BY NORBERT CHIAZOR
“Warri will be given special attention”. That was the punch line of Rt.Hon.Sheriff Oborevwori’s first speech as Governor of Delta state.
Today,it is not political rhetoric.Warri is changing fast.On the cusp of amazing transformation.
Oborevwori as governor met Warri,like a land akin to Irish Author James Plunkett’s STRUMPET CITY:
“Strumpet City on the sunset
So old,so sick with memories
Old mother…”
But like hopeful Plunkett,Oborevwori the Warri brood is working on Warri,optimistic that he “will walk the streets of Paradise,head high,and unashamed”
A new Warri,dressing up to become a beautiful bride…
Mega “Julius Berger” bridges are rising to the horizon in Warri and Effurun.
Olu of Warri drove to Ode-Itsekiri first time in history.The trans -Warri highway is opening before our very eyes. Ovie of Uvwie is upbeat about development at Effurun.
The twin cities are rising, waking up to a wonderful bandwagon.Neighbours of Warri-Itsekiri,Urhobo and Ijaw are in tenterhooks.Expectant and excited.
Why not?
Charity at home is a universal wisdom.South African singer MasterG counsels us to always remember the road that leads us home.
Oborevwori’s year’s of childhood to the bloom of middle age were watered in Warri/Effurun metropolis .He came from old Warri to win and rule Delta.
By the time the man fondly called Sheriff was crowned governor,Warri ,Niger-Delta’s once glorious iconic city,famous for its social and economic prosperity had lapsed into a sorry story.
Military misadventure,local ethnic wars,endemic neglect,flight of Shell and its multinational oil sisters turned Warri a ghost town.
The new Sheriff in town is recreating Warri special and steady,building strong on the good foundations of his civilian predecessors.
He is working here and there in Warri and adjourning towns.On roads ,bridges,schools and markets.
The Warri township stadium is about to get a shine with the resolve of Oborevwori to remodel the gaming facility.
Infrastructure Engineer,Michael Jendert and General Manager,Christian Moessmar of Primetech/ Julius Berger Nig.PLC were at government house Asaba this week,where Oborevwori saw graphics outlay presentation of Concept Design for the Rehabilitation of the Warri Stadium.
Why not ?
Who expects a man who built one of the earliest and most popular plazas in Warri/Effurun axis,not to put the place on a pleasant pedestal?
If Oborevwori had proved responsible in Warri,he is responsive to the entire Delta.
He promised to be the governor of all Deltans in his inaugural address and he is keeping it up.
There are outstanding efforts on Ughelli/Ozoro/Ogwashi Uku dual carriage way, Okerenkoko Township Roads,Emevor/Orogun road,Okpanam/Ibusa road,Beneku bridge,High court complex Asaba, and state-owned Universities in Delta central,Delta North and Delta South among others.
Sheriff is working and winning in many ways from Warri/Effurun to the wider Delta.
Gov Delta State
Let’s wait patiently for the lively “Warri boy!”
CHIAZOR is Executive Assistant EA, (Media) to the Delta Governor.
This is great. Pray that he will do MORE just as his agenda acronym states…..let state a few suggestion below
Can we have some investors assisted to establish manufacturing hubs in each senatorial area or LGAs with the assistance of the state government.
Can we reactivate the palm oil farms and processing plant.
Can we encourage the resuscitation of the rubber plantations an possibly processing industries possibly with a tyre industry
Can we restart the wood timber and wood processing industry
Can we revisit the Oghara power plant or have that been swept under the carpet. Then can we restart it. Plus a Delta HT Grid line
Can we show some innovation in the transportation network of city rail line and intercity rail line.
Can we rebuild one port out of our numerous natural ports
Can we do something about DSC like Kogi is harassing everyone about Ajaokuta
Can we take more interest on Warri refinery.
Can bring other innovative idea involving silicon valley ideas to the table in Delta State. Can we if we don’t we will be left behind and our unemployment will be unmanageable and crime death and suffering on the increase.
The state government should step in and drive the execution. Find investors local and foreign to support idea. The stadium is a great idea and the road are necessary requirement for the logistics of development.