The Kaduna State Police Command says it has recorded significant breakthroughs in the last month, with the arrest of a suspected gun runner, three bandit kingpins, and a gang linked to armed robbery and rape around Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
Commissioner of Police, CP Rabiu Muhammad, disclosed this during a press briefing at the Command Headquarters in Kaduna. He said the operations reflect the Command’s shift to intelligence-led policing and closer collaboration with communities and sister agencies.
The most dramatic seizure happened on August 25 at about 9pm. Operatives from Sabon Gari Division responded to a distress call from Yan’Karfe Motor Park in Zaria after a man was seen struggling with a sack of potatoes.
Inside the sack, police found two AK-49 rifles, 228 rounds of RPG ammunition, 275 rounds of 7.62mm AK-47 ammunition, five AK-47 magazines, and quantities of suspected hard drugs. The suspect, Kenneth, 39, from Delta State, is in custody.
A day earlier, on August 24, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit acting on credible intelligence arrested three suspected bandits at Audu Jangwam along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway.
They were identified as Ibrahim Muhammad alias Alti, 25, from Adamawa State, Usman Tukur alias Mallam, 27, from Zamfara State, and Hassan Alhaji Salisu alias Tagwaye, 23, from Gusau LGA, Zamfara State. During interrogation, they confessed to operating in Millennium City and other suburbs of Kaduna.
The Command also traced and arrested Gideon Martins, 32, of Jay-Jay Street, Sabon Tasha, on July 22. A search of the suspect yielded one locally made double-barrel gun, one handcuff, one live 9mm round, two cartridges, a POS machine, a drilling machine, and assorted security uniforms.
On August 25, police on stop-and-search duty along Kachia Road intercepted a motorcyclist with a sack. The sack contained 134 rounds of live AK-47 ammunition. The rider told investigators he was conveying the consignment on the orders of a notorious bandit known as Yellow Mai-million.
In another operation on August 15 along the Zaria-Kano Expressway, operatives sighted men loading items into an unregistered Volkswagen Golf. The occupants fled on sighting police, abandoning 11 sacks of dried leaves suspected to be cannabis. A manhunt for the suspects has begun.
The Command, working with ABU Security and the CJTF, also broke a syndicate behind a wave of armed robbery and rape in communities behind ABU Zaria. Three men were arrested on August 15 following distress calls from Rafin Tukurwa Village.
The suspects are Jamilu Yau alias Jagwa, 20, Abdullahi Hamisu alias Maikudi Santsi, 25, both of Tudun Natsira, and Sani Abubakar alias Gaye, 20, of Rafin Tukurwa.
According to police, Jagwa and Gaye confessed to multiple attacks in Gidan Kira, Magata and Gidan Maranta villages where victims were robbed at knifepoint and sexually assaulted. They said they used a “grave stick” charm allegedly supplied by Maikudi Santsi. More victims and village heads have since reported similar cases against Santsi.
In Kajuru LGA, a 27-year-old man, Barnabas Amale of Iburu Village, was arrested on August 19 after threatening farmers with a pistol during an attempted phone theft in Idon-Gida. Investigation linked him to Victor Patrick, 37, who police say collected the firearm from one Oyou Movel, now at large.
The Command also recovered a white Toyota Hilux, registration DKA 174 LY, belonging to the Kaduna State Water Board. The vehicle was stolen from Ungwan Rimi on August 18 and tracked to Kano State, where the thieves abandoned it and escaped.
On August 26, operatives arrested Abdullahi Abubakar and Shehu Sani, both from Makera, Kajuru LGA, over the armed robbery and vandalism of the Infectious Disease Centre in Mando. Police said the gang scaled the fence, tied up five security guards, and vandalized a transformer.
CP Muhammad said the Metropolitan Area Command and the Task Force have intensified patrols and raids on criminal hideouts to cut off movement and logistics for bandits, robbers and kidnappers.
He condemned attacks on public infrastructure as sabotage against public health and safety, and urged residents to protect government facilities in their communities and provide timely information to police.
The Commissioner made a direct appeal to the judiciary to allow police to parade suspects arrested with exhibits. He argued that public parade deters crime and informs communities about police efforts.
CP Muhammad thanked the Inspector General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, and Governor Senator Uba Sani for support, and commended Kaduna residents for information that led to the arrests. He said all suspects will be charged to court at the conclusion of investigations.
In a dramatic political twist in Delta State, hundreds of top-ranking members of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and several other opposition parties on Sunday 30th August, 2026 defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Erhuwaren community, Ughelli South Local Government Area of the state.
The mass exodus, described by observers as a a decisive realignments, unfolded during a high-powered unity meeting hosted by two of the party’s influential figures in the area.
The landmark gathering, convened under the leadership of Olorogun Johnson Boro, the undisputed APC leader in the community, and co-hosted by Olorogun Kakor Ese, Director-General of the Delta State Local Content Agency, transformed into a full-blown endorsement spectacle.
In a show of overwhelming solidarity, the newly expanded APC family in Erhuwaren unanimously threw its weight behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori for Governor of Delta State, Senator Ede Dafinone for the Delta Central Senatorial District, Rt. Hon. Francis Ejiroghene Waive for the Ughelli North/Ughelli South/Udu Federal Constituency, and Hon. Festus Utuama for the Delta State House of Assembly seat in Ughelli South Constituency I.
Olorogun Johnson Boro, addressing the charged crowd with characteristic intensity, unveiled the strategic purpose of the meeting.
He declared that the time had come for genuine progressives to abandon sinking opposition vessels and board the only ship capable of delivering sustainable development, security and prosperity to Erhuwaren and beyond.
Boro thundered that the APC under Tinubu and Oborevwori had proven itself as the sole platform with both the vision and the machinery to transform the fortunes of the people, warning that continued stay in fragmented opposition parties amounted to political suicide.
On his part, Olorogun Kakor Ese delivered a blistering assessment of the opposition’s failures, describing the mass defection as the inevitable consequence of empty promises and leadership bankruptcy.
He emphasised that the APC’s unmatched track record in local content development, infrastructure delivery and youth empowerment had left no room for doubt.
Kakor insisted that only a united APC front could guarantee the community’s rightful place in the unfolding new political order in Delta State and at the federal level.
The atmosphere reached fever pitch when Hon. Christiana Umukoro rose to move a formal motion for the endorsement of the entire APC ticket.
Her motion, delivered with measured force and unwavering conviction, was swiftly and thunderously seconded by Apostle Peter Egodomroren, triggering prolonged ovation and chants of solidarity across the venue. The motion was adopted by acclamation, sealing what party chieftains described as an irreversible political realignment.
Party leaders present hailed the development as a crushing blow to opposition ranks and a clear signal that the APC’s grassroots machinery in Ughelli South remains unassailable.
Several of the defecting NDC and ADC heavyweights, speaking under the weight of the moment, confessed that the compelling leadership of Boro and Kakor for attracting street lights to the community and the developmental credentials of the APC had left them with no alternative but to cross the floor in the interest of their people.
As the meeting drew to a close under a canopy of renewed optimism, both Olorogun Johnson Boro and Olorogun Kakor Ese reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining the momentum.
They pledged to convert the massive influx of new members into an unbreakable electoral fortress, warning that any attempt to reverse the tide of progressive politics in the community would be met with organised and decisive resistance.
A distinguished stalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Engineer Oghenerukevwe Edisi, has unequivocally lauded the appointment of Honourable Stella Okotete, Executive Director of Business Development at the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM Bank), as Secretary of the Election Planning, Coordination and Mobilisation Directorate of the 2027 APC Presidential Campaign Council.
The commendation, articulated in a formal statement released on Friday, 28 August 2026, underscores the profound significance of this elevation within the party’s strategic hierarchy.
In the carefully worded pronouncement, Engineer Edisi characterised the appointment as an unambiguous affirmation of Okotete’s exemplary dedication, professional competence and unshakeable allegiance to the progressive tenets that define the APC.
He emphasised that her selection reflects the party’s discerning recognition of individuals whose proven track records align seamlessly with its overarching mission of national advancement and democratic consolidation.
The statement further elaborates that Okotete’s extensive reservoir of experience, coupled with her demonstrable aptitude for meticulous strategic coordination, is poised to exert a decisive and constructive influence upon the campaign’s operational efficacy.
Engineer Edisi expressed unwavering confidence that these attributes will substantially fortify the collective endeavour of the party to entrench good governance and deliver tangible dividends of democracy to the Nigerian populace.
Highlighting the gravity of the responsibility entrusted to her, Edisi invoked divine intercession, praying that the Almighty God bestow upon Okotete the requisite wisdom, fortitude and favour indispensable for the successful discharge of this pivotal assignment. Such spiritual endorsement, he implied, remains indispensable amid the intricate demands of national electoral mobilisation.
The appointment positions Okotete at the epicentre of the APC’s preparatory architecture for the 2027 presidential contest, a role that demands both intellectual rigour and organisational prowess.
Her concurrent stewardship at NEXIM Bank, where she oversees critical business development initiatives, further amplifies the institutional credibility she brings to the campaign apparatus.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu officially inaugurated Mr. Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan as the new Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF) on Thursday.
Enitan assumes the role following the retirement of Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who concluded her service upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 60.
The concise swearing-in event, held at the State House in Abuja, marked the official start of Mr. Enitan’s leadership as the nation’s chief administrative officer.
President Tinubu had announced Enitan’s selection as the new Head of Service on August 19, 2026, recognizing him as the most senior Permanent Secretary.
The former HoCSF, Mrs. Walson-Jack, attended the ceremony alongside her husband, Hon. Nimi Walson-Jack. Also present were Mrs. Olawunmi Ololade Enitan, wife of the new Head of Service, and Mr. Peter Fashedemi, the Permanent Secretary of the State House.
President Tinubu extended his congratulations to the newly appointed Head of Service, emphasizing the importance of upholding the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, accountability, and efficiency within the Nigerian Civil Service.
Born on December 12, 1966, the new leader of the Federal Civil Service hails from Osun State. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Lagos and a Master’s in Public Policy Analysis from Nasarawa State University, Keffi.
His career in the Federal Civil Service began in 1998 as a Senior Operations Officer at the now-defunct Family Economic Advancement Programme (FEAP).
Enitan’s career also included service at the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs before his assignment to the Office of the Vice President in the State House. There, he progressed from Chief Administrative Officer to Director between 2010 and 2018.
He was appointed Permanent Secretary in December 2018, initially serving at the Federal Civil Service Commission. Subsequently, he held positions in the Ministries of Environment, Police Affairs, Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, and Education, leading up to his current appointment as HoCSF.
On August 27, 1991, Delta State was carved out of the old Bendel State by the military administration of General Ibrahim Babangida.
Thirty-five years later, on this same date in 2026, the “Big Heart” of Nigeria stands as a testament to resilience, unity, and progressive leadership.
From a fledgling entity with 12 local government areas to a vibrant state of 25 LGAs, with Asaba as its thriving capital and Warri as its commercial heartbeat, Delta has journeyed through decades of political evolution, economic challenges, and developmental strides.
Today, as Deltans mark this milestone, the spotlight shines brightly on the administration of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, who assumed office on May 29, 2023.
Under his M.O.R.E. Agenda—Meaningful Development, Opportunities for All, Realistic Reforms, and Enhanced Peace and Security—the state has witnessed an unprecedented surge in infrastructure, human capital investment, and inclusive governance.
This feature chronicles the completed and ongoing projects that define his tenure, celebrates the state’s 35-year journey, and makes a compelling case for why Oborevwori deserves a second term to consolidate these gains.
The Foundation: Understanding the M.O.R.E. Agenda
The M.O.R.E. Agenda is not mere campaign rhetoric. It emerged from extensive grassroots consultations during Oborevwori’s time as Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly and his subsequent governorship campaign. Meaningful Development prioritises projects with lasting impact—roads that connect communities, bridges that open riverine areas, and facilities that improve daily lives.
Opportunities for All seeks shared prosperity through education, skills training, job creation, and social interventions. Realistic Reforms focus on institutional strengthening, fiscal prudence, and public service efficiency.
Enhanced Peace and Security underpins everything, recognising that development thrives only in a stable environment.
Three years into implementation, the results are visible across the three senatorial districts. Independent assessments, including Delta’s ranking as the second-best governed state in the 2025 Commonwealth Institute of Advanced and Professional Studies Governance Performance Index, affirm the progress.
Internally Generated Revenue rose significantly from ₦83 billion in 2023 to ₦158 billion in 2024, while the state’s debt profile declined substantially.
The 2026 budget, tagged the “Budget of Accelerating the MORE Agenda,” allocates about 70 per cent—over ₦1.16 trillion of a total exceeding ₦1.7 trillion—to capital projects, a historic prioritisation of long-term investment.
Infrastructure Revolution: Roads, Bridges, and Connectivity
Nowhere is the transformation more evident than in infrastructure. The administration has pursued an aggressive programme of road and bridge construction, with figures consistently cited in the range of over 500 to more than 600 projects spanning roughly 1,500 kilometres of roads and about 950 kilometres of drainage.
The Ministry of Works was strategically split into Highways/Urban Roads and Rural/Riverine Roads to accelerate delivery across urban centres and remote communities.
Signature achievements include the near-completion and dualisation of the Ughelli-Asaba corridor, a critical artery linking Delta North and Central that has dramatically reduced travel times and boosted commerce.
The Trans-Warri–Ode-Itsekiri project, dormant for nearly two decades since its original award around 2006, was revived and completed as a 20.95-kilometre corridor featuring 15 bridges of varying spans.
It now connects about 10 communities in Warri South-West, allowing residents—including traditional rulers—to access “Big Warri” by road for the first time in living memory. Economic activity in these once-isolated riverine areas has surged as farmers, traders, and fisherfolk gain easier market access.
Flyovers and interchanges are reshaping urban mobility. A major ₦78 billion contract with Julius Berger Nigeria Plc covers critical interventions in the Warri-Effurun axis: the PTI Junction Flyover, DSC Roundabout Flyover, Enerhen Junction Flyover, and associated road expansions, cloverleaf interchanges, and pedestrian bridges.
Several of these are already functional or nearing completion, easing chronic congestion in the twin cities that form the state’s economic powerhouse.
Additional flyovers at Otovwodo Junction in Ughelli (valued at around ₦39.3 billion) and Uromi Junction in Agbor (about ₦59.7 billion) address notorious accident-prone and bottleneck points, improving safety and travel efficiency toward the North and other regions.
In the riverine and rural heartlands, bridges such as the Beneku Bridge linking Ndokwa East and West, the progressing Orere Bridge (over 82 per cent complete at earlier reports, with a 500-metre span across the Orere River plus access roads), and the ongoing Ayakoromo Bridge (connecting communities in Burutu to Ughelli South) are opening previously water-dependent areas.
Completed or advanced roads include the Ohoror-Bomadi Road (around 31 kilometres), Emevor-Orogun Road (Phase I completed and inaugurated, Phase II advancing), Okpanam-Ibusa Bypass in the capital territory, Upper and Lower Erejuwa roads in Warri, Obi-Ibabu/Ibabu Road, Utagba-Uno/Ndemili Road segments, and numerous internal roads in Asaba, Ughelli, Sapele, Agbor, and local government headquarters.
Flood-control and drainage works, including phases of the Airport Road and related projects in Asaba and Warri, protect homes and businesses from perennial flooding.
These are not isolated vanity projects. Each kilometre of road and every bridge shortens travel times, lowers transport costs for agricultural produce and goods, stimulates local markets, and integrates once-marginalised communities into the state’s economic mainstream. Residents in places like Emevor, Ijaghala, Kantu, Orere, and Ndokwa communities speak of transformed daily lives—farmers reaching markets faster, children attending school more reliably, and traders expanding their reach.
Human Capital: Education and Skills for the Future
Meaningful Development extends beyond asphalt and concrete to people. In education, the administration has renovated and upgraded hundreds of public primary and secondary schools—classroom blocks, roofing, furniture, laboratories, ICT centres, and perimeter fencing—benefiting over 400 schools in recent reporting periods.
Thousands of teaching and non-teaching staff have been recruited to address shortages and improve instructional quality. Bursaries exceeding ₦1 billion have supported over 60,000 tertiary students of Delta origin across multiple academic sessions, including those in Nigerian Law School and previously excluded institutions.
Technical and vocational education has received particular emphasis. Model Technical Colleges, such as those in Omadino (Warri South) and Oghareki (Ethiope West), alongside institutions like Irri Technical College, equip youths with practical skills for employment and entrepreneurship.
At the tertiary level, Southern Delta University (Ozoro) has seen campus expansion at Orerokpe, new faculty buildings, lecture theatres, and a Faculty/College of Health Sciences.
Governing councils have been constituted for the University of Delta (Agbor), Dennis Osadebay University (Asaba), and Southern Delta University to strengthen governance.
The three newer state universities have produced their first graduation cycles, adding skilled graduates to the workforce. Salary reviews of 25–35 per cent for tertiary staff and sustained funding of polytechnics, colleges of education, nursing and midwifery institutions, and the School of Marine Technology, Burutu, underscore the commitment to quality higher education.
These investments yield dividends: higher enrolment, reduced academic migration, improved learning environments, and a pipeline of skilled manpower ready for Delta’s diversifying economy.
Healthcare That Reaches the People
Health is another pillar of transformation. Over 150 primary healthcare centres have undergone renovation, reconstruction, or upgrade across all 25 local government areas, with modern equipment—CT scanners, MRI machines, dialysis units, incubators, and 25 state-of-the-art 4D ultrasound scanners—distributed statewide. General hospitals and tertiary facilities, including Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH) in Oghara and Asaba Specialist Hospital, have received facility upgrades and specialised equipment, enabling advanced services such as sustained low-efficiency dialysis and hemodiafiltration.
The College of Health Technology in Ovrode (Isoko North), complete with an access road, stands as a landmark institution for training health personnel, alongside existing facilities in Ofuoma-Ughelli and the College of Health Sciences at Southern Delta University. Hundreds of healthcare workers, including house officers, have been recruited.
The Delta State Contributory Health Insurance Scheme has expanded dramatically, with enrolment figures climbing into the millions and equity injections supporting participating hospitals. Free medical care for expectant mothers and children under five continues, while awards such as recognition from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for primary healthcare underscore the quality of interventions.
These efforts reduce the burden of medical tourism, improve outcomes for ordinary families, and build a healthier, more productive population.
Economic Opportunities, Welfare, and Security
Opportunities for All manifest in social investment programmes reaching hundreds of thousands of direct beneficiaries (with broader indirect impact), market infrastructure such as the completed Ozoro Modern Market ready for commissioning, and efforts to improve power supply through transmission line rehabilitation and substation revival in areas like Emevor-Ozoro.
Zenith Bank’s expansion of branches, including in Osubi, signals growing investor confidence. Civil service welfare has improved through the construction and inauguration of 12 four-bedroom duplexes for permanent secretaries (plus earlier units for commissioners), accompanying internal roads and drainage that remediated flooding and erosion, and the presentation of official vehicles. Salary adjustments, prompt payment of salaries and pensions, clearance of arrears, a planned 13th-month salary with legal backing, and recruitment ensuring representation across local governments demonstrate Realistic Reforms in public administration.
Enhanced Peace and Security includes the restructuring of Operation Delta Sweep, plans for divisional police infrastructure, and broader initiatives that create an enabling environment for investment and daily life. Fiscal prudence—higher IGR, lower debt—provides the foundation for sustained delivery without abandoning projects.
Celebrating 35 Years and Looking Ahead
As Governor Oborevwori congratulated Deltans on the 35th anniversary, he paid tribute to past leaders, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil servants, the private sector, and the people whose collective efforts built the state.
He affirmed that Delta has entered a new era of sustainable growth and that the shining years lie ahead. Speaker Emomotimi Guwor similarly highlighted peace, unity, and human capital as the state’s greatest assets, noting the spread of over 500 projects across the senatorial districts under the MORE Agenda.
The scale of completed and ongoing works—roads and bridges in every zone, schools and health facilities upgraded, technical colleges and university campuses expanded, civil servants better housed and equipped—demonstrates balanced, people-oriented governance.
Challenges remain, as in any large state with diverse terrains and needs, yet the trajectory is clear: development is reaching upland and riverine communities alike, urban congestion is being tackled, and human capital is being prioritised.
For a second term, the logic is straightforward. Continuity will allow the completion of major flyovers, bridges, and road networks; the full operationalisation of new educational and health institutions; the deepening of economic diversification and social programmes; and the further strengthening of security and institutions.
Abandoning or disrupting this momentum risks unfinished projects and lost gains. Deltans who have seen concrete results—shorter travel times, better schools, improved health access, functional markets, and tangible welfare improvements—have every reason to renew the mandate in 2027 so that the MORE Agenda can deliver its full promise.
On this 35th anniversary, Delta State stands stronger, more connected, and more hopeful. Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s leadership has translated vision into visible transformation.
Sustaining that leadership offers the surest path to consolidating the gains of the past three years and building the greater possibilities he has promised for the decades ahead. The Big Heart beats with renewed vigour—ready for more.
Olorogun Sunday Apah Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Delta State on Media
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has stressed that tackling poverty and social inequality is essential to addressing the root causes of insecurity and instability in Nigeria.
Governor Zulum spoke at the official launch of the $1 billion Household Prosperity and Empowerment Social Protection Project (HOPE-SP), themed “From Palliative to Pathways,” organised by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.
The programme was unveiled by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, at the Banquet Hall, State House, Abuja.
The Governor commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the initiative, describing it as a critical intervention capable of tackling some of the underlying socio-economic drivers of insecurity and insurgency in Nigeria.
He noted that poverty, illiteracy and social inequality are among the root causes of insurgency and insecurity in various parts of the world, including Nigeria, adding that military and other kinetic measures alone cannot fully end insurgency.
“The kinetic measures alone will not end the insurgency. Addressing the socio-economic and political dimensions of the crisis is critical to addressing insecurity challenges in Nigeria,” Zulum said.
He assured the Federal Government that subnational governments would provide the necessary support to help the programme achieve its objectives.
The Governor however identified poor implementation, particularly flawed beneficiary selection, as one of the major challenges confronting social intervention programmes worldwide.
He urged the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction and its implementing agencies to ensure beneficiaries are selected using clearly defined vulnerability criteria that promote transparency, inclusivity and fairness.
“I want to call upon the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to ensure that targeted beneficiaries are selected based on certain vulnerability criteria that will ensure inclusivity,” he said.
Governor Zulum congratulated the Federal Government, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, and the implementing agencies for the initiative, expressing optimism that it would make a meaningful difference in the lives of vulnerable Nigerians.
The HOPE-SP programme is designed to strengthen Nigeria’s social protection system by shifting from short-term palliative interventions to sustainable pathways out of poverty.
Speaking on behalf of Nigerian governors, Zulum stressed that lasting peace and security require interventions that go beyond immediate humanitarian assistance to address the underlying conditions that leave individuals and communities vulnerable.
The event was attended by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard M. Doro; the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu; and other prominent personalities.
Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has extended heartfelt congratulations to the people of Delta as the state commemorates its 35th anniversary of creation, affirming that the polity has now stepped into a transformative age marked by enduring progress, robust development and widespread prosperity.
In a statement released through his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, in Asaba, the Governor characterised the milestone as a pivotal chapter in Delta’s historical trajectory.
He observed that the preceding three and a half decades have been shaped by the people’s unyielding resilience, steadfast solidarity and concerted endeavours.
Oborevwori paid glowing tribute to former leaders, traditional rulers, religious authorities, public servants, captains of industry and every Deltan whose contributions have propelled the state’s advancement since its establishment on 27 August 1991.
He reiterated that his administration remains resolutely dedicated to consolidating the gains of preceding governments through citizen-centred policies, comprehensive infrastructural revitalisation, broadened economic horizons and participatory governance.
The Governor noted that the sweeping metamorphosis currently unfolding across the state stands as tangible evidence of his government’s determination to realise the tangible benefits of democratic rule and to open pathways of opportunity for all residents.
He called upon citizens to preserve their unity and sustain support for the administration’s developmental blueprint, expressing confidence that Delta’s most illustrious years still lie ahead.
“As we mark 35 years of our beloved state today, we are compelled to recall the sacrifices, devotion and foresight of those who have forged Delta into what it is. The radiant era of Delta State has arrived, and in concert we shall construct a tomorrow of still greater promise,” he declared.
The Governor conveyed warm anniversary greetings to Deltans both within the state and in the diaspora, while urging a renewed pledge to peace, cohesion and shared responsibility in propelling the state forward.
Political heavyweights and leading business figures from Delta State assembled on Wednesday in Isiokolo, Ethiope East Local Government Area, for the traditional wedding of Innocent, son of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, to Tobore Arigbodi, daughter of Chief Brodericks Arigbodi, Managing Director of Librod Energy Limited.
The elaborate rite, performed at the Arigbodi family country home strictly according to Urhobo customary practices, drew an array of high-ranking politicians, corporate leaders, traditional authorities and other distinguished guests from within the state and beyond.
Notable attendees included Delta State Deputy Governor Sir Monday Onyeme; former governors Chief James Ibori and Senator Ifeanyi Okowa; Senator Ede Dafinone; the Emir of Zazzau, His Highness Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, CFR; Hon. Francis Waive; Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor; and Niger Delta Development Commission Chairman Chiedu Ebie.
Also in attendance were prominent industrialists such as Chief Victor Egukawhore, Chief Eta Enahoro, Chief Tunde Smooth, Chief Johnbull Ejovi, Chief Tony Oboroh and Chief John Oguma, together with members of the State House of Assembly, commissioners, local government chairmen, senior government officials, politicians and other eminent personalities.
The occasion presented a vivid exhibition of Urhobo heritage as the two families formally sealed the union of their children through traditional rites, music and dance.
Governor Oborevwori and his wife, Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori, alongside the bride’s parents, Chief Brodericks Arigbodi and his spouse, received guests with evident joy and exchanged warm greetings with the assembled dignitaries.
Festivities intensified when Port Harcourt-based musician Duncan Mighty took the stage, delighting the audience with his well-known repertoire.
The broad cross-section of political, commercial and social leaders present highlighted the extensive networks and mutual esteem surrounding the Oborevwori and Arigbodi families.
Guests offered prayers for the newly wedded couple, invoking a prosperous marriage, lasting peace and enduring happiness as they embark on their shared future.
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has warned against the growing politicisation and weaponisation of religion in Nigeria’s electoral process, cautioning political actors and religious leaders against exploiting faith to manipulate voters, suppress critical thinking and divert attention from issues of governance and development.
In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, CISLAC said the increasing use of religious platforms to mobilise political support poses a danger to Nigeria’s democracy, national cohesion and peaceful coexistence.
CISLAC said political campaigns should be centred on critical development priorities, including healthcare, education, infrastructure, poverty reduction, employment, security and accountability, rather than religious sentiments and partisan endorsements.
The organisation expressed particular concern over reports of large gatherings of religious leaders in parts of the North to endorse political figures and parties, including reported instances linked to political activities in Plateau and Jigawa States.
According to CISLAC, such practices risk reducing religious authority to an instrument of political patronage and electoral mobilisation.
“Religious leadership is a position of trust and moral guidance, not a commercial platform for vote canvassing or the promotion of political violence and intimidation,” CISLAC said.
The organisation urged religious leaders to resist attempts by politicians to exploit their influence and instead use their platforms to demand accountability, justice, competent leadership and improved welfare for citizens.
CISLAC also condemned the alleged intimidation of residents in Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, where individuals were reportedly threatened with eviction if they failed to vote for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The organisation described such alleged threats as a serious assault on citizens’ constitutional rights to freely choose their political representatives, participate in elections and reside peacefully in their communities.
“No political party, candidate or individual has the right to demand exclusive political loyalty from citizens under the threat of expulsion, intimidation or violence,” CISLAC stated.
Rafsanjani called on the Federal Government, state governments, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and other relevant regulatory authorities to take decisive measures against the use of religious institutions and leaders for electoral manipulation, inducement, intimidation and the dissemination of falsehoods.
CISLAC further urged political parties and candidates to embrace issue-based campaigns and subject themselves to scrutiny on their records, policies, competence and capacity to deliver good governance.
The organisation also appealed to citizens to reject attempts to use religion or ethnicity as a substitute for political accountability, stressing that religious sentiments should not blind voters to the pressing socioeconomic challenges confronting their communities.
CISLAC warned that the continued commercialisation and weaponisation of religion for electoral gain could deepen divisions, undermine democratic institutions and threaten peaceful coexistence across the country.
It reaffirmed its commitment to monitoring electoral developments and advocating for a democratic culture rooted in competence, transparency, accountability and the genuine interests of the Nigerian people.
Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, has described the outgoing Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, as a thoroughbred technocrat whose experience and contributions to advancing Nigeria’s civil service are invaluable.
The Governor made the remarks on Tuesday at the official launch of Walson-Jack’s two books, “Beyond the Mandate” and “I Planted,” held at the Abuja Continental Hotel, in celebration of her distinguished 34-year public service career.
Zulum commended Walson-Jack for her remarkable commitment and contributions during her service in Cross River State, Bayelsa State, and the Federal Civil Service, stressing that her retirement should not be seen as the end of her service to the nation, but as the beginning of a new chapter in which her knowledge, experience, and relationships can continue to benefit the country.
“You are retiring from an office, not from service. The knowledge, relationships and experience accumulated over more than three decades will remain invaluable national assets,” Zulum said.
He encouraged her to continue contributing to national development through mentorship, policy development, and other avenues of public service.
In recognition of her contributions and the significance of the books, Zulum announced that the Borno State Government would purchase 100 copies at a cost of ₦30 million.
The Governor wished Walson-Jack good health, fulfilment, and continued impact as she begins this new chapter, commending her for documenting her experiences and the lessons drawn from decades of distinguished service.
The high-profile event drew prominent Nigerians, including former President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan; former Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Seriake Dickson; Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri; National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; the wife of former Head of State, Mrs Ajoke Murtala Mohammed; alongside other senior government officials, public servants, dignitaries, family members, and well-wishers.
