Delta State Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, said Governor Sheriff Oborevwori was honoured with the Governor of The Year Award for his fiscal discipline and innovative approach to governance.
Aniagwu, who was responding to immediate past Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege’s criticism on the choice of Governor Oborevwori for the award, said the state government, under the governor’s watch, had completed numerous projects, while also initiating new ones without borrowing to fund them.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday in Asaba, Aniagwu said Governor Oborevwori inherited numerous projects out of which many of them had been completed which, he said, ‘this speaks to the Governor’s effective and efficient management of financial resources without borrowing a dime from anywhere.’
He said, “we thought we were alone in terms of observation of these giant strides of the governor, not knowing that even in far away, Lagos and Abuja, the editors of THISDAY and ARISE News, or rather the two media outlets, were also busy with their eagle eyes, taking copious notes.
“We do not have issues with some persons in opposition, particularly our brother and leader, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege.
“We are not stopping them from playing politics or making constructive criticisms because it actually emboldens us to do more, but to begin to ask what we are doing and why we were given the award is, at best, seen as ‘Pepper-body’.
“We expect that if their state has been picked as making progress they should be happy. Trying to de -market the state because of personal interest is not in the interest of anybody.
“He went through this path in 2023, even when Oborevwori had not become a Governor; yet, Oborevwori defeated him in 21 out of the 25 local government areas.
“So, I thought the lesson of that defeat was enough for him to know the kind of criticisms he could embark upon.”
Aniagwu, who was flanked by Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir Festus Ahon, and Executive Assistant to the Governor on New Media, Mr Felix Ofou, said the sterling performance of Governor Oborevwori had become the greatest undoing of the opposition in the state.
“We plead with Omo-Agege that he should be fair as he engages in politicking, which we are not ready for at the moment because we have a covenant with the people of Delta to deliver on the MORE Agenda with a view to advancing development in our state.
“If he is asking our people of Ndokwa Nation what we have done for them, I will remind him that, in Ndokwa Nation, we have awarded no fewer than 15km of roads.
“We have completed the Obi-Ibabu road which is over 4km awaiting inauguration. The Ndemili-Utagba Uno road and the Eweshi – Utagba-Uno road are being pursued vigorously.
“We have also awarded a road in Amai which has progressed to stone base; at Aboh in Ndokwa East, work is also ongoing.
“The Beneku bridge has been completed and the governor has also awarded the construction of Asaba – Ase bridge in Ndokwa East linking Uzere in Isoko South.”
He also said, “Whilst Omo-Agege was in the Senate, the few things he was able to attract, he took them near his father’s compound at Orhomuru.
“Can he now compare himself to a man that is building bridges across the state to the extent that he doesn’t discriminate against members of the opposition parties in the state?
“Governor Oborevwori has also warned that nobody should be discriminated against on account of their political affiliation. Whatever is due to the people is distributed without recourse to political affiliation.
“We all know, in this state, that he didn’t work for President Tinubu ; so, if he is thinking that by saying these things he would warm himself to President Tinubu, he needs to think again and take a different route.”
Aniagwu said Governor Oborevwori had directed that every Commissioner must supervise their projects critically to ensure that Delta had value for money spent on projects.
He stressed, “We are also here to inform all those who have taken it upon themselves of the opportunity of grabbing government lands across the state.
“We warn that government will not hesitate to demolish such illegal properties built on such public lands and we will make them pay for whatever cost incurred during such demolitions.”
On Senator Ned Nwoko’s resignation from the party, Aniagwu said Governor Oborevwori and PDP were not bothered by the Senator’s serial defections, noting that the party would continue to win in Aniocha North and other parts of Delta North Senatorial District where Senator Nwoko currently represents.
On housing, the Commissioner said the state government had commenced the construction of 30 units of three bedrooms and 20 units of two bedrooms pilot phases in Ozoro, Kwale and Owa-Oyibu.
He added that the State Government currently runs four public universities, adding that no state in the country could boast of a university in each of the Senatorial districts of the state.
On healthcare delivery, the Commissioner said the Oborevwori administration was renovating over 150 healthcare centers across the state and the procurement of facilities at the Central Hospital Warri and Delta State University Teaching Hospital, DELSUTH, Oghara.