ASABA/Nigeria: The Chief Press Secretary to the Delta State Governor, Sir Festus Ahon, has dismissed recent comments by former Ethiope West Local Government Chairman and APC chieftain, Chief Wilson Omene, describing his criticisms of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration as ill-informed, misleading, and politically motivated.
Chief Omene, in a recent interview on Rero TV, had dismissed the ongoing construction of flyovers in Warri and Effurun as disconnected from economic priorities and also faulted the governor’s defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Responding in a statement on Saturday, Ahon defended the infrastructural projects as strategic investments in urban mobility and economic stimulation. He said the flyovers, road expansions, and interchange were designed to ease traffic congestion in Warri and Effurun, major commercial hubs in the state, and to unlock the region’s economic potential.
“These are not cosmetic projects,” Ahon stated. “They are long-term infrastructure aimed at improving ease of doing business and opening up the gateway cities to greater private-sector participation. Chief Omene may need to revisit the definition of enabling business environment.”
He emphasized that Warri and Effurun serve a critical population and act as economic corridors connecting ports, industries, and the hinterland, adding that the benefits of these projects far exceed parochial interests.
Reacting to Omene’s claim that the funds should have been used to establish industries in Delta Central, Ahon described the comment as narrow-minded and unreflective of the governor’s responsibility to all parts of the state.
“Governor Oborevwori is the governor of Delta State, not just Delta Central. His M.O.R.E Agenda, Meaningful Development, Opportunities for All, Realistic Reforms, and Enhanced Peace and Security, is being implemented equitably across Delta North, Central, and South,” Ahon said.
On the governor’s alignment with the APC, Ahon explained that the move followed extensive consultations with stakeholders and was intended to attract greater federal collaboration for the state’s development.
“Governor Oborevwori’s decision to join the APC was not driven by personal ambition but by a desire to strengthen Delta’s access to federal resources and partnerships,” he said. “Omene is merely echoing the frustrations of those threatened by the governor’s strategic move.”
Sir Ahon urged Chief Omene and other critics to embrace constructive engagement rather than divisive rhetoric, reiterating that the current administration remains focused on inclusive growth, infrastructure renewal, and building legacies for future generations.
“Criticism is welcome when it is informed and intended to move the state forward,” Ahon said. “Otherwise, it becomes a distraction from the real work of governance and development.”
