By Festus Ahon

The 66th Independence anniversary in Delta State unfolded as more than a ceremonial commemoration. Across the state, the celebration brought together familiar themes of nationhood, unity, sacrifice, security, infrastructure and service, alongside the increasingly visible political mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections.

For Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, the anniversary offered an opportunity to reflect on Nigeria’s difficult but enduring journey while placing the responsibility for its future on citizens and leaders alike.

At the Cenotaph in Asaba, where the governor reviewed the ceremonial match-pass by the police and other paramilitary organisations, his message was unmistakable: Nigeria’s diversity should be a source of strength, not division.

Sixty-six years after the raising of the Green-White-Green flag, he argued, the country had survived war, economic difficulties, political transitions and periods of uncertainty. Yet, he said, the “Nigerian spirit” had endured. That resilience, in his telling, imposes a responsibility on citizens to put the national interest above narrow considerations.

In Delta, the Independence Day message was not confined to speeches. Barely had the anniversary celebrations begun when Oborevwori intervened in a problem that illustrated the practical meaning of governance. Following the collapse of a section of the East-West Road at Agbarho in Ughelli North Local Council, the governor directed Julius Berger Nigeria Plc to commence remedial works.

The federal highway is not owned by the state government, but its failure had immediate consequences on Deltans, businesses and travellers. By October 2, reports indicated that Julius Berger had mobilised to the site and had made one lane motorable.

For Oborevwori, the intervention fitted into a broader argument: development is ultimately measured not by political rhetoric but by how government responds to problems confronting ordinary people.

At the Independence thanksgiving service in Asaba, the governor returned to the theme of responsibility, telling Nigerians that nation-building requires sacrifice.

His message to public officials was particularly pointed. Political office and civil service positions, he said, are held in trust for the people and should be exercised in the interest of the common good.

That emphasis on public service also gave religious colour to the anniversary. The governor called for continued prayers for the nation, while the Presiding Pastor of Living Faith Church, Ibusa Road, Asaba, Pastor Samuel Johns, urged citizens to combine faith with civic responsibility, patriotism and meaningful contribution to their communities.

The church service therefore reinforced the same question raised at the Cenotaph: what does citizenship demand beyond celebration?

Security was another prominent part of Delta’s Independence narrative.
Receiving the newly deployed Commissioner of Police, CP Samuel Erale, at Government House, Asaba, Oborevwori declared that there would be no room for crime and criminality in the state. He urged security agencies to intensify intelligence gathering and surveillance, particularly across communities, highways and waterways.

His administration’s security strategy, he said, would continue to involve collaboration among the police, other security agencies, traditional rulers, youth leaders and community-based vigilante groups.

The timing was significant. With the political calendar moving towards 2027, the governor also warned against the use of firearms and political violence, insisting that criminality should not be shielded by political connections.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed January 16, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly elections and February 6 for governorship and State House of Assembly elections. That approaching contest was impossible to ignore during the Independence celebrations.

In Warri and Effurun, thousands of youths participated in a five-kilometre “Run and Rave” event that combined exercise, entertainment and political expression. Participants displayed materials supporting Tinubu and Oborevwori, while organisers described the gathering as both a celebration of Nigeria and a platform for youth civic engagement. The event demonstrated how quickly national celebrations can intersect with electoral politics.

Similar mobilisation was evident in engagements involving the Arewa community in Aniocha South and a newly formed support group for widows in Delta State. Members of the Arewa community pledged support for APC candidates in 2027, while organisers of the widows’ group said beneficiaries of the state’s widows’ welfare programme had chosen to mobilise support for Tinubu, Oborevwori and other APC candidates.

Those declarations are political positions expressed by the groups and their organisers, rather than evidence of a statewide consensus. What they reveal, however, is the extent to which social interventions and political mobilisation are becoming intertwined as the next election approaches.

The engagement with traditional rulers followed the same trajectory. Delta Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors appealed to traditional rulers to support the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Oborevwori administration.

The celebrations were patriotic, religious, developmental and political at the same time. They provided space for the governor to speak about unity and sacrifice, for security agencies to reaffirm their responsibilities, for youths to demonstrate political enthusiasm, and for traditional rulers and community groups to articulate their expectations.

Oborevwori’s MORE Agenda—Meaningful Development, Opportunities for All, Realistic Reforms, and Enhanced Peace and Security—was repeatedly presented as the state’s contribution to national development. The Oborevwori administration is determined to build more roads, schools, hospitals, other infrastructures, safety of communities, employment opportunities for young people. The governor is also committed to the wellbeing of citizens in riverine and upland communities.

The governor’s appeal for Nigerians to “embrace dialogue” and treat one another with compassion may therefore be more than an anniversary refrain. In a season of heightened political activity, it is also a reminder that elections will come and go, but the country and its people must continue to live together afterwards. That, ultimately, is the harder work of independence.

Meanwhile, the Governor recently inspected a section of the East-West Road washout at Agbarho. Inspecting the ongoing remedial work, Oborevwori said the intervention must go beyond temporary repairs, insisting that the permanent solution should be designed to effectively accommodate the volume of water passing through the area.

Oborevwori disclosed that Julius Berger had assured the state government that the affected section would be temporarily made accessible to motorists, with the two lanes expected to be opened for traffic shortly.

He sympathised with motorists and residents affected by the incident, saying government’s responsibility during difficult times was to find solutions and demonstrate empathy.

He also appealed to Nigerians to desist from exploiting unfortunate incidents for political purposes, stressing that what mattered most was finding solutions to challenges confronting the people.

“When people are in difficult times and facing challenges, we are supposed to support them and show empathy, rather than exploit the situation,” he said.

Oborevwori said the East-West Road was a critical economic artery connecting several states in the South-South and beyond, stressing that its accessibility was vital to the movement of people and goods.

“This is the only road that leads to Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River. It is a major road; that is why it is called East-West Road,” he said.

He added that his administration remained focused on delivering infrastructure and other development projects across the state, assuring Deltans that government would continue to work to improve their welfare.

“Our own is to serve and to help the people. We were elected to serve our people and we will continue to do that,” the governor said.