By Our Correspondent, Warri
The Director General of the Delta State Bureau for Communications and Orientation, Dr. Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, has defended Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s handling of the Warri ward delineation dispute, stressing that the governor’s silence was a deliberate strategy to preserve peace and unity among the Itsekiri, Ijaw and Urhobo ethnic nationalities.
Oghenesivbe, in a statement on Saturday, dismissed allegations by social media commentator, Chief Zik Gbemre, who claimed the governor’s silence was motivated by political calculations ahead of the 2027 elections.
He described the claims as “grossly unfounded,” noting that Oborevwori acted with “uncommon wisdom and superior intelligence” by not taking sides in the sensitive dispute.
The bureau chief recalled that the governor, while speaking at a church service on Friday, explained that although he refrained from making public pronouncements on the matter, he quietly worked behind the scenes to sustain peaceful coexistence among the ethnic groups.
“Governor Oborevwori is a leader with high cognitive abilities and exceptional problem-solving skills. His decision not to make unguided or divisive statements helped to tame a foreseeable crisis in Warri,” Oghenesivbe stated.
He cautioned Gbemre against making inflammatory online remarks that could breach the Cybercrimes Act and provoke communal tension.
Freedom of speech, he said, does not cover cyberbullying, insults, or provocative statements capable of undermining public peace.
“Chief Gbemre must always see himself as an elder statesman, not as a cyber bully or agent of disunity. Constructive criticism is always welcome, but falsehood and divisive rhetoric are unacceptable,” Oghenesivbe advised.
He urged Deltans to disregard what he called “unwarranted cyber attacks” on the governor, insisting that Oborevwori remains a grassroots politician, widely accepted by the people for his humility and result-oriented leadership style.
Oghenesivbe further assured that both Governor Oborevwori and President Bola Tinubu would record overwhelming victory in Delta State in the 2027 elections, citing what he described as their “exceptional performance and detribalized leadership.”
