By Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe Esq, JP
His name rings a bell in Delta State, for good and not for evil. A native of Osubi in Okpe Kingdom, Delta Central Senatorial District. He came to lime light in mainstream politics upon taken the mantle of leadership as the indefatigable Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly on the 11th day of May, 2017.
Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, is loved by the people because of the zeal with which he brought substantial development to his community in Osubi, and for his enviable track records as a progressive team player and a huge pillar of support in times of need to his constituents and numerous people across the three senatorial district in the state.
In Osubi community, the oldest and the youngest folks knows his private residence and mere mention of his name may earn you the best hospitality and warm welcome before you are led by the hand to the palatial country home of this seasoned politician, businessman, philanthropist and community leader, the UKODO of Okpe Kingdom.
Before 2015, Oborevwori made attempts to represent his people at the State Assembly but to no avail, and he remained loyal and committed to PDP, while building political bridges and supporting other political aspirants within and out of Okpe Local Government to actualise their political ambitions.
It is a well known fact that during the administrations of His Excellencies, Chief James Ibori and Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, Chief Oborevwori, served in various capacities, and his robust relationship with the two precious democratically elected governors stands him out as a flawless loyalist, committed and reliable political gladiator.
And when the time finally came for him to represent his constituents at the Delta State House of Assembly in 2015, the thick skin, honest and cheerful giver struck the gold mine by divine grace of God, and was elected by his colleagues as Speaker of the House and head of the legislative arm of government on 11th May, 2017, a high profile office which he occupies till this very moment and still counting.
By his new status, Oborevwori automatically became the number three citizen in the state, after His Excellency the Platinum Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, and His Excellency, the Deputy Governor, Deacon Kingsley Burutu Otuaro Esq.
His journey into the fast lane of political leadership and public service in a higher dimension thus commenced, and he was subsequently elected as the Deputy Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State legislatures of Nigeria, CSSLN.
As a team player and a motivational leader, he swiftly tackled inherited problems in the House, and fixed all pending issues of payment of entitlements due to members, introduced new staff welfare packages, and adopted open door policy to enhance prompt and quality service delivery to the good people of Delta State, in the office of Mr Speaker.
Thus, a new era of proactive leadership commenced, and honourable members are free to visit Mr. speaker at home and in the office unrestricted, and without cold shoulders; always a warm embrace and a cheerful heart and uncommon hospitality. He is pragmatic, firm with considerable positive self esteem with a blend of humility needed for higher office in the scheme of things.
Mr. Speaker ensured training and retraining of staff and capacity building retreats for honourable members of the House, while honouring social and political invites across the three senatorial districts; a strong personality trait and excellent human relations that endeared him to the hearts of party faithfuls and Deltans in general.
Rt Hon Oborevwori, changed the narratives and ensured a paradigm shift from inherited grumbling and murmuring to happy moments among members of the hallowed chambers, as well as the entire workforce of the House of Assembly. He was nick named “Talk Nah Do Mr Speaker.” His subsisting tenure can best be described as purposeful, transparent, goal oriented and truly progressive.
The legislative arm under the subsisting tenure of Rt Hon Oborevwori, kindled the synergy between the three arms of government; more particularly the Executive arm while maintaining independent status and separation of powers.
Mr Speaker’s leadership has been that of quality service to his constituents, the state and people, which is why bills sent to the House by the Executive Arm are treated with utmost priority, and deliberated upon with reasonable attention, for the fact that the three arms of government have their assigned responsibilities in the constitution.
Even though the three arms of government are independent under the doctrine of separation of powers, they have common goals of providing good governance to the people of Delta State; by making good laws and performing oversight functions, adjudication and dispensation of justice, and executive functions of the governor and Chief Security Officer of the State, who is saddled with the higher responsibility of overall governance for the benefits of all Deltans and the state.
It is on record that Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori led hollowed chambers had been devoid of rancour and consistently sustained healthy official relationships with the Executive and Judicial arms,.which is why the bills sent to the House were treated with considerable speed and reasonable scrutiny as required by rules of the House.
In fact, it can be safely asserted that Mr. Speaker and Principal Officers of the House are men and women of integrity. No case of unnecessary delay of deliberations on bills presented to it by the executive. It had been incorruptible leadership under Mr. Speaker.
The impact of the lawful and purposeful synergy between the legislature and rhe Executive is felt positively by Deltans, as can be seen from the unprecedented and uncommon transformation of the state within five years and still counting, by this goals oriented administration under the watch of the platinum governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa.
Rt Hon Oborevwori, is unarguably a detribalised Deltan, an empowerment supremo with passion for overall development of Delta State, and his human capacity development initiative as reflected in his enviable conduct of the affairs of the legislative arm of government.
Also worthy of mention is the positive leadership traits of Mr Speaker, the superb synergy with the Executive and Judiciary while at the same time protecting the doctrine of separation of powers as enshrined in the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended.
I conclude by saying that we have in Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, a reliable, dependable, tested, trusted and incorruptible leader that is generally accepted by Deltans, because of his positive character and excellent personality.
Oghenesivbe is the Executive Assistant to Gov. Okowa on Communication
