...Says Governor’s Foreign Trips Will Attract FDI
The Director-General of the Delta State Orientation and Communications Bureau, Dr. Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, has said that Deltans remain indebted in gratitude to the immediate past governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, CON, for standing firm on the choice of his successor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, during the 2023 governorship race.
Oghenesivbe made the remark on Tuesday as a guest on Quest FM Radio/TV’s public affairs programme, The Big Story. He said Okowa’s insistence on Oborevwori’s candidacy, despite strong opposition from some political stakeholders, was a product of divine insight and conviction.
According to him, Okowa “saw what others couldn’t see” in Oborevwori’s leadership potential, noting that the former governor’s foresight has been vindicated by the latter’s exceptional performance and developmental strides since assuming office.
Deltans will forever be grateful to Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa for standing firm to ensure that Governor Oborevwori was not unjustly edged out of the 2023 governorship election. Today, the results of that courageous decision are evident across the state,” Oghenesivbe stated.
He said Oborevwori’s achievements under the MORE Agenda have earned widespread commendation, including from his 2023 political rivals and opposition members. “Those of us who stood by Okowa in supporting Oborevwori are now walking tall and proud of the governor’s monumental achievements,” he added.
The Bureau DG further assured that the governor’s recent foreign engagements would soon yield tangible outcomes in the form of increased Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), which would create more job opportunities for Delta’s youth, artisans, and professionals.
Speaking on political alignments ahead of 2027, Oghenesivbe explained that the recent joint endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Oborevwori as sole candidates for their respective offices was a recognition of their “visionary leadership and uncommon transformation” at both federal and state levels.
He noted that the Delta State Government has effectively harmonized President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda with Governor Oborevwori’s MORE Agenda — now known as the Renewed Hope for MORE Agenda — describing the collaboration between the two governments as “cordial and mutually beneficial.”
On the issue of press freedom, the DG, who is also a lawyer, emphasized that while the Constitution guarantees freedom of expression, such freedom is not absolute. He cited the Cybercrimes Act and existing libel and defamation laws as necessary checks against the abuse of that freedom.
Freedom of the press comes with responsibilities. Journalists and media practitioners must ensure their stories are factual, verifiable, and rooted in credible sources,” he cautioned. “Governor Oborevwori encourages constructive criticism and investigative journalism, but the era of cyber blackmail and character assassination is over.”
Oghenesivbe warned purveyors of falsehood and online defamation to desist, noting that offenders would face both civil and criminal prosecution. “Those who criminally blackmail and defame others must be ready to defend their actions in court. The Cybercrimes Act is a double-edged sword — conviction can lead to jail time and civil damages,” he said.
He advised journalists, communicators, and social media influencers to communicate responsibly and ensure their claims are backed by verifiable evidence, stressing that “the law will not spare those who abuse their platforms.”
Okowa saw tomorrow. He identified Oborevwori as a good governor in view — and today, he has been proven right. Delta State is witnessing an uncommon transformation, and for that, Deltans owe him gratitude,” Oghenesivbe concluded.