3 hours ago
2 ARTICLE AD
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, on Monday, fired back at former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, over his criticism of the governor’s reception of the ThisDay “Governor of the Year” award.
Omo-Agege, during a visit to Kwale in Delta State on Saturday, accused Oborevwori of mortgaging the state’s resources for personal recognition.
However, the governor, speaking through the state’s Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Charles Aniagwu, defended the award, stating that it was given in recognition of his fiscal discipline and innovative governance.
“We thought we were alone in terms of observation of these giant strides of the governor, not knowing that even in faraway 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,” Aniagwu said.
Aniagwu argued that Oborevwori truly deserved the award for his administration’s numerous completed and ongoing projects—all without borrowing.
“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 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’,” Aniagwu remarked.
He urged Omo-Agege to set aside political rivalry and acknowledge the progress being made in Delta State.
“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.”
Oborevwori further reminded Omo-Agege of his 2023 electoral loss, urging him to learn from it.
“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.”
He also called on Omo-Agege to focus on the development of Delta State rather than political attacks.
“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 to advance 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.”
