* Uges Oborevwori to emulate former Gov James Onanefe Ibori.

By: Favour Bibaikefie

As Delta state prepares to celebrate its 34th anniversary, renowned peace builder and environmental rights activist, Chief, Comrade, (Dr.) Sheriff Mulade (PhD.), has urged the administration of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to place greater emphasis on addressing the infrastructural gaps in the state’s riverine communities. He lamented that despite the enormous revenues generated from the petroleum industry and the blue economy, these areas remain “deprived and neglected.”

Mulade made the call while offering his congratulations to Governor Oborevwori and Deltans ahead of the remarkable occasion of the State’s 34th anniversary on August 27, 2025.

In the congratulatory message, Mulade felicitates with governor Oborevwori on the giant strides his administration is making in the State and also applauded Deltans for the relative peace, unity as well as the progress that has been achieved since its creation in 1991.

He said, “Permit me to specially felicitate with Your Excellency, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, the Executive Governor of Delta State on this momentous occasion of Delta State at 34, and the giant strides of your governance of our dear Delta State.

“It is exactly 34 years today that Delta State was created, and I celebrate not just our 34th Anniversary and togetherness as a people, but the relative peace, unity and progress we have witnessed and enjoyed in the past 34 years. We celebrate our founding fathers and the grace of God that has kept us together as one indivisible state, in spite of our cultural, linguistic, and environmental diversity,” he noted.

However, the Ibe-Serimowei of ancient Gbaramatu Kingdom lamented the deliberate neglect and marginalisation of the riverine population through infrastructural deficit, and appealed to governor Oborevwori to follow in the steps of its former predecessor, governor James Onanefe Ibori, to change the narrative by embarking on major roads and bridges so as to write his name in gold.

“It is quite unfortunate that the riverine communities mainly dominated by the Ijaw and Itsekiri ethnic nationalities are totally deprived and neglected in spite of their huge resource contribution through oil and gas as well as blue economy which is the main stay of the State’s economy,” Mulade lamented.

Continuing, he added, “I therefore urge Gov Sheriff Oborevwori to emulate His Excellency, Chief James Onanafe Ibori, who is the only governor that gave sense of belonging to the Ijaws and Itsekiri’s by constructing the Bomadi and Omadino bridges that linked the hinterland to the upland at the peak of the Niger Delta crisis with dwindling economy.

“Governor Sheriff Oborevwori should commence the construction of Ayakoromo bridge and Omadino road connecting Okerenkoko, Pepe-ama, Ekpemu, Akpata, Ogidadinor, Edeuba and Kokodiagbene communities in Burutu and Warri South-West LGA’s respectively in Delta State to write and print his name in the heart of Deltans, particularly the Ijaws and Itsekiris.

“Speaking further, just as the governor did in education in the upland, he should convert the former Delta State School of Marine Technology in Burutu which was politically upgraded to a moribound polytechnic in 2023, to a university or campus of the Delta State University, Abraka, Southern Delta University, Ozoro, or the Delta State University of Education, Agbor with a special focus on maritime to harness the blue economy, because state polytechnics are no longer a standard basis of education in the country,” he asserted.

Mulade also advise the governor not to be tempted to lavish the State’s resources on unnecessary jamboree in the name of the 34th anniversary of the State’s creation, but to instead, channel such funds into flagging-off meaningful projects towards industrialisation of the State that will create employment opportunities for our teeming youths.

“I wish to strongly advise Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, to change the narrative of celebrating the state creation with taxpayers’ money in political funfair, which is a waste of resources, but His Excellency should rather use Delta State at 34 to flag-off construction of economically viable projects such as the Ayakoromo bridge and the Omadino-Okerenkoko-Kokodiagbene road, among others alongside the recent approved flyovers at Agbor and Ughelli.

“In this respect, i wish to place on a particular note, that the effort of your Excellency on the towering human capital and infrastructural revolution in some parts of the State, is evidential. However, the riverine communities need to experience significant and economically valuable infrastructural projects that will be commemorate with her revenue contributions.

In his commendation to Deltans, he said, “Let me cease this medium to salute Deltans, past and present leaders for their commitment to statehood, the development strides, and the strengthening of our democracy. And to Deltans, we appreciate your spirit of resilience and commitment to building a state of our dream and sustaining the vision of our founding fathers,” he added.