Ibori, Oyovbaire: Great Leaders With Midas Touch – Oghenesivbe. …Says Ibori Pioneered Resource Control For Oil Producing States, Urhobo Nation Political Emancipation.

LAGOS/Nigeria: Immediate past Executive Assistant to the governor of Delta State on Communications, Dr Fred Oghenesivbe has described former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori and former federal minister of information, Prof Sam Oyovbaire as role models, mentors, charismatic and consummate leaders with midas touch.

Oghenesivbe in a birthday anniversary goodwill message to the duo and made available to newsmen in Lagos said Ibori, it was, who doggedly championed the advocacy for resource control for oil producing States and communities during his tenure as governor of Delta State and Chairman of South-South Governors Forum, adding that Ibori succeeded in reawakening the political consciousness of Urhobo people of Delta Central during his tenure as governor of the state.

He said Ibori’s visionary leadership and visible penchant for the economic transformation and development of the Niger Delta Region, resulted in the implementation of the 13% derivation which the federal government currently pay to all oil producing States in the country, pointing that in the same token the former governor took Urhobo ethnic nationality through genuine political emancipation and raised future leaders in Delta Central and across the state.

Oghenesivbe, recalled with nostalgia how Ibori brought strategic and enduring innovations to governance, pioneered and encouraged rotation of state political power among the three senatorial districts of Delta Central, South and North in that order; making it genuinely possible for equity, unity and good conscience to prevail throughout the state political landscape, a development which other states in the country are trying to emulate but still unable to achieve the Ibori legacy in Delta.

“Chief Ibori, galvanized the entire State politically, and established political empire that have been grooming present and future political leaders across the three senatorial districts; and inculcated uncommon leadership skills on new generation of leaders who today celebrates his landmark achievements,  political sagacity, inestimable electioneering craftsmanship and leadership ingenuity,” Oghenesivbe said.

In the same vein, the former EA Communications to governor Okowa posited that Prof Oyovbaire, known as the father of government in Delta State, has paid his dues as one of the foremost leaders, who over the years brought sanity and equity into broad based political union among Deltans, and as such was able to point the way forward for upcoming politicians, youths and potential leaders to follow.

Oghenesivbe, a fellow of the Civilian Institute of Democratic Administration, FCIDA and full member, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), lauded the superb integrity, forthrightness, sincerity of purpose and fatherly role of Prof Oyovbaire, in the affairs of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, and for his inestimable contributions, genuine consistent support and strategic roles he has been playing since governor Okowa assumed office on May 29, 2015, and still counting.

“The enviable track records and leadership pedigree of the duo of Chief Ibori and Prof Oyovbaire, remained true expressions of selfless service to the people which is why they have been accepted as role models, mentors and political bridge builders by all and sundry. Their highly detribalised postures shall continue to position them in the front role of leadership assembly, laud ovations in our sociopolitical milieu.

“I humbly and respectfully join our  state party leader, His Excellency Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, to rejoice with our amiable national leader, Chief Ibori and father of Delta government, Prof Oyovbaire, on the occasion of their birthdays, Saturday August 3, 2019.

“I pray God to grant them excellent health, long life and more wisdom to continue to lead us aright, especially as government commences the steady implementation of governor Okowa’s Stronger Delta Agenda,” Oghenesivbe added.