Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has clarified insinuations making rounds in some quarters that the former governor of the state, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has not allowed him to run the affairs of the government.
He said his predecessor, Okowa, has not called him to interfere in the running of his administration.
He stated this on Sunday May 27th 2024, during the one year anniversary thanksgiving held at Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel), Asaba, the State capital.
He also said that his administration had turned the state into a huge construction site, and his emergence as Governor had the divine touch of God.
Governor Oborevwori stated this at the first anniversary thanksgiving of his administration held at Living Faith Church, Ibusa Road, Asaba on Sunday.
The Governor said that, in spite of the strident opposition he faced as an aspirant and eventually flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2023 governorship poll in the state as typified by 38 legal challenges to his aspiration, his administration had turned the state to a potent construction site with a total of 317 projects across the state.
He said that out of the 317 road projects, 76 of them, spanning 171.49km and 85.30km length of drains, were initiated by his administration in the last one year, adding that his government had turned the entire state to a huge construction site.
Governor Oborevwori said; “few days from now we shall commence the inauguration of some of these roads and other projects in other sectors for the world to see what we have accomplished in the last one year by the grace of God.
“The past one year has been one of trials and triumphs, tests and testimonies and adversity and hope; through it all God has been very faithful.
“Recently, God also showed Himself strong in my family by giving us a mighty deliverance in a car accident. Indeed, I owe Him a debt of gratitude for His unfailing love, goodness, protection and sustaining grace.”
He commended his wife, his Deputy, his predecessors, former Governors Ifeanyi Okowa and Emmanuel Uduaghan, the National and State House of Assembly, the judiciary, Civil Service, Security Agencies, spiritual, traditional and political leaders for their support and unflinching loyalty, saying, “together we shall build Delta State of our dreams.”
Noting that the PDP governorship primary election of 2022 was the most keenly contested in the history of the state, he acknowledged that without the divine touch of God, he would not have been elected governor.
According to him, “there are several reasons for the thanksgiving, starting from the PDP gubernatorial primaries of 2022. I could sense the finger of God in my victory.
“From the pool of eminently qualified aspirants and in what was clearly the most contested governorship primaries in the history of Delta State, I emerged winner by a wide margin.
“But, like I have always said, my emergence as the PDP governorship candidate for the 2023 general election was a product of divine choice.
“For, as the scriptures eloquently testifies, the race is not for the swift, nor the battle for the strong, neither yet bread to the wise nor yet riches to men of understanding nor yet favour of men of skill but time and chance happened to them all.
“The above scripture best captured my emergence and enthronement as Governor of Delta State. My victories at the primaries and general election were greeted with an avalanche of litigations that threatened to subvert God’s will.
“The state and the nation were shocked when I disclosed that I contended with 38 different law suits from persons determined to stop me, but in all, God saw me through.
“Looking back, I am reminded of Psalm 34:19 which said that many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivered him out of them all. This scripture describes the trials and temptations that I faced while the court cases lasted till January 19, 2024.”
The Governor, who gave glory to God for the successes recorded by his administration in the last one year, said his government had surpassed expectations and confounded his critics by keeping faith with his pledge to advance Delta State in all aspects of social economic development.
In a sermon, the State Mission Overseer of Living Faith Church, Pastor Adekunle Shiyanbade, said the only way up was giving regular thanks to God.
Pastor Shiyanbade said King David in the Bible excelled because he was a pathfinder in thanksgiving, while King Nebuchadnezzar was dethroned by God because he ascribed his victory to himself.
He commended Governor Oborevwori for deciding to thank God as his administration clocked one year and urged him not to relent in maintaining cordial relationship with God.
The cleric outlined the seven wonders of thanksgiving to change of level, divine preservation, multiplication, divine intervention, access to divine secrets, change of condition and favour.
The Governor and his wife, Tobore, were joined by guests, including his Deputy, Sir Monday Onyeme, and his wife, Ezinne Catherine, the immediate past Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and his wife, Dame Edith, former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, former Deputy Governors, Chief Benjamin Elue and Deacon Kingsley Otuaro, Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Arthur Akpowowo, members of the National Assembly, Hon Thomas Ereyitomi, Hon Jonathan Ukodhiko, Hon Nnamdi Ezechi, Hon Benedict Etanabene and former Minority Leader, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, to make special thanksgiving to God.