Delta First Lady Calls for Collective Action in War Against Drug Abuse
OREROKPE/Nigeria: The wife of the Delta State Governor, Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori, has urged parents, teachers, and faith-based organizations to collaborate with the state government in its “Drug Free Delta” campaign, emphasizing the dangers of drug abuse among youths.
Represented by Dr. Fidelia Ighrakpata at the grand finale of the first phase of the campaign tour, organized by the State Orientation and Communications Bureau in partnership with the Delta State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mrs. Oborevwori admonished students to shun illicit substances.
“As a mother, it breaks my heart to see children and youths, who should be excelling, trapped in drug abuse. We must rise to secure the future of our children,” she said, emphasizing the vital role of parents, educators, and religious institutions in combating substance abuse.
Mrs. Oborevwori commended the Director-General of the State Orientation and Communications Bureau, Dr. Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, and the NDLEA for their dedication to the initiative, which has impacted secondary schools across the state’s three senatorial districts. She assured that her pet project, You Matter Foundation (YMF), would continue to support the campaign through counseling, rehabilitation, and skills acquisition programs for drug abuse victims. She further disclosed that the state government is fast-tracking the construction of a rehabilitation center in Kwale, while the Agbor facility will soon be completed.
Dr. Oghenesivbe, in his remarks, noted that the campaign had reached 28 secondary schools across the state, in line with Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s MORE agenda on peace and security. He revealed that future phases would extend to tertiary institutions, with the potential introduction of a “Drug Integrity Test” for prospective students, as proposed by the NDLEA.
Delta State NDLEA Commander, Abubakar Wada, lamented the rising prevalence of drug abuse, particularly among youths. He expressed appreciation to Governor Oborevwori for providing operational vehicles to combat drug trafficking. The Assistant State Commander, Silais Omobude, in a lecture titled “Yes to Life, No to Drug Abuse,” advised students to be cautious in choosing their peers to avoid negative influences.
The Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Abaniwonda, represented by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, highlighted that 95% of security challenges stem from drug abuse. Similarly, the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, Orhue I, represented by Chief Mike Affe, linked substance abuse to criminal activities such as armed robbery, kidnapping, and ritual killings. He pledged royal support for the campaign.
Former Minister of Information and Chairman of the Delta State Advisory and Peace Building Council, Prof. Sam Oyovbaire, expressed concern over the alarming rate of drug abuse, stating that it was relatively rare in the 1950s and 1960s. He urged students to focus on their goals and avoid illicit substances.
Dr. Ogelle Olive, representing the Commissioner for Health, warned that drug use derails individuals from achieving success, while Chief Mrs. Eunice Anirah, Special Adviser to the Governor on Women Development, stressed that drug addiction leads to tragic outcomes. The Vice Chairman of Okpe Local Government, Hon. Mary Otikiri, speaking on behalf of the council chairman, thanked Governor Oborevwori for infrastructural advancements in the local government and underscored the importance of the campaign in shaping the future of Delta’s youths.
Other dignitaries, including traditional rulers, political leaders, and religious figures, echoed calls for a drug-free society, reiterating the devastating consequences of substance abuse.
The event, held at Edion Hall, opposite the Orodje of Okpe Palace in Orerokpe, was also attended by Rt. Hon. Sunny Akpodiogaga Emeyese, Chairman of the Governing Council, Delta State College of Education, Mosogar. The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency was represented by the State Director, Mrs. Tracy Ikolomi, who delivered the vote of thanks on behalf of the organizers.
