BY FIDELIS EGUGBO
The beauty of democracy is that it is a representative government, a government where those in position of authority must be selfless in their activities by thinking more and working more for the people than self.
However, there are a lot of instances where those who are elected to represent the people turn out to be anti-people when they start enjoying the perks of office to the extent that the electorate have no access to them.
So, it was a thing of joy to Deltans last Sunday at the Service of Thanksgiving organised in honour of the Deputy Governor of Delta State, Sir Monday Onyeme at Ibabu, Onicha-Ukwuani in Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State. At the thanksgiving service, the Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, rekindled the hope of Deltans that he is really, a man of the people, a man who will “listen more and do more for the people.”
Most times, those who succeeded in getting into political offices are carried away by the perks of office and are blinded to the reality on ground as they listen more to sycophants and those who prefer to tell them what they want to hear. Sycophants have made several political office holders to derail, abandon their political promises and most times, abandon those they are supposed to represent.
But, Oborevwori’s speech at that occasion has shown that he really has street credibility and despite his position as Governor of Delta State, he still has a listening ear.
In my piece titled, “Onyeme: When God Blesses A Man …” I had envisaged that the turnout of people for the event would be so much and so it was as transporters in Asaba, Warri, Ughelli, Kwale, Obiraruku and other places on that day, had only one destination, Iselegu Junction enroute Onicha-Ukwuani. It was really, a brisk business for the transporters that Okada riders also had a field day to the extent that some of the guests who stopped at Ossissa junction had to make use of the less than seven kilometer Ossissa/Ugiliamai Road that is awaiting construction to get to the venue.
In the church, it was not fun for the protocol officers led by Mr Franklyn Brialade as they had to tag all the seats in the church for dignitaries. So, for some of us who could carry out our official functions outside the church, we comfortably sat inside the canopies provided outside and listened to what transpired inside the church.
If the church was filled to capacity with dignitaries, Onicha Ukwuani Mixed Secondary School, venue of the reception was festive with a lot of renowned musicians on the band stand and the population of people at the reception venue dwarfing the number of persons at the Church. The school played host to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP campaign train early this year and in 1992, one can still remember vividly how it also, played host to a grand reception organised by the people of Onicha-Ukwuani in honour of Hon. Aneke Ifemeni when he was the Majority Leader of the Delta State House of Assembly.
No doubt, the Deputy Governor of Delta State, Sir Onyeme is a man of many parts. He is an accountant, a lecturer, a hotelier, a farmer, a tax expert, and an administrator par excellence, and last weekend, his deep knowledge of planning an event came to the fore.
Two days to the event, Onyeme was at Uwheru in Ughelli North Local Government Area to present Staff of Office to the King and on Saturday, he was at Onicha-Ukwuani, ensuring that everything was in place till late in the night. What surprised most of his followers and admirers is his stamina. One is yet to confirm how long he spends at the gym, if he is disposed to such activities, but the man is indefatigable. Despite staying till late in the night, he was among the first persons the next morning, on the D-Day, receiving early arrivals at Onicha-Ukwuani.
So far, Oborevwori and Onyeme are working as Siamese twins to the benefits of Deltans and the governor arrived at Onicha-Ukwuani long before the commencement of the Church Service. Also, the immediate past Governor of Delta State, Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, known as a stickler of time, and as such, as at 11 am when the service commenced, Okowa, former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, represented by his daughter, Orode, former Deputy Governors of the State, Sir Benjamin Elue and Barr. Kingsley Otuaro, were already seated alongside the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaibu and the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor.
Questions were being asked why the Delta State Governor was delaying the release of list of political appointees and also, issues about if he was being manipulated by unseen hands, but on that day, Oborevwori displayed uncanny show of a leader who is in the know and made it clear that he is the Governor of all Deltans.
Oborevwori said, “The appointments are coming and it will be a mix of both the young, average and the old; God is leading us, nobody is directing this administration; we will do the right thing for our people at the right time.
“I am happy to be here to join my friend and brother, the Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme and his wife, Catherine, to give thanks to God for our successful inauguration as Governor and Deputy and for all our victories at the election and in the courts.
“We have come to thank God for finding us worthy to serve at this time in the history of our dear State.
“Onyeme and I, are products of God’s mercy and grace. We will continue to give God thanks for giving us the opportunity to lead Delta State at this time despite several challenges, which we overcame by God’s grace.
“Thanking God is very important and that is why we will continue to appreciate the hand of God upon our lives and State.
“Sir Monday Onyeme, I am happy that I chose you to be my Deputy, but it is indeed God that chose you and by the grace of God, we will work together to deliver on our M.O.R.E Agenda.”
Some persons played active roles for the service of thanksgiving to be a success, the Deputy Chief of Staff, Government House, Sir Christopher Osakwe, Chairman of Ukwuani Local Government Council, Hon. Possible Ajede, Prince Ugochukwu Ogbuenyi, Chief Lucky Ossai, a.ka. Baff and Chop, and several other persons who worked behind the scene, also deserve accolades for the success stories of the event, an event that also had in attendance, Sen. Ned Nwoko, Hon. Victor Nwokolo, Hon. Nnamdi Ezechi, Justice Tessy Diai, Justice Catherine Ngozi Ojugbana, Rt. Hon. Arthur Akpowowo and members of the State House of Assembly.
Also, Chief Kingsley Esiso, HRM Orhue I, the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom and Council of Traditional Rulers; Rt. Rev’d Godfrey Ekpenisi and religious leaders; Dr Kingsley Emu, Mrs Lyna Ochulor, Hon. Johnson Erijo, Sen. Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, Chief Festus Ochonogor, Prof. Sam Oyovbaire, Olorogun John Oguma, Chief Solomon Ighrakpata, Prof. Emmanuel Achuenu, Chief Oghenekome Okpobor, Olorogun Taleb Tebite, and Rear Admiral Mike Onah (rtd) were physically present at the Onicha-Ukwuani.
Chief Godwill Obielum, Mr Charles Aniagwu, Mr Ifeanyi Egwuyenga, Chief Emmanuel Amgbaduba, Chief Boro Opudu, Chief Edwin Uzor, Chief Ross Uredi, Senior Apostle Sylvester Okorotie, Mr Cyril Agbele, Chief Keston Pondi, Chief Tunde Smooth, Miss Orode Uduaghan, Chief Fidelis Tilije, Chief Patrick Ukah, Rt. Hon. Festus Ovie-Agas, Rt. Hon. Ochor Christopher Ochor, Chief Nkem Okwuofu, Chief Askia Ogieh, Chief Michael Diden, Hon. Charles Emetulu, Rt. Hon. Funkekeme Solomon, Hon. Solomon Ighrakpata, Mr Favour Izuokumor, Hon. Chuks Agidigbo, Barr. Sam Osasa, Hon. Chika Ossai, Mr Godson Obi, Chief Isaac Onyesom (Omenosa!), Barr. Michael Edagwere, Sir Okey Ofili, Engr. Dan Ossai, Chief Sunday Onoriode, Chief Daniel Iwebuke, Hon. Aneke Ifemeni, Hon. Kelly Oghenekevwe, Elder Moses Iduh, College of Permanent Secretaries, Members of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN, Lions Club, Ndigbo, Ngwa Progressive Union, Hausa Community, Knights of St. Christopher, Knights of St. Mulumba, De Saints Club, 63 Brigade Officers’ Mess, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ndokwa Neku Union, NNU, Association of Local Government of Nigeria, ALGON, Captains of Industries, among other several individuals and groups that space will not permit us to mention their names were also there.
The Deputy Governor of Delta State, Sir Onyeme, in an address which was made available to newsmen, said, “it is with a great sense of fulfillment and responsibility that I stand before you to say, ‘God, thank you.’
“The journey to this day commenced in Jun, 2022, when our great party, the one and only Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, made me the running mate to our able and dynamic Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori.
“We embarked on a rigorous electoral campaigns that took us to all the nooks and crannies of our dear state, Delta, and on Saturday, March 18, 2023, the people, our great people of Delta State overwhelmingly, used their voters’ cards to express confidence that our M.O.R.E. Agenda, will take us to our dream state.
“Second Corinthians 9:15 made it clear that we should, “Thank God for His gift that words can’t describe!”
“This is why we are here, to thank God for His gift, the electoral victory, for preserving our lives, granting us good health, for placing us in a unique state, Delta and more.
“Collectively, we will transform our state, making it more peaceful and have productive industries that are strategically located for more of our people to be positively engaged.
“Your Excellencies, our religious leaders, our traditional rulers, great Deltans, thank you for honouring our invitation to attend this ceremony in your large numbers despite the short notice, to join us in thanking God for His goodness, and fulfill His saying, “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever.” – Psalm 107:1
“Once again, thank you and may our good Lord, Jesus Christ, continue to grant you the means to contribute to the growth of our state and humanity through Christ our Lord. Amen.”
Congratulations Sir Onyeme and may we, as Deltans, continue to remain peaceful, engage in positive activities and work for the government to succeed, bearing in mind that the success of the administration will translate to our own success.
Comrade Fidelis Egugbo, is an author and an Asaba based Journalist.
