Attack on Tinubu: Oborevwori disowns media aide, distances self from comments
The Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori has distanced himself and his administration from comments made by his Executive Assistant on Media, Mr Felix Ofou, criticizing the economic policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government.
In a widely circulated statement, Mr Ofou alleged that the President’s economic decisions, particularly the removal of the petroleum subsidy and the floating of the Naira, have exacerbated poverty, hunger, and unemployment in Nigeria, turning the nation into the “world’s poverty capital.”
These remarks followed former Deputy Senate President Senator Ovie Omo-Agege’s praise of Tinubu’s policies, which he claimed have resulted in increased federal allocations, economic growth, and benefits for farmers through higher incomes and increased exports.
Reacting to the controversy sparked by Mr Ofou’s statement, Governor Oborevwori, through his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, disowned Ofou’s comment, declaring that the views expressed were entirely personal and did not reflect the position of the Governor or the Delta State Government.
Ahon stated: “The comments attributed to Mr Felix Ofou are his personal views and do not represent the Governor or the Delta State Government. Governor Sheriff Oborevwori enjoys a harmonious working relationship with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and has never made any such statements regarding the President’s policies.”
The CPS criticized sections of the media for “mischievously misinterpreting” a personal article written by Mr Ofou, emphasising that Governor Oborevwori has consistently urged Deltans and Nigerians to support President Tinubu’s administration.
Ahon said: “The Governor has constantly urged Deltans and other Nigerians to continue to give support to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu”, stressing that “if the President fails”, he, as a governor, would have failed, too.”
He said this was the same view Governor Oborevwori lucidly expressed at the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU event on Saturday 7th December, at which event, he said, inter alia, “I want to appeal to Urhobo nation today, I am saying it here, I am an Urhobo man and Governor of Delta State.
“But I will tell you today whether you like it or not, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is supporting this administration. God has made him the President as God has made me the Governor of Delta State.
“So, as you are supporting me, support him because if he fails, I will fail, but by the grace of God, he will not fail and I will not fail, too.
“Mr President has appointed our sons and daughters into various positions. He did not appoint people from outside the state. God has given him victory and God has given me victory; you people should support us to succeed.
“It is, therefore, imperative to state categorically that, as Chief Press Secretary and official spokesman of the Governor of Delta State, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori did not, and has never expressed such views on Mr President’s economic policies.
“The general public is, therefore, advised to jettison such misleading reports as they do not reflect the views of the Governor, who is working very hard to provide good governance for Deltans and other residents of the state despite the present economic challenges faced by the citizens.”
