Delta State Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, has presented 65 brand new Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) to traditional rulers across the state, describing the move as a strategic investment in grassroots governance and community stability.
The presentation took place on Wednesday at Government House, Asaba, where 60 Toyota Prado SUVs and five Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles were handed over to royal fathers drawn from various parts of Delta State.
Oborevwori said the vehicles were intended as “tools of service” to strengthen the capacity of traditional rulers, whom he described as a vital but often underappreciated layer of leadership within the state’s governance structure.
Calling the occasion “a very important and symbolic day in the life of this administration,” the governor said royal fathers were more than custodians of culture and tradition, and that they served as critical intermediaries between government and local communities.
“They are not merely custodians of our customs, norms and traditions; they are vital intermediaries between government and the people at the grassroots,” he said.
The governor credited traditional institutions with easing governance in Delta State, particularly through community mobilisation, dispute resolution, peace-building and collaboration with security agencies.
He added that many royal fathers operate in difficult terrain and are frequently on the road responding to government directives and mediating local conflicts, often without material compensation.
“Our Royal Fathers are often on the road, engaging in peace-building and conflict resolution. They do all these voluntarily and willingly. For this, we are truly grateful,” Oborevwori said.
The govervor explained that the choice of rugged SUVs was deliberate to suit the rural environments many of them serve.
However, the gesture has attracted criticism from sections of the public, with some Deltans questioning the administration’s spending priorities amid economic pressures and security challenges in the state.
Critics argue that the scale and cost of the intervention are difficult to justify at a time when many Nigerians are grappling with rising living costs, infrastructure deficits and constrained public resources.
Some have also warned that high-value allocations to unelected office holders could reinforce perceptions of elite privilege, suggesting the funds might have been better deployed to address security concerns.
Despite the criticism, traditional rulers at the event welcomed the initiative.
Speaking on behalf of beneficiaries, the Obi of Owa, HRM Dr Emmanuel Efeizomor (JP); the Ovie of Uvwie, HRM Emmanuel Sideso Abe I; and the Pere of Ogulagha, HRM Elder Capt King Joseph I. Timiyan (JP), described the vehicles as a boost to their efficiency and effectiveness.
In a vote of thanks, the Chairman of the Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers and Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, HRM Major General Felix Mujakperuo (Rtd.), Orhue I, said the presentation was timely and symbolic, adding that it would strengthen grassroots governance and peace-building across the state.
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