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By Samuel Okonji
As the 2027 governorship election gradually approaches, it is hardly surprising that political actors have begun testing campaign narratives. What is surprising, however, is the increasing resort to misinformation, baseless conjecture and outright distortion of facts in an attempt to diminish the remarkable achievements of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration.
One such example is the recent article titled “Delta 2027: Great Ogboru on a Rescue Mission.” Rather than presenting a balanced assessment of governance in Delta State, the piece reads like a campaign brochure wrapped in political propaganda. It is less an objective analysis than an emotional appeal built upon hypothetical promises while deliberately ignoring the realities on the ground.
The greatest irony is that those promising to “rescue” Delta State are the very politicians whom Deltans have repeatedly rejected at the ballot box.
One must ask a simple question: Can a man who has consistently failed to earn the mandate of the people genuinely claim to be embarking on a rescue mission? The answer is obvious. Governor Sheriff Oborevwori does not govern through newspaper speculation. He governs through projects.
Across Delta State today, the MORE Agenda is no longer a campaign slogan. It has become a measurable development framework visible in road infrastructure, healthcare delivery, education, urban renewal, rural development, security support, youth empowerment and human capital investment.
Unlike critics who rely on projections of what they would do, Governor Oborevwori is already doing it. Development is happening simultaneously across the three senatorial districts. Roads that had remained impassable for decades are receiving attention. Healthcare facilities are being upgraded. Schools are being rehabilitated. Water projects are ongoing. Drainage infrastructure is expanding. Urban renewal continues at an unprecedented pace. These are verifiable facts, not political fiction.
Perhaps the most astonishing claim made by critics concerns Governor Oborevwori’s decision to construct Police Divisional Headquarters across the state. They describe this as a misplaced priority. Nothing could be more detached from reality. Security is the foundation upon which every meaningful development rests.
Without security, there can be no investment. Without security, schools cannot function effectively. Without security, farmers cannot cultivate their lands. Without security, industries cannot operate. Without security, economic prosperity becomes impossible.
The Nigerian Constitution indeed places policing under the Exclusive Legislative List. However, nowhere does it prohibit state governments from supporting federal security agencies through infrastructure, logistics, operational vehicles or accommodation.
Indeed, virtually every responsible governor in Nigeria provides extensive support to security agencies. Delta State is no exception. Constructing modern police facilities is therefore not an abandonment of state responsibilities.
It is responsible governance. Critics conveniently ignore the reality that security has become a shared responsibility requiring cooperation between federal and state governments. Governor Oborevwori understands this.
The article attempts to create a false dilemma by suggesting that police stations should have been sacrificed for schools or agricultural projects. This jejune argument fundamentally misunderstands public budgeting.
The government does not operate on the simplistic logic that one project automatically excludes another. Delta State continues to invest heavily in education. Healthcare remains a major priority. Road construction is ongoing. Agricultural interventions continue. Youth empowerment programmes are expanding.
Support for security simply complements, not replaces, these investments. Good governance is about pursuing multiple developmental priorities simultaneously.
Governor Oborevwori has demonstrated precisely that.
Equally unfortunate is the insinuation that infrastructure projects are driven by “the economics of contracts.” Such allegations, presented without a shred of evidence, belong more in political gossip than serious public discourse.
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Infrastructure remains one of the most visible indicators of governmental performance worldwide. Roads. Bridges. Drainage systems. Schools. Hospitals. Security facilities. Markets. Water schemes.
These are not merely “brick-and-mortar projects.” They are investments that improve quality of life, stimulate local economy and boost commerce and attract investment.
Perhaps the most amusing aspect of the article is the attempt to portray Chief Great Ogboru as Delta State’s long-awaited political saviour. Political history tells a different story. For nearly two decades, Ogboru has repeatedly presented himself before Delta voters. On each occasion, the electorate reached the same conclusion.
Democracy is ultimately decided by voters, not by sympathetic commentaries. To continue describing electoral defeats as “stolen mandates” years after judicial processes have concluded amounts to refusing to accept democratic outcomes.
One recurring feature of opposition politics is the abundance of promises, industrialization, mechanised agriculture, teacher retraining, factories, food security and youth employment. These are attractive ideas.
The challenge is implementation. Curiously, many of these proposals resemble initiatives already receiving attention under Governor Oborevwori’s MORE Agenda. Delta State has continued investing in agriculture, youth development, infrastructure, entrepreneurship and human capital.
The difference is that Governor Oborevwori is implementing policies rather than merely announcing them. Governance requires budgets. It requires planning. It requires institutional coordination. It requires political discipline. Campaign speeches require none of these.
Human capital is equally receiving attention. The article suggests Governor Oborevwori undervalues education. Facts again tell a different story.
Governor Oborevwori’s administration has consistently prioritised education through school rehabilitation, recruitment initiatives, improved learning environments and support for educational institutions.
Healthcare has equally witnessed significant investments. Social welfare programmes continue expanding. Women and youth empowerment remain central components of government policy. The MORE Agenda itself is fundamentally people-centred. To suggest otherwise simply ignores observable realities across the state.
As elections approach, opposition politicians naturally seek issues around which to mobilise support. What is however not unacceptable is the attempt to manufacture public dissatisfaction where evidence clearly indicates steady developmental progress.
Deltans deserve informed political debate, not emotional propaganda. Ultimately, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori does not require exaggerated publicity to defend his record. His projects speak. Communities benefiting from improved roads speak. Patients receiving better healthcare speak. Students learning in well-equipped schools speak. Businesses benefiting from improved infrastructure speak. The evidence is visible across Delta State.
Unlike political dream merchants like Ogboru, who continue to promise what they hope to do someday, Governor Oborevwori is delivering today. In 2027, the people of Delta State will once again exercise their democratic right.
They will compare promises with performance. They will compare speculation with evidence. They will compare political rhetoric with tangible achievements. That is how democracy works.
Until then, those seeking power should present credible alternatives instead of attempting to discredit genuine progress through unfounded allegations and recycled political narratives.
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori remains focused on governance. His administration understands that the best response to political propaganda is not angry rhetoric but sustained delivery of projects and services that improve the lives of ordinary Deltans. History has consistently shown that performance, not propaganda, ultimately wins the confidence of the people.
• Okonji, a public commentator, writes from Agbor, Delta State
