..Says Gov’s Projects Already Speaking For Him
Sir Mathew Chinye, is the Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State, he is a strong grassroots politician and community leader, in this interview with Chijioke Oye, spoke on the recent movement of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, former Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and others from the PDP to APC, the MORE Agenda and other issues.
Excerpts:
Sir may we know you?
I am Sir Mathew Chinye, I am the Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State.
What is your take on recent movement of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and others from PDP to APC in Delta State?
It is a matter of choice, if you are not safe and protected in a party or if there is crisis and you are not comfortable with your political party, you can defect to another party where you feel secure to exercise your political dream for your people.
There are reasons why the governor decided to move to another political party, may be because of inconsistency in PDP at the national level and to have a better link with the Federal Government to attract more development to the state. However, the defection is a welcome development in Delta State; the state do not believe in fight and had been in harmony with other political parties before now.
I was a founding member of the PDP in Warri, since the inception of political movement in the state and if you check very well, most top leaders in APC were formerly PDP members, so, when you are tired of a place, you are free to move, if you are no longer comfortable, you can change, the Governor’s defection must have come with reasons and from what I noticed, majority of the people moved with him, meaning that they were in one page to join APC in the state.
What are your views on Governor Oborevwori’s MORE Agenda?
Off course, from what is on ground, the governor’s MORE Agenda is doing very well across the state.
And if you check very well, the MORE Agenda is in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinibu, therefore, the combination of MORE Agenda with that of Mr President will attract more development to the state.
As you can see, I am very happy that the governor has joined APC, this will bring him closer to President Tinubu’s government and enhance the MORE Agenda.
Before they decided to join APC they must have seen the things the president is doing very well and it is the best decision for moving to the APC to deliver more democratic dividends to Deltans.
We are all progressives now, so, we must join hands with our governor and president for the overall development of our state and Nigeria.
How will you rate the Governor’s performance in Delta State?
I have not really heard that there is crisis in his government, but I know that he is doing well, I do not believe in critizing people, I know what governance is all about, it is difficult to satisfy all the people, but appreciate what the governor have achieved within short time in office.
But you know Nigeria politics, if I am in APC and I describe whatever thing the other parties are doing as bad, whether they achieved success or not, so we must learn how to appreciate people if they do what is good and advise constructively.
So, generally he is not doing badly because I remember when he came in new he was able to pay pensioners and had been paying workers regularly with a lot of projects across all parts of the state.
You can see many development projects in Warri, Asaba, Agbor, Ughelli, Sapele, the riverine areas and other parts. These projects are speaking for him already ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Though I know, two years is not enough to rate a Governor because I know that Delta State is a complex state with different ethnic groups all clamouring for one thing or the other.
Ahead of 2027, what are the chances of Governor Oborevwori?
As I said before, the governor is doing well, and his projects are already speaking for him, discussions are ongoing at the end everybody will vote for him because I see no challenge against him ahead of the 2027 general elections. I know with recent development all Deltans are behind him and would vote for him to govern the state for eight years, therefore, the governor’s chances are brighter.
What’s your advice for the government?
The government of Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori should focus on delivering more democratic dividends to Deltans through the MORE Agenda in synergy with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President. I can tell you that with less than two years, the governor has made Delta proud in good governance, projects execution and by joining forces with Federal Government for the overall good of the state.
So, the governor must not relent in doing the right thing, taking the right decision for the people of the state, he has started well and he will end great.
What is your message to Deltans?
My message to Deltans is for them to accept the decision of our governor, because they are in the known of many things we don’t know, we must support him and follow him so that he can take us to the right destination. We are already talking to our people at the ward levels to see ourselves as one united family so that the state can move forward.
We must avoid hostility, fight and other things that may divide us but must embrace peace, love, and unity and do away with politics of hate and bitterness.
