Oborevwori Gifts Delta Monarchs 65 SUVs

Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba

In what he described as a gesture of appreciation of their invaluable contribution towards the oiling of the machinery of good governance in the state and the nation,  Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State yesterday presented 65 Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) to traditional rulers across the state.

=“The place of the traditional institutions to peace, unity and sustainable development needs no overemphasis,” the governor said while presenting the brand new SUVs to the recipients and members of the Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers  in  Asaba.

=He said that the vehicles, including 60 Prado jeeps and five Toyota Land Cruisers, were meant to ease movement of the royal fathers.

=Describing the occasion as “a very important and symbolic day in the life of this administration,” Oborevwori said that the beneficiaries represent “a special class of leaders whose contributions to governance are critical, but often understated.”

=Oborevwori, who thanked the recipients for their consistent support, said: “They are not merely custodians of our customs, norms and traditions; they are vital intermediaries between government and the people at the grassroots.

“I can confidently state that traditional rulers have made governance easier and more effective in Delta State. I commend their unwavering commitment to peace, progress and prosperity.

“Our royal fathers are often on the road, responding to government’s directives, mediating in communal disputes, engaging in peace-building and conflict resolution. They do all these voluntarily and willingly. For this, we are truly grateful.

“These vehicles are not luxuries; they are tools of service. What is required is strength, durability and functionality, and that is what these vehicles provide,” the governor declared.

Oborevwori said the gesture was also in line with his administration’s “broader philosophy of inclusive governance under the M.O.R.E Agenda,” particularly its pillar of Opportunities for All.

The governor took the opportunity to highlight a broad range of social intervention programmes already implemented by his government, including financial support for over 307,600 vulnerable persons under the DCARES Programme, grants to petty traders and artisans, empowerment of women and youths, and monthly stipends for 10,000 widows across the state.

He also reeled out landmark achievements in workers’ welfare, pension payments, scholarships, bursaries, and financial assistance for Delta indigenes in Nigeria Law Schools.

“From the foregoing, it is clear that every segment of our population has been touched. So, when we turn our attention today to our traditional rulers, it is not out of favouritism, but fairness.

“You have not stressed me; you have not made demands. Wherever I go in your domains, I receive warmth, culture and cooperation. This gesture today is from the heart”.

Earlier, the Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme, said that the presentation of the vehicles to traditional rulers was a clear and practical demonstration of the Oborevwori administration’s respect for traditional institutions in the state, adding that the government’s gesture was in appreciation of the vital role they (traditional rulers) play in ensuring peace, unity, and stability across the state.

In their remarks at the ceremony, the Obi of Owa and immediate past chairman of the council, HRM, Dr Emmanuel Efeizomor (JP), the Ovie of Uvwie, HRM, Emmanuel Sideso Abe l and the Pere of Ogulagha, HRM King Joseph I, expressed profound appreciation to the governor for the gesture, adding that the car gift would significantly go a long way in enhancing their efficiency in the discharge of their traditional roles.

Chairman of the Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers and the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, HRM Felix Mujakperuo, Orhue I, in a vote of thanks, described Governor Oborevwori’s presentation of the 65 SUVs as a timely and deeply symbolic intervention that strengthens grassroots governance and peace-building across the state.

“A vehicle is not just a means of transportation to a traditional ruler; it is a symbol of authority and service,” he noted.

The council of traditional rulers chairman assured the governor of the unwavering support of the traditional institution, describing royal fathers as custodians of culture and natural partners of government at the grassroots.