WARRI/Nigeria: As Delta State marks its 34th anniversary, peace and environmental rights advocate, Comrade (Dr.) Sheriff Mulade, has called on Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to prioritise infrastructure development in riverine communities, which he said have been “deprived and neglected” despite their huge contributions to the state’s economy through oil, gas, and the blue economy.
In a congratulatory message to the Governor and people of Delta ahead of the August 27 celebration, Mulade applauded the relative peace, unity, and progress the state has enjoyed since its creation in 1991. He also commended Oborevwori’s leadership but stressed the need for equitable development across all parts of the state.
“It is exactly 34 years today that Delta State was created, and I celebrate not just our anniversary and togetherness as a people, but also the relative peace, unity, and progress we have witnessed. We celebrate our founding fathers and the grace of God that has kept us as one indivisible state despite our cultural, linguistic, and environmental diversity,” Mulade said.
The Ibe-Serimowei of Gbaramatu Kingdom, however, lamented the continued marginalisation of Ijaw and Itsekiri communities through infrastructural neglect. He urged Oborevwori to emulate former Governor James Ibori, who gave the riverine people a sense of belonging through landmark projects such as the Bomadi and Omadino bridges.
Mulade specifically appealed for the construction of the Ayakoromo Bridge and the Omadino–Okerenkoko–Kokodiagbene road, linking several Ijaw and Itsekiri communities in Burutu and Warri South-West LGAs. According to him, such projects would not only transform the region but also etch Oborevwori’s name “in the heart of Deltans, particularly the Ijaw and Itsekiri people.”
He further recommended the conversion of the Delta State Polytechnic, Burutu—originally established as the School of Marine Technology—into a maritime-focused university or campus of an existing state university, to fully harness the potentials of the blue economy.
On the planned celebrations, Mulade cautioned against wasting taxpayers’ money on “political funfair” and urged the Governor to instead flag off meaningful projects.
“I strongly advise Governor Oborevwori to change the narrative of celebrating state creation with jamborees, which is a waste of resources. He should use Delta @34 to launch economically viable projects such as the Ayakoromo Bridge and Omadino–Okerenkoko–Kokodiagbene road, alongside the recently approved flyovers at Agbor and Ughelli,” Mulade stressed.
While acknowledging ongoing human capital and infrastructural projects in parts of the state, he insisted that riverine communities must also benefit equitably from government investments.
In his goodwill message, Mulade saluted past and present leaders for their contributions to the state’s development and praised Deltans for their resilience and commitment to sustaining the vision of the founding fathers.
