BY PATRICK MGBODO
Throughout last week, one debate dominated our socio-political space: the so-called US invasion of Nigeria. Ever since American President Donald Trump reportedly described Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” over alleged killings of Christians in the North, social media has been agog with fierce arguments.
While some Nigerians hailed the purported plan for an American incursion, others condemned it as an affront on our national sovereignty. Yet, regardless of which side of the argument one stands on, one fact remains unchanged: America cannot love us more than we love ourselves. No foreign power can save a nation that refuses to rescue itself.
Our problem as a people is not that we lack strength or potential, but that we have grown accustomed to hardship. Like an elephant once chained to a tree, we have carried the illusion of helplessness into adulthood, even when we possess the power to break free. We keep waiting for a messiah from abroad while neglecting the solutions within.
The truth is that peace and security are not imports; they are homegrown virtues nurtured through justice, fairness, and responsible governance. This explains why Delta State has remained one of Nigeria’s most peaceful subnational entities; not by accident, but by deliberate policy choices.
As Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, recently noted, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has sustained peace and stability through the equitable distribution of development projects across the 25 local government areas of the state.
Governor Oborevwori’s guiding philosophy, captured in his thematic pillars: Meaningful Development, Opportunities for All, Realistic Reforms, and Enhanced Peace and Security, ensures that governance touches everyone, not just the privileged few.
From the onset, the governor made transparency and accountability his watchwords. He has managed state resources prudently, avoided unnecessary borrowing, and cleared over 50 per cent of inherited debts. His fiscal discipline has not only stabilised the economy but restored public trust in government, a rare feat in a time when cynicism runs deep.
Delta’s inclusive development strategy is also reshaping its rural landscape. Each local government area received ₦1 billion for rural roads in the 2024 budget, now raised to ₦2.1 billion in the 2025 proposal, with a projected ₦5 billion in 2026. This approach, Aniagwu said, removes political bias and ensures that even the remotest communities feel government presence.
“From the onset, the governor made it clear that the people’s money must work for the people. He has brought transparency and accountability into governance and has not borrowed from any financial institution since assuming office. Rather, he has managed resources prudently while settling over 50 per cent of inherited debts.
“Before now, people complained that projects were always in the pipeline, but the Oborevwori administration has taken them out of the pipeline and put them on the ground,” he said, adding, “When people see their clinics renovated, their roads tarred, and schools upgraded, they realise government can work, and the tendency for agitation reduces.
“Governor Oborevwori is matching promises with action,” Aniagwu said, stressing, “His fiscal discipline and fairness have strengthened confidence in government and deepened peace in our state.”
Across Orere, Asabasi, Usiri, Ndokwa East, Bulu-Angiama, Patani, Uduophori, and Gbaregolor, the footprints of progress are visible. When people see their roads tarred, schools upgraded, and clinics renovated, the appetite for agitation diminishes. Peace, after all, is not maintained by force but by fairness.
Equally commendable is the state’s whistleblower policy, which invites citizens to report substandard projects directly to the governor. In a country where accountability is often a buzzword, such openness signals a refreshing break from the norm and strengthens accountability in project implementation. According to Aniagwu, “If you send evidence of substandard work, the governor himself responds. That is why everyone involved in project delivery is sitting up,” he stressed.
Governor Oborevwori’s decision to release ₦8.4 billion to the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) to offset long-standing contractor debts, and another ₦10 billion to settle pension liabilities, further underscores his commitment to responsible governance. These actions translate policy into palpable impact — matching promises with action.
“We don’t just talk about projects; we encourage people to come and see. That is why peace has continued to thrive, because Deltans can now see that government is working for them,” Aniagwu said.
If every state government embraced this model of equity, prudence, and inclusion, Nigeria’s recurring cycles of conflict and despair would naturally abate. We would no longer depend on foreign voices to validate our humanity or foreign armies to secure our peace.
America may have its opinions, and Trump his rhetoric. But the lesson from Delta is clear: a nation that governs itself with fairness and purpose, as Governor Oborevwori is winning already.
