Renowned peace and environmental rights advocate, Comrade Sheriff Mulade, PhD, has urged Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to prioritise the infrastructural development of Delta State’s riverine communities as the state marks its 34th anniversary on August 27, 2025.
In a goodwill message, Mulade congratulated Governor Oborevwori and Deltans on the milestone, commending the relative peace, unity, and progress recorded since the state was created in 1991.
He, however, lamented what he described as the systematic neglect of riverine communities, predominantly Ijaw and Itsekiri, despite their huge contributions to the state’s economy through oil, gas, and the blue economy.
“It is exactly 34 years today that Delta State was created. We celebrate our founding fathers, the peace we have enjoyed, and the progress made.
However, it is unfortunate that the riverine areas remain deprived and marginalised despite their enormous resource contributions,” Mulade said.
The Ibe-Serimowei of Gbaramatu Kingdom appealed to Governor Oborevwori to emulate former Governor James Onanefe Ibori, whom he credited as the only leader that gave a sense of belonging to riverine communities by constructing the Bomadi and Omadino bridges at the peak of the Niger Delta crisis.
Mulade specifically called on the governor to embark on the long-awaited Ayakoromo Bridge and the Omadino–Okerenkoko–Kokodiagbene road project, which he argued would not only transform riverine infrastructure but also etch Oborevwori’s name in the hearts of Deltans.
He further recommended the conversion of the moribund Delta State Polytechnic, Burutu, formerly a School of Marine Technology, into a specialised university or a campus of Delta State University with a focus on maritime studies.
According to him, this would better position Delta to harness the potentials of the blue economy.
On the planned anniversary celebrations, Mulade warned against what he described as “wasteful jamboree,” urging the governor to channel state resources into impactful projects that would create jobs and drive industrialisation.
“Governor Oborevwori should resist the temptation of lavishing taxpayers’ money on funfairs in the name of state creation celebrations.
Rather, Delta @ 34 should be marked with the flag-off of critical projects such as the Ayakoromo Bridge and Omadino road, alongside the already approved flyovers in Agbor and Ughelli,” he advised.
While saluting past and present leaders for their contributions to statehood and development, Mulade commended the resilience of Deltans in sustaining the vision of the founding fathers.
