By Emmanuel l. Nwagboniwe

Our amiable and ever cheerful Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, permit me to join the army of your well wishers and admirers whose congratulatory messages have continued to pour in in torrents after the recent Supreme Court’s verdict affirming you as the duly elected Governor of Delta State.

Frankly, one understands why the euphoria of election victory lingers here in our clime: elections are wars of sorts ,which, oftentimes, leave in their trail sorrow, tears and blood.

And even after the elections are won and lost,the political gladiators usually move swiftly to the more ‘deadly’ battlefield-the courts -where fresh legal combats resume,this time, in more uncertain terrain laden with legalese landmines,resulting in unpredictable overcomes.

From the foregoing therefore, Governor Oborevwori truly deserves all the deafening accolades trailing his victory. 

This widespread celebration, to me, is two fold: Oborevwori practically fought those ‘deadly’ wars and emerged unhurt and victorious,having had about 38 court cases since his bid to occupy Government House ,Asaba, began in 2022. 

Two, Deltans are equally joyous that their governor, who has started showing viable evidence of purposeful leadership,was not shown the way out of the Government House by the courts.

To them,the governor now has four ‘long’ years to execute his developmental policies.

However,while we clink glasses in solidarity with the governor, we need to be reminded that winning an election is a means to an end,and not an end itself.

Candidates stand for elections with the intent of assuming leadership positions if they win,and subsequently, transform their parties’ programmes or manifestoes into concrete realities. It is at this transformational level of taking ideas into the realm of reality, that the connecting chord -social contract-between the leaders and the people resides.

Every discerning and proactive leader therefore, needs to be conscious and cautious of this often larger ,but foggy picture between promises/expectations and derivables in terms of service delivery.

Like in my earlier piece titled: ’Will Gov Oborevwori walk his M.O.R.E talk’?, written immediately after his May 29,2023 inauguration, and published in the Vanguard Newspaper on Sunday and on few online platforms, l advised therein, that beyond the inaugural banters and back slapping, that our new governor must go beyond rhetoric to consolidate on the enduring legacies of his immediate predecessor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and take Delta State to more enviable pedestal. Though l opined then that the many legal battles against Governor Oborevwori were still threatening road blocks to his assuming full powers as the governor of the state.

But thank God, the legal battles are now over, and Governor Oborevwori lived true to his enigmatic characterisation as the proverbial cat with nine lives, as he couldn’t be unseated as the governor.

More remarkably, Governor Oborevwori has continued to echo that his rejigged M.O.R.E agenda initiated by Okowa is so central in achieving his set goal of a reborn Delta.

The M.O.R.E agenda is summed thus: -”Meaningful development; Opportunities for all; Realistic reforms;and Enhanced peace and security”

He also affirmed during his inaugural speech thus: “We will foster sustainable economic growth and private sector jobs; boost human capital; build an enabling infrastructure ; enhance governance and accountability systems for improved service delivery; and strengthen public finance management.”

There are no doubts any longer that Oborevwori’s main obstacle and ‘distractions’-court cases- have come to a desirable end,and now is the time to go into real governance and robust service to Deltans.

It needs be affirmed that the governor enjoyed overwhelming support across Delta State multi- ethnic and political divides ,as he won convincingly in the state’s three senatorial zones.

For Deltans, it is now action and implementation time. This is no longer the time for screaming newspaper headlines of quantum promises which have become commonplace across the country.

Our government at all levels must depart from the empty and hollow clichés of patronising promises like: We shall;We will….

Govs XYZ set to transform states ABC into modern ones; My government will create 20,000 jobs before end of 2024,among others. While it is expected that key government officials and political appointees echo what an administration sets out to achieve, one still cautions that there should be a limit to such garrulous outbursts and yet – to- be fulfilled promises.

One believes firmly that Govenor Oborevwori and his leadership team are now ever ready to rededicate themselves to the service of Deltans as encapsulated in his M.O.R.E agenda.

While wishing the governor a seamless four years stay for now in Government House, Asaba, he should be reminded that history beckons on him to etch his name in gold as an outstanding leader who came,saw and conquered.”

Again,congratulations on your victory our dear governor.!

Nwagboniwe, a media practitioner, writes from Lagos.