By Sunday Apah
In a colourful and emotionally charged ceremony that underscored deep grassroots appreciation, the people of Aladja community in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State on Friday rolled out the drums to honour Rt. Hon. Rev’d Francis Ejiroghene Waive, Member representing Ughelli North, Ughelli South, Udu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
The well-attended event saw community leaders, political heavyweights and residents hail Waive’s outstanding performance and unanimously endorsed him for a third term, alongside other APC candidates, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on behalf of the community, First Vice President-General of Aladja Community, Prof. Jomata Igben, extolled Waive’s virtues, citing his fencing of Aladja Grammar School, construction of classroom blocks, and his pivotal role in facilitating the appointment of Prof. Kingsley Akaba as Chief Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Ovwian.
Chief Otto Ogbiruveta, a former President of Aladja Community, highlighted the network of roads delivered by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, including Bezi Layout Road and the Aladja Market–Ogbe-Ijoh Road, as further evidence of transformative development in the area.
Chief Jite Brown, Special Adviser to the Governor on Government Affairs, and Hon. Andrew Gbise, Secretary to the Udu Local Government Council, declared that Waive’s extensive interventions across the federal constituency — and Aladja in particular — had made governance easier and more impactful.
In a moving tribute, Prof. Kingsley Akaba, Chief Medical Director of FMC Ovwian, expressed profound gratitude to Waive for facilitating his appointment. “What he has done has generated significant positive social and economic effects,” Akaba said.
“My position as CMD is enormous; this ceremony is almost too small to fully appreciate him. The essence of seeking a third term is to attract even more federal appointments and development.”
Akaba also thanked Governor Oborevwori for creating a favourable environment for the FMC’s take-off and urged the people of Aladja to vote massively for all APC candidates in 2027.
Opinion leaders Chief Richard Tiki Iyede and Chief Ezekiel Owhe, President of Epame and Ayama Communities, praised Waive for securing Akaba’s appointment, noting that FMC Ovwian has become the most functional among the ten newly established centres due to the CMD’s capacity.
President-General of the Union of Udu Communities, Chief Andrew Dokie, thanked Waive for bringing the FMC to Udu, declaring that although Udu had long been in opposition, “come 2027, Udu will speak with one voice.”
Sir Richard Odibo recalled that Waive, a member of the late Senator Fred Brume’s political family, had been introduced to their group when he first contested. “When he sought a third term, I told him it was Udu’s turn — unless he did something extraordinary for us. By the grace of God, he delivered the extraordinary: the Federal Medical Centre,” Odibo stated.
Responding, Waive, visibly moved, declared himself a true son of Aladja, having attended Aladja Grammar School and begun his ministry at Evwrirhe Primary School. “In over seven years in the House of Representatives, I have never received this kind of honour,” he said.
He told Prof. Akaba that he had no regrets facilitating his appointment, adding that the CMD had made him proud. Waive expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for assenting to the FMC Bill and to Governor Oborevwori for ensuring a smooth take-off. “We can thank them better by voting massively for them in 2027,” he declared.
“What Aladja has done today shows that the APC will win Ward 10 one hundred percent. As I return for a third term, I promise to do even more for the benefit of Aladja people and the entire constituency,” Waive vowed.
The high point of the ceremony was the cutting of a specially designed cake to commemorate the historic occasion.
Among the top dignitaries present were DTHA Member-elect for Udu Constituency, Hon. Ator Okolosi; APC candidate for DTHA Udu Constituency, Hon. Benjamin Sharta; and Mr. Ricardo Oguma, APC candidate for DTHA Ughelli South Constituency II, among other political stakeholders.
