Tag: Hon Sheriff Oborevwori

Delta State PDP Gubernatorial Candidate for 2023 general elections, Hon Sheriff Francis Orohwedor Oborevwori has promised teachers a better deal if elected Governor in the March 11th, 2023, governorship election.

The PDP Delta guber candidate disclosed this in an interactive session with members of the Delta State Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), on Thursday, February 16th, 2023, at the Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba, Rt Hon Oborevwori, said that well-structured and efficient educational system is critical to nation building and sustainable development, adding that experts agreed that human resources constitute 65% of national development, while infrastructure and natural resources make up 10% and 25% respectively.

According to the Governorship candidate, teachers play a crucial role in this process since they are largely responsible for the development of a nation’s human resources, saying that:
“They are next to the family unit when it comes to imparting the right knowledge, skills, and values imperative for national development. In the words of Sir John Adams, Scottish education scholar, “a teacher is a maker of man.

He is foundation of all education, and thus of the whole civilisation of mankind, present and future. No nation reconstruction is possible without the active cooperation of the teacher.”

“My meeting with you today is in recognition of the invaluable role of the teacher as a critical stakeholder in nation building. As you know, I am aspiring to be the Governor of Delta State under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party. I have set forth my social contract with Deltans under my M.O.R.E agenda, which is an acronym for Meaningful development, Opportunities for all, Realistic reforms, and Enhanced peace and security. The M.O.R.E agenda comprises programme priorities that will advance Delta to the next level of growth and prosperity”, the Governorship hopeful said.

He added; “I have served this state in various capacities, starting from the grassroots as a local government councillor. I also worked in the executive arm in two previous administrations as Special Assistant and Special Adviser before being elected to the House of Assembly in 2015, to represent the good people of Okpe State Constituency. By the grace of God, I have the singular honour of being the longest serving Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly. Under my stewardship, the House has forged a strong partnership with the executive arm of Government to deliver the dividends of democracy to our people”.

He also said that:”This brings me to the matter of the next presidential elections taking place less than ten days from today. Our amiable and hardworking Governor, His Excellency, Senator, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa is on the ballot as Vice-Presidential candidate of our party. The NUT, I know, has had an excellent working relationship with Governor Okowa all through his tenure. He has been a listening, caring, and compassionate governor determined to improve the lot of our teachers. Not long ago, the Governor released the sum of N5bn for the payment of pension arears to local government retirees, many of whom are teachers.

In addition, the Governor has set-up a committee headed by the Head of Service to facilitate a bond arrangement to accelerate the payment of pension arrears and discussion is on-going with ARM ASSET COMPANY in that regard”.

Oborevwori lamented that some misguided elements had allowed themselves to be used by an irresponsible and desperate opposition to politicise the pension matter, and said that; “I think the current administration deserves commendation for its untiring efforts to clear the backlog of pension arrears, which was over N86b when Governor Okowa assumed office. I know that to date, a total of 79bn has been released for accrued rights pensions settlement and 10% employer contributions to serving workers Retirement Savings Account between May 2015 to January 2023. Furthermore, this administration subsidises the local government councils with N500m monthly to pay retirees even though it is the duty of the various councils to pay, being their employers”.

“One of my priorities, if elected Governor, is to continue the process and ensure that the backlog of pension arrears is cleared within the shortest possible time”, he said.

According to him, if elected the next Governor of the state, he would also prioritise, the following in the basic education sector: Teaching excellence through training and retraining of teachers, Periodic curriculum revision to ensure that the learning process incorporates digital literacy, online learning, critical thinking skills, independent learning skills, team work and leadership skills, Carry out comprehensive audit of physical infrastructure in our primary and secondary schools within 100 days of assuming office to enable us know where there are gaps and respond accordingly, continuous recruitment of teachers to address staff shortages for schools, and enhanced welfare package for teachers so that they will be motivated to put in their best and reduce their distractions to the minimum.

The Delta State Chairman of NUT, Okotie Titus, lauded Hon Oborevwori for the opportunity to interact with teachers, saying teachers are going to partner with him just as he implored him to carry teachers in the state along in his administration if elected Governor of the state.

…urges PFN not to relent in prayers for Nig

The Delta State PDP Gubernatorial Candidate for the 2023 general elections, Hon Sheriff Oborevwori has urged the leadership and members of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) Delta State chapter not to relent in their prayers for the country just as he promised to be faithful to the social contract between the people and himself if elected the next Governor.

He equally promised to sustain and continue the cordial working relationship between the christian community and the State Government.

He made these remarks at an interactive session with the leadership and members of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) Delta State chapter, at Agbarho, Delta State, On Monday, February 13th, 2023, Rt Hon Oborevwori who is also the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly and National Deputy Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, commended the PFN leadership and its members for their tireless prayers for peace and development of the State, saying that their prayers are working and implored them to pray more than ever before.

“Kindly, permit me to first and foremost commend the PFN leadership and its members for their tireless prayers for peace and development of our dear State. I make bold to say that your prayers are working and I urge you to even pray more than ever before because we are approaching a critical and defining moment in our nation. The country has suffered untold hardship since 2015 and this is a golden opportunity to rescue the nation from further wanton underdevelopment and heightened insecurity. I therefore call on you to accelerate your prayer pedals for the country and for the sustenance of good governance in Delta State”, he said.

According to him, PFN has been a pivotal partner in the governance of the State and said that; “It is because of you, my dearly beloved in Christ that we describe our state as a praying state and God has been faithful in all the years.This has always been my testimony, that if not for God and your fervent prayers, I would probably not be where I am today. But because I believe in the efficacy of prayers, that is one of the reasons I have come to present myself before you to seek your prayers and blessing for my aspiration to be elected the next Governor of Delta State in the forthcoming general elections. And I know for sure that: ” If God be for us, who can be against us.”

Oborevwori also said that the state Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, has been a good ambassador of the church, in government and pledged that if elected as his successor, he would not only sustain the existing cordial relationship between the PFN and government, but would also improve on it “because when the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice”.

He said: “Beyond your prayers for us in government, I want to emphasize that the 2023 general elections is very special to us as Deltans and residents because the PFN has two of its own on the ballot. Our Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, is the Vice Presidential candidate of the PDP, while I am running for governorship of the State under the PDP. We have never had it so good”.

“My concept of good governance and development as a Governor will be anchored on the fear of God. The M.O.R.E Agenda is all inclusive and has something for everyone in our state. The Christian community as represented by the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria and other Christian bodies will be carried along in my administration by the special grace of God”, he added.

The Governorship candidate stated that as we yearn for good leadership in 2023, one of our prayer points should be that Almighty God should give us God-fearing leaders and also pray for the peaceful and corporate existence of our dear nation.

“Accordingly, I want to specially appeal to the PFN leadership and its members for their prayers and support for the ‘Advancing Delta Project’. As a Christian and Elder in my Church, I will abide by my campaign promises. I will be faithful to the social contract between the people and myself when elected Governor come 2023”, Rt Hon Oborevwori said.

As a government, he pointed out, “We have always worked with the christian community in the State. I promise to sustain and continue the cordial working relationship between the christian community and the State Government. My government will also sustain the sponsorship of christian pilgrimage to the holy land. Most importantly, the Government House Chapel will retain its prime position as a place of worship. The composition of my government will take into account the interest of the christian community in the State. Overall, I will continue to engage and consult the leadership of PFN as critical stakeholder in the affairs of the State”.

“It is a public knowledge that presently, I am the Honourable Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, a position I have held for close to six years now. By extension, I am the longest serving Speaker of the House since the creation of the State in 1991.

“I am also the current Deputy Chairman of Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria. Prior to this time, I was the Treasurer of the Conference of Speakers. I have also served in the Executive arm of government at a high level as Special Adviser and Senior Special Assistant to previous Governments of the State. I have a mixed experience of the Executive and the Legislature. And for almost six years now, as the Speaker of the House of Assembly, I have worked closely with the Governor in the governance of State affairs.

” I can safely say that I am a round peg in a round hole. By the special grace of God, I have a rich Curriculum Vitae (CV) as a community leader, public servant, business man, family man and a dedicated disciple of God Almighty”, the Gubernatorial Candidate said.

He said that his government would promote good governance, embark on infrastructural development across the State, sustain healthy and livable environment, provide accessible education for our children, promote agriculture and agribusiness, empower our youths and women through skills acquisition schemes, sustain and improve on the Contributory Health Scheme and build a strong economy for the State.

“I am convinced beyond reasonable doubts that this interactive session has provided me an opportunity to share my vision with PFN and to humbly invite PFN to be part of the Rescue Nigeria and the M.O.R.E Agenda team. As I conclude, let me reiterate that your PVC is the gateway to good governance. VOTE WISELY”, Rt Hon Oborevwori said.

Prayers were later offered to the Delta State PDP Governorship Candidate, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori and Hon. Solomon Ahwinahwi, PDP House of Representatives Candidate for Ughelli North, South and Udu Federal Constituency by Bishop Kingsley Enakirerhi, Chairman, Delta State Chapter of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria and General Overseer of Heroes of Faith Ministries as well as Archbishop Goddowell Avwomakpa, founding Archbishop of Christ Missionaries Crusaders Church, Warri and other clergymen.

…as Uduaghan declares PDP guber candidate will deliver dividends of democracy

…we need gentle man like him- Ogbetuo

Delta State PDP Governorship Candidate for the 2023 general elections, Hon Sheriff Oborevwori has said that he will not be an ethnic champion if elected in the forthcoming general elections, but a governor for all Deltans.

Speaking at a meeting with Urhobo Traditional Rulers on Friday, February at the Palace Of the Owhorode of Olomu Kingdom, HRM Ovie Richard Layeguen Ogbon, Ogoni-Oghoro 1, Olomu, Ughelli South Local Government Area of the State, where he had gone for royal blessings ahead of the 2023 general elections, Oborevwori who is also the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, said that he will be a governor all Deltans will be proud of and not one that will lord it over the people.

He said: “I will make a good Governor. I will be Governor for all Deltans and not a Governor for one ethnic nationality. As the longest serving speaker in the history of Delta State House of Assembly, I have the capacity to pilot the affairs of the state to the admiration of the people. Traditional Rulers will be happy under me just as they did under former Governor James Onanefe Ibori, immediate past governor of the state, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan and under our current Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, but I will do more for our monarchs and please, tell your subjects to vote for me and other candidates of the PDP.

“APC has destroyed the country. The choice of Governor Okowa as the Vice-Presidential Candidate of the PDP is a good one for us, with Governor Okowa as Vice-President, it will favour Delta State and so we should support the party so that Nigerians will be happy again”, he stated.

Earlier, the immediate past governor of the state, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, said that the State PDP Governorship Candidate, Rt Hon Oborevwori has the capacity to Govern the state, saying he had known him for a long time.

“He worked with me. He played major roles in terms of security in my administration. He has respect for people. He has a very good heart and he is a generous man. He will give Deltans a better deal if elected Governor and he will accord our traditional rulers the needed recognition. He is the right man for the job. He will bring peace to Delta State and it is my appeal to our respected traditional rulers to pray for him in view of the task ahead”, the former Governor said.

The Traditional Rulers in Delta Central Senatorial District later offered their royal blessings to the Speaker who is also the National Deputy Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the Governorship Candidate of the PDP in the forthcoming general elections, Hon Sheriff Oborevwori has consulted Chief Godwin Oghene Ogbetuo, Okakuro of Agbon kingdom and Okakuro of Olomu Kingdom on his aspiration and assured him that all Deltans will be carried along in his government if elected Governor.

He said that they should vote for the Atiku-Okowa ticket, saying it is the only ticket that can reset the country, adding that; “Atiku Abubakar and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa have been tested and they will not fail Nigerians. Let us vote for them and all other candidates of the PDP. The ticket is very important and it should happen in your time that both of them are elected as President and Vice-President and I am also elected in your time as the Governor of Delta State”.

Chief Ogbetuo said that :”Most of us are above Ninety years old and some are even over One Hundred years old and at our levels, we should pray for our children to live longer than us and achieve more than us too. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori is a gentleman, he is very hardworking, and you can see his activities in the House.

“First and second time as a Speaker. It is not easy to be a Speaker in that House for two terms. In many cases, when you are Speaker once, at the second time you will be removed but because of his hardwork and intelligence, he was able to maintain it . So, we congratulate him and wish him the best in his Governorship aspiration. He will make a good Governor. Oborevwori is hardworking and a gentleman, We need him now”.