Why Delta Cannot Afford To Break The Momentum —Sheriff Oborevwori’s Case For Continuity

By Joelson Wilson

History often reserves its warmest pages for leaders whose stewardship converts promise into palpable progress. In the short span since his inauguration on 29 May 2023, Rt. Hon. (Elder) Sheriff Francis Orohwedor Oborevwori, JP, has demonstrated an uncanny capacity to do precisely that; to turn aspiration into asphalt, policy into palpable relief, and campaign pledges into lived realities for millions of Deltans.

What began as a quiet rise from the speakership of the Delta State House of Assembly has, in barely 28 months, matured into a state-wide renaissance that many now recognize as providential: grace, plainly put, has chosen.

From Anonymity to an Every Household Name

Before 2023, Sheriff Oborevwori was largely a name known among political insiders. For the ordinary Deltan, his name was unfamiliar; often mispronounced, sometimes misspelled. Even after his electoral victory, many could only say “Sheriff” and fumble with the rest. That narrative has been decisively inverted. Today even children in Delta can pronounce his name; “Oborevwori” has become a household word. But fame alone does not explain the transformation: it is what he has done with the office that has carved his name into public memory.

A Governor Who Moves, Not Merely Sits

Oborevwori dispels the stereotype of the aloof executive. He does not confine governance to the corridors of Government House; he canvasses the roads he commissions, inspects the contracts he approves, and insists on first-hand reports. This hands-on disposition is more than performative oversight, it is a governance philosophy that assigns accountability where it belongs: at the top.

When projects falter, the governor himself accepts responsibility rather than deputizing blame. That ethos underpins the administration’s declaration of zero tolerance for shoddy jobs, and it has catalyzed civic participation by inviting citizens to report substandard work (the hotline is published on the front page of the Pointer Newspaper). Inclusivity is therefore not rhetorical; it is procedural, civic, and operational.

Infrastructure: The Tangible Turnaround

Perhaps the most visible testimony to Oborevwori’s tenure is infrastructure. He convinced the construction giant Julius Berger to return to Delta, guaranteeing a safe and uninterrupted working environment, an achievement many considered improbable. He approved and green-lit the construction of three pivotal flyovers: PTI Junction, DSC Roundabout, and Enerhen Junction; in Uvwie and Warri South Local Government Areas.

For days and nights when Warri’s arteries choked under the weight of commuters from Udu, Agbarho and Osubi, these interventions are not abstract; they are life-saving.

Traffic that forced many to leave work at 6:00 pm and not reach home until 10:00 pm will be materially mitigated. The PTI/DSC/Effurun roundabout complex is the principal ingress and egress for travellers from Port Harcourt, Bayelsa and the coastal corridor; likewise the Effurun roundabout and PTI Junction channel traffic from Benin and Lagos.

Delta was never designed for Lagos-type congestion, yet Governor Oborevwori has treated that challenge with strategic infrastructure investments.

In addition to flyovers, he approved many other projects, as well as continued and completed the projects from the previous administration.

For the purpose of this article, the focus will centre on projects and activities done in the third quarter of this year only.

In addition to the flyovers, he awarded the contract for reconstruction of the dual carriageway on the Warri/Sapele/Benin road (Uvwie and Okpe LGAs), commissioned milestone projects in Bomadi LGA, and inspected major undertakings including Warri Stadium, storm water projects, Udu market, Enerhen flyover, Orerokpe projects, and sites in Ughelli, Okpe and Kiagbodo to ensure compliance with specifications.

Two additional flyovers in Agbor and Ughelli were approved, bringing the number of ongoing flyover projects to five. This sustained focus on mobility is matched by comprehensive road construction, flood management projects, and a State Electricity Policy designed to underpin industrial growth.

Lighting Up Lives and Reviving Nightlife

Beyond roads, Oborevwori is lighting the state, literally. The “Light Up Delta” initiative has restored nocturnal visibility along Warri-Sapele Road and stretches of Airport Road, most part of Asaba and other towns; making travel safer and rekindling the twin city’s nightlife. The lighting project is scaling across the three senatorial districts: Delta Central, Delta South and Delta North; a clear manifestation of the M.O.R.E. Agenda’s equity ethos.

Quality, Accountability, and Citizens as Stakeholders

Quality control is institutionalized. The governor’s administration has created mechanisms for citizens to act as watchdogs, reporting contractors who deliver substandard work. The message is unequivocal: infrastructure is a common good and every Deltan is a stakeholder. That transparency is reinforced by the governor’s regular on-site inspections, he demands conformity to specifications and penalizes deviations.

Political Maturation: Platform Over Partisanship

On 28 April, at the Cenotaph Centre in Asaba, Governor Oborevwori’s strategic move to the All Progressives Congress (APC) was emblematic of his pragmatic politics. This was not a parochial shift for personal aggrandizement but a calibrated decision to secure a broader platform and the tools necessary to realize his mandate for Delta. It underscores a leader who prioritizes outcomes, and whose political calculus is governed by service delivery rather than sentiment.

A Catalogue of Significant Achievements (Third-Quarter Snapshot and Beyond)

What follows is a comprehensive enumeration of Oborevwori’s accomplishments; a ledger of governance, social intervention and institutional strengthening: (not all was captured)

• Advocated an upward review of the derivation formula and backed the creation of State Police.
• Received the South South Governor of the Year award.
• Intervened in the Warri Federal Constituency unrest, sued for calm, and directed the inauguration of a peace committee to fortify unity.
• Convened a security council meeting, condemned the killings in Abraka, and assured justice for victims and their families.
• Engaged PTI Effurun management on strategic collaboration.
• Directed the implementation of procurement law in local government councils.
• Called for unity, peace and sacrifice during Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary.
• Awarded contracts and inspected multiple projects (Warri Stadium, storm water, Udu market, Enerhen flyover, Orerokpe, Ughelli, Okpe, Kiagbodo).
• Awarded contract for reconstruction of the Warri/Sapele/Benin dual carriageway (Uvwie & Okpe LGAs).
• Commissioned milestone projects in Bomadi LGA.
• Commissioned an ICT/CBT Centre in Onicha-Olona, Aniocha North LGA.
• Announced plans for a comprehensive reform of the transport system.
• Inaugurated 30 housing units for soldiers.
• Reaffirmed commitment to the development of Asaba as the capital city.
• Addressed misinformation about the Olomoro-Igbide Road projects.
• Commissioned/advanced works on the Ayakoromo Bridge linking Ughelli South and Burutu LGAs.
• Approved a slate of projects spanning road construction, flood management, and a State Electricity Policy to guarantee steady power.
• Led a high-powered delegation to the Delta-Brazil Investment Roundtable in São Paulo to market the state to global investors.
• Hosted the Nigerian Port Authority to explore port development and the blue economy; intends to reactivate the state’s four ports.
• Signed a landmark energy deal to usher Delta into a new power era.
• Deepened partnership with the Federal Mortgage Bank to improve workers’ access to housing.
• Called for a stronger data system to drive economic growth.
• Attained 80% success in the fight against oil theft and vandalism.
• Extended relief to Ogareki Market fire victims and coordinated disaster relief with NEMA for Okpe rainstorm victims.
• Flagged off the Widows Welfare Scheme and enrolled beneficiaries into the Contributory Health Insurance Scheme.
• Approved N10 billion to address pension obligations in the state.
• Through the Delta State Bursary and Scholarship Board, commenced disbursement of financial assistance to law school students.
• Rewarded the Qatar debate champions with N20 million each for their historic victory.
• Approved the payment of retirement and death benefits to staff of Delta State University, Abraka.
• Launched a Maternal and Child Health project to reduce preventable deaths.
• Approved procurement of three MRI machines — one for each senatorial district.
• Reduced dialysis costs from N70,000 to N45,000, easing the burden on kidney patients.
• Signed an MOU for the transfer of Ovwian General Hospital to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC).
• Dismissed and demoted health workers found extorting pregnant women and children under five, reinforcing the state’s free healthcare policy.
• The Delta State Police foiled multiple robbery gangs in statewide operations, recovering stolen property.
• Supported the Nigeria Correctional Service, Delta Command, by donating a parcel of land and handing over the Certificate of Occupancy.
• Rewarded athletes at the 2025 Gateway Games (N1,000,000 for gold, N500,000 for silver, N250,000 for bronze).
• Championed youth development through the Zenith Bank Principals’ Cup.

Fiscal Prudence and Institutional Integrity

Beyond projects and ceremonies lies fiscal stewardship. The governor has been deliberate in his financial management: he is not recklessly borrowing, nor is he defaulting on contractors. Instead, the administration has prioritized debt repayment, pension clearance, and fiscal responsibility; choices that ensure sustainability rather than transient applause. He has chosen to save, to settle inherited obligations, and to prepare the state’s balance sheet for growth rather than short-lived consumption.

Why a Second Term Is Not Only Justified, It is Strategic

If leadership is judged by outcomes, Governor Oborevwori’s first term is a compelling endorsement. He has demonstrated:

1. Executional competence : converting plans into sites, contracts and completed works.
2. Moral clarity : intolerance for corruption in health and infrastructure.
3. Inclusivity : policies and projects that cut across the three senatorial districts.
4. Strategic vision : positioning Delta for industrialization, diversification, and the blue economy.
5. Diplomatic and commercial savvy : taking Delta to São Paulo and negotiating energy partnerships that promise systemic change.
6. Security acumen : measurable success against oil theft and organized criminality.

He has not governed for optics; he has governed for outcomes. In two years-plus, he has moved the needle in ways that many earlier administrations promised but did not deliver. As the adage goes, “He that excels in little will be given more.” Oborevwori has excelled richly in the little he was handed; the logical inference is that continuity would amplify impact.

The Ball Is in the People’s Court

In the calculus of civic reciprocity, governance earns its mandate at the ballot box. Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has furnished the evidence of stewardship, competence, and prudence. For Deltans who value infrastructure that works, healthcare that protects rather than preys, education that rewards excellence, and security that restores public confidence, the choice in 2027 is not merely partisan, it is prudential.

This administration’s progress is not an epiphenomenon; it is the result of deliberate policies, disciplined execution, and a leadership temperament that privileges service over settling. If the measure of a leader is what he leaves in people’s lives, Sheriff Oborevwori’s inventory is substantial, visible, and consequential. In 2027, Deltans will have an opportunity to say “thank you” not with mere words, but by safeguarding continuity for a trajectory that aims to transform Delta into a productive, industrialized, and inclusive state. The governor did not come to preside over inertia; he came to prepare a foundation. The work is under way. The rest is in the hands of the people.