Oborevwori: Garlands for a homeboy
By Felix Ofou
As the saying goes, a prophet is without honour at home. Most heroes die uncelebrated or honoured by their kith and kin. Often, it is strangers who tell the stories of battles fought, victories won and argue why a man of valour should be decorated and adorned with honour.
But, Delta State Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori broke the jinx. He was adorned with the highest honour and celebrated by his kinsmen on Saturday December 7, 2024, amid fanfare and pageantry. He was inducted into the Urhobo Hall of Fame by the apex socio-cultural body, Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), Worldwide.
Oborevwori was also conferred with the traditional tittle of Omorotomo of Urhobo nation by the Urhobo Council of Traditional Rulers, a feat rarely witnessed in this part of Nigeria. It is a rarity that all traditional Rulers from the 24 clans of Urhobo would come together to honour one of their eminent and illustrious sons.
The event took place during the 93rd Urhobo National Day Celebration 2024/Grand Reception for the Governor held on Saturday, at Urhobo House, Uvwiamuge, Agbarho in Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state.
At the epochal event, Governor Oborevwori was confered with the title of “Omorotomo of Urhoboland” by the Urhobo Council of Traditional Rulers led by the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, HRM Emmanuel Sideso, Abe 1.
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President-General of Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, (Worldwide), Olorogun Ese Gam Owe, in his remarks, thanked Governor Oborevwori for the State Contributory Health Scheme and for providing free health care services to Deltans and lauded the Governor for the ongoing construction of flyovers in Warri and Effurun and for other projects in Sapele, other parts of Urhobo nation and Delta State in general.
Chairman of the occasion, Olorogun John Oguma, congratulated UPU on its 93rd anniversary and commended Governor Oborevwori for his outstanding accomplishments in the governance of the state.
He urged the people to rally round the Governor to achieve his administration’s MORE Agenda and to return him for a second term in 2027.
Representatives of the Itsekiri, Isoko and Ijaw nations, Chief Thomas Ereyitomi, Professor Chris Akpotu and Professor Ben Okaba, who were also present, also congratulated the Urhobo nation on their 93rd anniversary celebration and for honouring Governor Oborevwori.
They commended Governor Oborevwori for the unprecedented development and for his sterling performance across the nooks and crannies of the state, stressing that every local government area in the state was being touched across all sectors of the state economy.
Evidently, three things stood the Governor out for the double honour received from his brothers and sisters. First, is the fact that Oborevwori has not shied from identifying with them, having occupied the position of youth leader and led as community chairman of Osubi, in Okpe Local Government.
Oborevwori’s meteoric rise from supervisory councillor to Special Assistant to former Governor James Ibori, Coordinator of Amnesty Programme to Special Adviser on Security to former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, eventual election into the Delta State House of Assembly, and ultimately becoming Speaker for six years; the longest to have served in that capacity, easily stood him out as a true son of the soil. A homeboy of good reckoning.
Of course, the Governor has since transformed the state in less than two years into a huge construction site. Significant projects are ongoing in each of the 25 local governments in Delta. That means each of the eight local governments which make up Delta Central Senatorial District where the Urhobo people are domiciled, have a fair share of projects to show.
For the year 2024, Oborevwori devoted at least One Billion naira for roads in each of the 25 LGAs in the state in 2024. That has since been doubled to N2Billion in 2025. This is aside the N78 Billion awarded to construction giant, Julius Berger Nigeria PLC for the construction of three flyovers in Warri and Effurun, as well as the accelerated construction and expansion of other major roads across the state.
The UPU leadership had no hesitation in giving the Governor thumbs up for monumental achievements in Urhobo land. The testimony of the representatives of other ethnic groups, notably the Isoko, Ijaw and Itsekiri, further attests to the overwhelming acceptance of Oborevwori as a unique performer that is loved by all.
But the conferment of the title of Omorotomo of Urhobo by the council of traditional rulers, reveals deep and elevated virtues of the Governor. Having earlier been given the title of Ukodo of Okpe by the Chairman of the Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers and the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Major General Felix Mujakperuo (rtd), this latest honour confirms that Oborevwori is held in high regard by his people.
Indeed, we can safely declare that the Governor received a befitting coronation for selfless service, humility, prudence and accountability which have been hallmarks of his administration since he was sworn in on May 29, 2023. Oborevwori has devoted his time, energy and street credibility in the service of the people who elected him.
Obviously, history will always be kind to this homeboy who is increasingly loved by all.
Ofou wrote from Asaba, Delta State