good governance by governors who assumed office in their respective states.
However, for Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, the nomination for the prestigious award, would not have come as a surprise, giving the plethora of commendations and applauses that have heralded his governance style since assumption of office as Governor of Delta State on May 29, 2023.
Another influential newspaper, the Daily Independent, has also found him worthy and announced Oborevwori outrightly as Governor of the Year 2024. The accolades have continued to pour in torrents for a man whose imprints are not in doubt. He has not ceased to amaze everyone.
Oborevwori has confounded naysayers and critics alike, surpassed expectations that some people had of him and has transformed the state into a huge construction site, churning out legacy projects that have etched his name on the sands of time.
Perhaps, a brief resume of the Delta Governor’s rising profile as compiled by the ThisDay/Arise News board of editors would provide insights to the landmark strides of the Oborevwori administration.
According to the editors, “Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has been driving infrastructural development in Delta State through various projects and initiatives. In terms of road infrastructure, he has focused on constructing and rehabilitating roads across the state, including the Upper and Lower Erejuwa Roads, Gabriel Mabiaku Road, and Esisi Road to Estate Roundabout in Warri.
“Additionally, he has approved the construction of several new roads in Ughelli North to alleviate traffic congestion. The governor has also prioritised bridge construction, with the Kwale-Beneku bridge linking Ndokwa West and Ndokwa East LGAs nearing completion. This bridge will significantly improve connectivity and commerce in the region. Furthermore, Oborevwori has initiated urban renewal projects in Warri and Sapele, aiming to restore these cities to their old glory .
“In Sapele, over 16 kilometers of roads are being constructed or rehabilitated, including the Major Bowen Road and Benin Road. The governor has also invested in education and healthcare infrastructure, including the completion of projects at the Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro, and the establishment of the College of Health Technology, Ovrode.
“Overall, Governor Oborevwori’s efforts to drive infrastructural development in Delta State are aimed at improving the quality of life for citizens, promoting economic growth, and positioning the state for sustainable development”.
Oborevwori proved doubters wrong when he declared that he will be Governor for all Deltans soon after taking the oath of office at the Stephen Keshi stadium in Asaba. He hit the ground running from day one. No wonder he quickly drew attention of the people and Nigerians at large as a workaholic Governor.
Beyond the projects outlined by the editors, mention must be made of the gigantic construction of three flyovers at DSC Roundabout, PTI Junction and Enerhen in the twin cities of Warri and Effurun by Julius Berger Nigeria PLC. The N78 Billion projects, expected to be completed in 27 months have become the cynosure of all eyes and dumbfounded those who thought the Governor would not do well.
Similarly, the accelerated work on the 139 kilometers Asaba -Ughelli federal highway bears eloquent testimony to the commitment of the Governor to deliver on his promises. This road, started about 14 years ago, has received unparalleled boost in less than 18 months of Oborevwori in office. Motorists travelling from Asaba to Ogwashi-uku no longer have to switch lanes, unlike in the past, work at Uburu bridge which had stagnated for a while is now upbeat, and commuters moving from Isoko to -Ughelli now travel on an expansive newly constructed asphalted dual carriageway.
It must be recalled that Rt Hon Oborevwori set aside at least N1 Billion (one billion naira) for the construction of roads in each of the 25 Local governments in the astate. This amount has been doubled in the 2025 budget as a demonstration of the Governor’s determination to modernise the rural areas.
Work is currently going on simultaneously in over 1000 kilometers of road, both urban and rural. Several other bridges, including the trans-Warri road with 19 bridges are at various stages of completion. The trans-Warri road is intended to connect 18 Itsekiri communities to their ancestral home. Though some of them were inherited projects, he has not stopped working on them, including new ones initiated by him.
In the area of healthcare delivery, the immediate past Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly is a trailblazer. For the first time since the award was instituted in 2019, Delta State won $400,000 from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for remarkable achievement in Primary Health Care. The Delta State Contributory Health Commission (DSCHC) has also been ranked first in Nigeria and West Africa.
Oborevwori in 2024 approved N3 Billion for the rehabilitation of 150 primary health centers (PHC). He also ensured that enrolees of the Contributory Health scheme more than doubled, rising to well over 2.6 million from 1.2 million that he met. Delta is the only state with about 45% enrollment in Nigeria. He also approved the setting up of a new College of Health Technology at Ovrode in Isoko North Local Government which is over 70% completed.
More importantly is the free maternal care for pregnant women, including cesarian surgery and free healthcare for children from zero to five years old. The Governor similarly acquired two city scanners for comprehensive diagnosis. This is aside giving assent for automatic employment of doctors and nurses into the health system of the state.
As it stands, Delta, under the capable leadership of Oborevwori is the only state in Nigeria offering medicine and other related health science courses in four universities. All four universities offer nursing as a degree course. This is in addition to the four schools of nursing in Sapele, Warri, Agbor and Asaba.This is totally unprecedented.
No soon after he was sworn in as Governor, Oborevwori cleared outstanding promotion arrears of civil servants with an order that no worker promoted should be owed. He thereafter doled out N10K,000 as palliative for three consecutive months to over 50,000 workers in public and civil service.
It is also remarkable that the Governor guaranteed the payment of N40 Billion to local government retirees whose fate hung in the balance as a result of being owed by the councils for years. He similarly approved the employment of 2500 workers to close manpower needs by the local government system.
Long before the Supreme Court made the landmark decision granting local governments financial autonomy, Governor Oborevwori had taken the stand that they deserved to be fully autonomous. Even without prompting, he ordered that the allocations to the councils be kept for three months that there was no substantive head as a result of the expiration of the previous leadership. It was a thing of shock to many when the Governor handed over money saved to the new chairman of the councils soon after they were sworn in.
Needless to say that the incumbent administration in Delta has been at the forefront of empowerment to all categories of persons ranging from students to the disabled, women, youths, girl child and children of deceased civil servants. At least 30,000 students were paid bursary in 2024 while over 250 persons benefitted from the Delta Cares programme.
Perhaps, many do not know that measures put in place by Oborevwori are responsible for Delta being No 1 in terms of federal allocation. The state is a beneficiary of the robust security strategy and investment in this vital sector, thereby providing the convivial environment for oil production to continue unabated. The Governor has invested heavily in the funding of security agencies, including the purchase of 31 vehicles for the newly revamped joint taskforce known as Operation Sweep.
Indeed, Oborevwori has kept faith with his MORE Agenda for the state, which translates to Meaningful development, Opportunities for all, Realistic reforms and Enhanced peace and security. He has not only promised to do more, he has also blazed the trail by doing more.
It is therefore not surprising that the Delta helmsman was considered fit to be nominated for the category of Governor of the Year by the ThisDay/Arise News board of Editors. But much more important is the expectation by many that Oborevwori should be announced winner of this category.
Evidently, there are unassailable factors that point to why he was nominated in the first place. But, more compelling are the landmark legacy projects spread across the state that make the Governor eligible to win. It’s about time that he mounts the Podium to be decorated as Governor of the Year.
Where’s some call him Mr Continuity, others prefer to call him Mr Project. Now, we wait with gated breath his coronation as Governor of the Year. Deltans are waiting.
Ofou is Executive Assistant on New Media to Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, Governor of Delta State
