BY GODWIN IJEDIOGOR
DELTA State Governor, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori, survived a total of 38 lawsuits, arising from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary to post- governorship election, making him one of the most fortunate and divinely anointed celebrants in the history of constitutional democracy in Nigeria.
His political detractors fought him from all angles, pressed all manners of frivolous criminal charges, all in an attempt to stop him from becoming the governor. And when he eventually won the governorship election with a wide margin on March 18, last year, Oborevwori’s traducers flooded the courts with multifaceted lawsuits to remove him as governor, but all these efforts crashed like a pack of ill-arranged cards.
Executive Assistant on Communications and Orientation to the Governor, Dr. Latimore Oghenesivbe, while speaking shortly after his boss was affirmed as the duly elected governor of the state, at a celebration ceremony he hosted for journalists at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre on Friday, January 19, in Asaba, said in all Oborevwori’s travails, God was with him and if God exalts a man, no mere mortal can bring him down.
He noted that the plethora of lawsuits against the governor could have swept him off his feet if not for the grace of God and the divine inner peace, wisdom and strength of character he exhibited throughout his ordeals in the hands of desperate politicians hell bent on stealing the people’s mandate given to him at the poll last year.
Oghenesivbe stated that the country’s judiciary, particularly the Supreme Court, in all recent judgments, had sent strong signals to unpopular candidates shopping for frivolous technicalities that there can never be business as usual, adding that in the case of Delta, it was crystal clear that the petitioners/appellants’ claims and prayers were lacking in merit, as declared by the apex court, and therefore laboured in vain to suppress the will of the good people of the state.
He disclosed that Oborevwori’s hands were clean, his personal and academic records remained unblemished, his genuine intentions to serve the people cannot be faulted and that he truly and genuinely won last year’s election with a wide margin, winning 21 out of 25 local government areas, as against his distant rival, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who struggled to win four local government areas.
Oghenesivbe said: “We are gathered here for the happy hour to celebrate Oborevwori’s victory at the Supreme Court, but (State NUJ) Council Chairman, Comrade Churchill Oyowe, insisted I must say something. I appreciate this rare privilege.
“Criminal cases pressed against the governor of Delta State from party primary to post- governorship election were 38 in all, and he won with divine ease. It can only be God and He alone is worthy of our praises.
“The massive pressure by Oborevwori’s detractors to subvert the genuine mandate of the people, which they willingly gave to him at the polls on March18, last year, failed woefully. The cases were absolutely ridiculous and grossly unwarranted in all ramifications, but the petitioners and appellants, one after the order, crashed like a pack of cards, subdued and defeated to the glory of God.
“Oborevwori campaigned from Ward to Ward, Unit to Unit, Local Government to Government, marketing his MORE Agenda to the good people of Delta State. His opponents were busy casting aspersions and some of them relied heavily on federal might and legal technicalities to subvert the will of the people to no avail.
“They did all manners of things to stop the move of God, and as we know it in Christendom, no body can battle with God and win; the divine principles of ‘touch not my anointed’ applies. The result of the divine oil of God on Oborevwori’s head played out at the Supreme Court today.
“His academic records were unblemished, his personal records and strength of character could not be faulted, his landslide victory at the polls was staggering, and above all, God was and still is with Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.
“The above reasons resonated again and again, touching on all the 38 criminal litigations across courts of competent jurisdictions and ended in favour of the governor and his Deputy, Sir Monday Onyeme.They divinely and miraculously survived a total of 38 criminal lawsuits to stand tall and remained unbeatable, as affirmed by the apex court.”
He added: “I urge you, gentlemen of the press, to continue doing the needful as watchdogs of society, especially in the area of development journalism.
“Constructive criticism is ideal for good governance; it mirrors both positives and negatives necessary for nation building. But we must abstain from jungle journalism and dissemination of half- truth and data manipulations by upholding professional standards and principles of fairness through balanced reporting.”
Speaking earlier, Oyowe thanked Oghenesivbe for deeming it necessary to fete journalists in the state as part of Oborevwori’s celebration of the Supreme Court victory .
He assured that members of the union remained apolitical, but noted that Oborevwori’s victory at the polls was convincing enough to avoid plethora of post elections litigations.
He charged politicians to help strengthen and deepen democratic values and culture by accepting defeat to avoid unnecessary wastage of scarce financial resources in post-election legal battles.
Oyowe, on behalf of Delta NUJ, congratulated Oborevwori, saying it took the special grace of God for him to win 38 lawsuits.
He urged the governor to be magnanimous in victory by extending the olive branch to his opponents, stating that in politics, there are no permanent enemies, but only permanent interests, adding: “We congratulate the governor on his victory at the Supreme Court. I must say his victory is well -deserved.
“As working journalists in the state, we shall remain neutral and apolitical in the discharge of responsibilities as members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm.
“It takes the the special grace of God to win 38 pre-election and post-election cases. The governor is truly an apple in God’s eyes; his choice as governor is divine, judging from all his travails and consistent victories at all levels of the courts.
“It’s time for full-scale governance, because Deltans are desperately waiting for the full implementation of the governor’s MORE Agenda. We shall monitor developments and also partner government to ensure that his social contract with the people of the state yield robust dividends.
“On behalf of Delta NUJ, I wish to commend Oghenesivbe for extending the victory celebration to members of Council.”
Over 100 members of the union were present at the victory celebration, in addition to the Senior Special Assistants to the Governor on Media, Comrade Fred Edoreh, that of Community Newspapers, Prince Eromosere Orhomonokpaye, and other government appointees.
