‘Some People Say My EFCC-Style Crackdown Is Good’ – Oborevwori On Quality Jobs

Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, on Thursday, drew parallels between his administration’s recent crackdown on substandard contractors and the EFCC’s anti-corruption efforts, noting that some people now view his approach as beneficial to the people.

Speaking during inspection of multiple projects in Asaba, Oborevwori said that his administration’s priority remains delivering quality projects aimed at giving value to the people, regardless of personal relationships.

He emphasized that competence, integrity, and value for money was critical to his administration’s M.O.R.E Agenda.

The projects inspected include; Ogbeosonwe, Ogbeilo road, Ogbogonogo market storm drainage project and Ogbe-Ofu Road, Off Jarret Road, Cable Point, Asaba.

Others are; 1.7km Amaechi Agusi Street with 10 adjoining streets,
Dorah Allanah Street, Oluu Street, Burutu Drive, Off Infant Jesus Road, Odilison Junior Crescent, Agbogun Close, Ngozi Odiaka Avenue, Aloy Isomede Street, Ezeobi Ojukwu Street, and Ajudua Street, Okpanam, Aretha Table Water Street, Off NTA Road Asaba and Redeemer’s Street Asaba.

Governor Oborevwori said, “I was elected to serve the people of Delta, not to please a select few. Friendship cannot and will not take precedence over the quality of projects we provide for the people.

“Contractors in the state know that; I have always emphasized on the need for quality jobs but the people who are causing this problem are not the big companies, it is some of our indigenous contractors that are causing these problems.

“The problem we are having majorly are the indigenous contractors, if you don’t patronize them they will say you want to suffer them, they will blame you for not supporting the growth of indigenous contractors. We need to also patronize them but they should do well because some of them are not doing well and like I have said the ones that are not doing well, will be blacklisted.

“The interest today is the public interest because the interest of the people is more important than any other thing. Some of them are not too happy but it is important the majority of the people are happy with what we are doing now.

“We are not doing media show, what we are doing is real and those who know me very well know that I will not compromise. So if you want to be my friend do a good job, if you don’t want to be my friend then don’t do a good job and I will kick you out.

“Some people say that this kind of governor who is doing like EFCC, is good for the people. The masses voted for me and they appreciate what we are doing so I will not allow a few people to decide for us, I will not take that from them.”

On requests for upward review of projects, Oborevwori said rates had gone up, adding that he usually visits such projects to see the extent of work done before carrying out any upward review.

“We can only review jobs awarded 2022 and early part of 2023 before I assumed office. This is because when we came in the dollar was around N750 now dollar is about N1600. Materials have gone up and we also feel for them but most especially we want them to do good job.

“You can see most of the contractors have returned to sites, we are not going to spare anybody, do the right thing.”

Governor Oborevwori who spoke further, appealed to residents of Asaba to keep their environments clean and directed the State Commissioner for Environment, Chairman Waste Management Board and the Chairman Taskforce on Environment to ensure total compliance.