Warri–Effurun–Sapele Road: Ex-CDHR Chair hails Oborevwori’s infrastructure drive, faults past Governors

A former Chairman of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) in Delta State, Comrade (Elder) A. P. Edariese, has commended Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for what he described as significant infrastructural development strides across the state.

Edariese made the remarks on Sunday while speaking with journalists at his residence in Owhase, Udu Local Government Area, as part of activities marking his 79th birthday celebration.

“I want to commend the Governor specially for his infrastructural development activities. He has made it known that money can change the face of anything,” Edariese said, adding that Warri, once the most developed area in Delta State, became neglected under previous administrations.

According to him, “The first, James Ibori, second Uduaghan, third, Okowa. All of them abandoned Warri and made it become a place like a rural village that’s just coming up. But with the coming of Oborevwori, even those who are sleeping in the village, they are telling the story everywhere.”

He noted that Governor Oborevwori’s projects cut across ethnic and geographical lines, saying, “He is not doing it only in Warri area. Urhobo are here. He is doing it everywhere in the state.” Edariese said he would rate the governor “85 per cent pass mark as the best governor Delta State has had on infrastructural development,” while praying for continuity.

The former CDHR chairman also expressed confidence that Oborevwori would win the 2027 governorship election and secure a second term in office.

However, Edariese urged the governor to complement infrastructure development with deliberate investment in human capital development, insisting that roads and bridges alone could not sustain livelihoods. “People cannot feed on bridges. People cannot feed on roads,” he said, stressing the need for job creation for the growing number of graduates in the state.

He called for the revival of moribund industries such as Delta Steel Company, AT&P and the Glass Factory in Ughelli, saying their absence had worsened youth unemployment. “There are no industries, no large-scale farming. We have nothing put in place where they can be absorbed into,” he stated.

Edariese also appealed to President Bola Tinubu to prioritise industrialisation nationwide, warning that continued neglect would leave graduates stranded. “Imagine you finished from university and you have no place to work. If one job is advertised, they will say they need 25 years’ experience. Where did the person get that experience?” he asked, calling for urgent action to provide employment opportunities for Nigerian youths.