May 29: God has been faithful to us – Delta Gov

Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta says that God has been faithful to the state in spite of the seeming challenges.

The governor stated this at the Praise and Worship Day, organised to mark his first year in office in Asaba.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Oborevwori was sworn in as governor on May 29, 2023.

Oborevwori, while addressing the audience, said that giving Praises to God every May 29 was a tradition he met, adding that it be sustained because of its gains.

“Today, we have continued the noble tradition of dedicating May 29 every year to honour God with praise and worship.

“It is a tradition I am proud to sustain because after all, Delta state is known as “the Finger of God.” God has always manifested Himself in the affairs of this state.

“Hence, despite a few hiccups here and there, Delta has continued on the growth trajectory since the inception of the current democratic dispensation,” he said.

The governor said that he was also persuaded by Paslm 67 which says, “Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You. Then the earth shall yield her increase; God, our own God, shall bless us.”

“As we continually bow before Him in total reverence and humble adoration, I am persuaded that we shall continue to experience increase in every aspect of governance because “God is not a man, that He should lie,” Numbers 23:19.

“There are two thoughts I want us to leave here with today.

“The first is that God has been faithful to us as a people. Not only have we continued to enjoy peace in the state, we have also continued to forge ahead in unity and a shared sense of purpose. Indeed.

“The second thought is that I have kept faith with the people of Delta State.

“The fair, objective, and realistic way to judge political leaders is by evaluating them by the promises they made while running for office,” Oborevwori said.

He said that during his campaigns that he promised to urgently address the issues of unpaid promotion arrears to both serving and retired state public servants, and the protracted issue of pension liabilities in the local governments.

“In three months of assuming office, I fulfilled these promises; paid N5.5 billion promotion arrears to 23,887 serving and retired public servants with the reinstatement and remuneration of promotion arrears for 362 retired officer,” he said.

Oborevwori said that he administration rectified discrepancies related to erroneous deletions in the service records of 12 serving officers due to administrative oversights.

According to him, the unpaid local government pensions was speedily resolved as promised.

“My administration helped to secure legislative approval for the local government councils to obtain a N40 billion bank loan to enable them liquidate their backlog of pension liabilities.

“The loan, which is guaranteed by the state government, is payable over a five-year period, and will be deducted from the accounts of the local government councils.”

He said that because government was a continuum, his administration has committed resources to completing all inherited projects and had initiated new ones.

He said that various measures have been put in place to boost staff morale and enhance productivity such as public officers vehicle and housing loan schemes amidst other social welfare packages.

“In my inaugural address, I promised that Warri, the commercial nerve centre of the state, will be given special attention to restore its lost glory.

“That process has begun with the engagement of construction giant, Julius Berger, to construct three flyovers and Cloverleaf Interchange in the twin cities of Effurun and Warri.

“As at this moment, we have embarked on 317 road projects with a total length of 873.12 km, while the length of drains covered is 668.57 km.

“It is important to point out that 76 out of these 317 roads with a cumulative length of 171.49km and 85.30 km of drainage channels were started by this administration,” he said.

Earlier in his sermon, Papa Ayo Oritsejafor, former President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), while quoting Psalm 100:4, stressed the importance of praises.

He said that praises and prayers opens all door and offers best access to God’s presence.

He prayed for the governor, government and people of the state while urging them to continue with praises and prayers to God for great transformation.

NAN reports that various gospel artists including Rev. Vwegba Base, Mercy Chiwo, Buchi, Frank Edward and Asu Ekiye, took turn to minister through songs and praises at the occasion.

Former governors, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa and Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, Royal Fathers, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwarts, Religious Leaders, Political Appointees, Senior Civil Servants graced the event.