By Samuel Ogude & Tataunu Akporobo
The Executive Assistant to the Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Barr. Martins Umukoro Awheyevu said Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s developmental strides are visible in the state just as he said, Deltans should expect more developmental projects as encapsulated in his( Governor Oborevwori’s) MORE AGENDA.
Barr. Awheyevu stated over the weekend in a chat with newsmen. According to him, when Governor Oborevwori was contesting for the position in 2023, many people underrated him that he could not do anything to improve on the lots of Deltans but today, he has proved them wrong as he has been able to embark on projects in different parts of the state especially his award of on-going three flyover bridges to Julius Berger in Effurun and Warri. According to him, with these bridges alone, he has beaten the developmental strides of his predecessors.
He said, he has known Governor Oborevwori for years hence he has aligned with him saying, when there was controversy over education background of the Governor, he is among the people who stood to defend him because he knew Governor Oborevwori was educated.
He said:” l am sure today, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has proved them wrong, those who thought he(Governor Oborevwori) couldn’t do any for Deltans can witness the development of the state today.” According to him, what baffled him is that despite these developments Governor Oborevwori has embarked upon, he said, he has never borrowed a dime, which invariably means, there is much money in the state which his predecessors failed to utilize for the good of Deltans”.
According to him, the Deltans should expect more in this administration as they (Deltas) would ever remember what Governor Oborevwori has done for the state now and hereafter. He therefore sued all to support his More Agenda for the state to get more rapid development.
On the arrest of former Delta State Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, he wondered why he was arrested by EFCC for questioning over the allegation of state treasury’s looting whereas, his predecessor, apart from Chief James Ibori who was arraigned in Uk and sentenced, no other person was arrested. He however said, perhaps, they were able to give account of how they spent the money in the treasury. He however said, there was no crime in the arrest but the onus lies on him to be able to give account of how he spent the money while in office.
On the issue of children of under 18 years writing Joint Admission Examination and gaining admission into the university which took front burner discussion in the country and which Federal Government earlier said the child must be 18 years but later pegged it at 16 years, he said, the Federal Government is right. According to him , apart from the children of exceptional intelligence, it is not good for children to gain admission when they are not up 18 years. According to him, this rush for higher school is as a result of the proliferation of private schools across the country and the quest for parents to ensure children begin school very early enough.
He said, even most of these private schools lack qualified teachers and other facilities for the children to learn with, in contrast to public schools. He said, agreed, in other countries of the world, this system could work but because of Nigeria educational system, it would not be effective. He wondered why many of the private schools are approved in the country when they fall short of the school standard. He however said the children under 18 years can make it educationally like other countries of the world if the right atmosphere with regard to facilities and personnel are on ground to achieve this purpose.
On the standard of education in Nigeria, Barr.Awheyevu said the standard of education has fallen. According to him, the standard school leavers of 1960s to 70s is more intelligent than higher school leavers of today. This, according to him, is partly caused by lack of standard facilities and teachers in the schools today.
On why the Judiciary always gives judgement on technical ground. He said, the Judges give verdicts by the available evidence since they were not there when the incident happened. He said, in electoral tribunals and court cases after elections, it is not enough for the candidate who felt cheated and defeated to cry to court that there was massive rigging or elections did not take place in one area or the other but he should be able provide empirical evidence through witnesses to prove his case. He said, the Judge would give judgment based on evidence presented before him.
He however said, this is not say that some Judges are not corrupt as some of them could be bribed to give judgment in favour of whoever bribes them just as he said, unconducive condition and atmosphere(structures) in which Judges operate could also influence their judgement.
The legal luminary also shared light on Delta State Rural Development, primary education in the state, Regional Development of President Bola Tinubu among others. He said the country would be good if all Nigerians join hands in this regard.