The attention of the M.O.R.E. Reality Group (MRG) was recently drawn to comments made by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris who, while reportedly addressing a now roundly dismissed and categorically debunked article by a media aide to the Delta State Governor, noted in his response, that Governor Oborevwori’s comments, as inferred from the opinions expressed in that situationally inappropriate write up, are a smokescreen to avoid accounting for the increased allocation Delta, an oil-producing state, has enjoyed under Tinubu.
It our considered opinion that the Minister erroneously profiled the Delta State Governor, relying on excerpts from a media aide, which the Delta State Government has renounced as a private opinion that does not reflect its official position.
With this salient backdrop therefore, we once again respectfully refer the Minister to the widely reported affirmation by Governor Oborevwori himself at a recent event, where he affirmed his unwavering support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s policies with the passionate declaration thus: “I want to appeal to the Urhobo nation today, I’m saying it here, I’m an Urhobo man, and I’m the Governor of Delta State.
“But I will tell whether you like it or not, I want to say it here, Mr. President that you see is supporting this administration. God has made him the President as God has made me the Governor. So as you are supporting me, support him, because if he fails, I will fail. But he will not fail, I will not fail.
“Mr. President has appointed our sons and daughters into positions. God has given him victory. You people should support us to succeed.”
Governor Oborevwori was to restate this commitment to the success of President Tinubu’s administration while declaring open, the fifth edition of the Delta State Communication Workshop, #DELCOM 2024 where he was represented by the Delta State Commissioner for Information, Dr. Ifeanyi Osuoza, he said: “Let me also reiterate here, categorically and to clear any doubts, especially for our Government Spokespersons, Media Appointees, Social Media Influencers and Media Partners, that one of the major communication policy thrust of this administration is that we will continue to consistently promote and support the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as he continues to deliver the Renewed Hope Agenda for the betterment of Nigerians and indeed Deltans.
“Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as the President of this country is fully supporting our administration and it behoves on us, as Government media aides, partners and spokespersons, to ensure that our strategic communication engagements must reflect, support and promote the President and reflect the policies, gains and advantages of the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, for it is only by doing this with sincere commitment, that we can attract comprehensive benefits and goodwill from the Federal Government for our people”.
As a responsible and discerning body, we would have also regaled the Minister with a plethora of accomplishments, verifiable and robustly ongoing legacy, pragmatic and people compliant projects in infrastructure development, health, education, agriculture, security and transport sectors, at least to establish the fact Governor Sheriff Oborevwori is actually and pragmatically utilizing the state’s Federal allocation judiciously.
This is in addition to the comprehensive interventions in social welfare, human capital, humanitarian and jobs creation initiatives which have impacted positively on thousands of lives and homesteads across the three Senatorial zones in the state, driven and consistently delivered under guiding blueprint of the highly articulate M.O.R.E Agenda, to underscore how in deed Governor Sheriff Oborevwori is prudently appropriating the Federal allocation to Delta State.
Having properly situated that misleading episode between the Hounourable Minister and our dear Governor in its proper context, let us at this juncture fully reassure the Minister of Information and National Orientation that the Delta State government under the watch of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has, as a matter of administrative compliance, embraced a deliberate policy, not to denigrate the person and policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Government.
This policy is hinged on the fact that the Delta State government sees the policies of the Federal Government as mutually complementary to the state’s and not operationally exclusive, in spite of differences in political party affiliations and levels of governance.
This explanation becomes necessary in view of insinuations and perceptions in some quarters, that the Delta State government is seemingly not comfortable with some policies of the Federal Government.
As a matter of fact, the correct position of the Delta State government about its relationship with the President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal government, can be extrapolated not only from Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s categorical declaration as quoted earlier, which he expressed with such strong sentiments, but also from the several other activities which have established the primacy of the Federal Government’s initiatives and activities in the scheme of Delta State’s governance delivery.
For starters, the Delta State government has been very consistent in the regular distribution of palliatives from the Federal Government to the 25 Local Government Areas of the state which, according to the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and Chairman of subsidy palliatives committee, Dr. Kingsley Emu, the items will reach the targeted population, especially the vulnerable, the elderly, widows, indigent and other categories of persons mostly affected by the fuel subsidy removal.
Governor Oborevwori who flagged off the third phase of the palliatives distribution in June 2024, used the opportunity of the event to underscore the state government’s full compliance with the policies of the Federal Government, particularly the referenced removal of fuel subsidy.
He said: “When the issue of fuel subsidy removal came, we looked at it, it was real hard time for our Civil Servants; we discussed and the first thing we did was to pay all the outstanding promotion arrears amounting to over N5.6bn. We didn’t even know how the future was going to be then.
“That wasn’t enough; at the critical time of the fuel subsidy removal, we also sat down and even with a lot of workers of 50,193. We also agreed that for the 50,193 workers, we will be giving them small stipends of N10,000 for three months. We did it and it cost the state over N1.5bn.
“As for the issue of this palliative, we shared it last year; we are here today to say we are grateful to God for what He has been doing for us. Today, we are going to flag off distribution of the rice and maize that we have received.
“We received 24,000 units of 25kg bags of rice from Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria RIFAN; we received 4,700 units of 25kg bags of Garri and 18,770 units of 50kg bags of maize from the National Emergency Management Agency and the National Security Adviser’s Office. This palliative was received last month, which is May, 2024 and we are grateful to all the donor agencies for their support.
“You may also recall that between August and September 2023, we received 17,400 units of 50kg bags of rice and 40,000 units of 50kg bags of maize in a joint venture with the Federal Government. The items were distributed across the state in the first and second phases of this programme to take care of most especially, the most vulnerable in our state.
“I have told the SSG to ensure that this phase of distribution should get to even some notable farmers who do not belong to the different farmers’ associations. The committees at the Local Government Areas comprise the NLC, faith- based organisations, community Presidents-Generals, the traditional institutions and NGOs.
“We also took a decision that the Civil Servants from levels 1-14 should run shift. Monday to Wednesday, others Thursday and Friday. We have not even cancelled it and we feel it’s an opportunity for them to go into farming”.
It is also on record that Delta State was arguably the first state in the Federation to commence the implementation and payment of the new minimum wage to its workers, in fulfilment of the resolution between the Federal Government and the labour unions to increase the wage of workers across the country.
Nigerians would recall that the committee on consequential salary adjustments recently constituted by the Federal Government arising from the new Minimum Wage Act 2024 released the chart and template for payment of the new wage in late September 2024 and Delta State promptly commenced payment the follow month, as workers in the state workforce started receiving the new minimum wage in October 2024.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Kingsley Emu, who announced the good news of the new minimum wage after a meeting of the Committee of the new minimum wage with leadership of the Organized Labour in Delta State, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the Joint Negotiating Council (JNC), to discuss the implementation of the new minimum wage, said the meeting was at the instance of Governor Oborevwori, who he stated has directed immediate payment of the new minimum wage starting from the month of October.
Dr. Emu said: “The minimum wage committee earlier agreed that we can’t make payment until the National Income Salaries and Wages Commission sends the chart. We have now received the chart and we have in the last three sessions gone through the consequential adjustments and implications on our cash flow.
“Even though we have not been able to determine all the ramifications of the consequential adjustments on the future cash flow requirements of the State, the Governor directed we should go ahead to pay because he feels the pains of the people as a labour friendly Governor.”
It is also on record that Delta is amongst the states paying above the stipulated #70,000 to its workers, having presently pegged its minimum wage at #77,500.
Again, the very warm and very cordial collaboration between the Federal Government and the State government, was exemplified when the First Lady of the Federation, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON visited Delta State and was received by the Delta State First Lady, Deaconness Tobore Oborevwori in Government House, Asaba.
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori who hosted the First Lady in government house said: “I received Her Excellency, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, at Government House in Asaba, for the official flag-off of the Renewed Hope Initiative economic empowerment program’s recapitalization grants for women petty traders.
“I commended the First Lady for making Delta State her first choice for the flag-off of the program and for her efforts in touching lives and uplifting the less privileged across the 36 states of the country and the FCT. This is truly remarkable and inspiring as the mother of the nation.”
The solid bond between our First Lady Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori and the First Lady of the federation Sen. Oluremi Tinubu also came to the fore recently in the case of little Miss Ishioma, who was diagnosed with a life threatening condition.
Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori described the situation thus: “Following an urgent SOS brought to my attention by the First Lady of Nigeria, Her Excellency, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, regarding a medical challenge faced by little Miss Ishioma, my dear husband, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, swiftly commissioned the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, to commence an anorectal malformation correction surgery on the 7-year-old girl.
“The surgery, which was successfully carried out on Saturday, November 30, 2024, by medical experts at the health facility, highlights my husband’s unwavering commitment to harnessing immediate resources and restoring confidence in the medical sector of Delta State.
“As partners in this historic journey, my project, the You Matter Charity Foundation, will continue to support the MORE Agenda of his administration through our various initiatives, which aim to create a world where everyone’s worth is valued, irrespective of status.
And just recently, this very December the Delta First Lady delivered another empowerment programme of the nation’s First Lady under the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme (RHIESS).
Describing the event, Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori said: “In light of the current economic challenges, our elderly citizens are particularly vulnerable to negative impacts. To cushion these challenges, earlier today at the Government House Banquet Hall in Asaba, I had the honour of hosting elderly citizens in Delta State on behalf of the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Her Excellency, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
“This initiative, implemented under the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme (RHIESS) with the theme “Total Wellness,” provided support to over 250 elderly citizens. Each beneficiary received a grant of ₦200,000, a 50kg bag of rice, and access to free medical checkups.
“I extend my heartfelt gratitude to my dear husband, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, and Her Excellency, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for their unwavering support and dedication to prioritizing the welfare of the elderly in our beloved state.”
And to fully highlight the synergy and symbiosis which exists between the two leaders, President Tinubu, at the wedding between Mr. Clinton Oborevwori and his heartthrob at the Living Faith Church, Asaba on Saturday, December 21, 2024, hailed Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, as a bridge-builder, a Pan Deltan, a detribalized leader and model political leader, stressing that since Oborevwori came into office he has been a Governor for all Deltans.
The President was represented at the occasion by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr.
Festus Keyamo, SAN.
With all the above instances and many more which have been largely unreported, it is quite obvious to one and all that both Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu are on the same page and wavelength, both Developmentally and administratively, with the M.O.R.E Agenda and the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Let’s us now concluded with the very encouraging and uplifting words of the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, who said: “2025 is a year that President Tinubu’s reforms will be consolidated for the benefit of all Nigerians”.
We have no doubts whatsoever that with the solid synergy between Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Deltans will surely be amongst the first citizens to enjoy the benefits coming in 2025 and beyond.
FOR: MORE REALITY GROUP (MRG)
Anthony Oghenetega
Chairman.
Appolonia N Odibei
Secretary.
Loveday Bekederemo
Publicity Secretary.
