By Hon. Kenneth Chibuogwu Gbandi
It was a rare privilege to learn that His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Governor of Delta State, recently found his way to my hometown of Akwukwu-Igbo. Party differences aside, it is always a marvel when the seat of power pays a visit to the countryside, even if that “countryside” sits a mere fifteen-minute drive from the front gates of Government House, Asaba.
Given how exceptionally well-hidden Akwukwu-Igbo must have been from the governor’s radar over the past four years, one cannot help but appreciate the magic of an impending election cycle. It is remarkable how swiftly political calendar dates can illuminate a fifteen-minute stretch of road that was previously so difficult to navigate. We genuinely hope this sudden discovery of our existence marks the start of a lasting relationship, rather than just a seasonal check-in.
Had I been on hand to welcome His Excellency, I would have certainly expressed our collective relief over the Asaba–Ugbolu–Akwukwu-Igbo strip and the smoothed-out access near also to Norsworthy Farms & Agro-Allied Industries Limited, a Rainoil subsidiary that operates the palm plantation and processing mill in Akwukwu-Igbo. It is comforting to know that at least a stretches of asphalt do, in fact, exist in our area.
Yet, I would have gently nudged his delegation toward the scenic detours we navigate daily. The arterial route threading through Illah, Atuma, and Otulu toward the Benin Expressway and airport has gracefully transitioned from a highway into a test of physical endurance. Meanwhile, the tracks linking us to Ukala and Onicha Olona have essentially been returned to nature. These are not so much roads as they are monuments to long-standing neglect, the kind of crumbling pathways that require actual engineering gear, not just another round of polished campaign pledges to “look into it later.”
Naturally, we are proud that Akwukwu-Igbo wears the title of administrative headquarters for Oshimili North, and we hear the state’s MORE Agenda echoed far and wide. But I would have begged the Governor to take a brief, unvarnished walk through our General Hospital. Calling it a “health post” would be overly generous; right now, it functions more like a monument to what happens when basic medical care is treated as an optional luxury. For a community sitting on the doorstep of the state capital, relying on a facility in such critical condition is a rather dark joke. One hopes His Excellency might ask his health ministry to visit preferably without giving them time to tidy up first.
Walking through town, the irony only sharpens. Akwukwu-Igbo holds an impressive title on paper, yet daily life here requires an extraordinary amount of self-reliance. Our youth are expected to build modern businesses and thrive in the 21st century, but they are doing so in a landscape starved of consistent power, dependable water, safe markets, and reliable security. It takes impressive imagination to preach economic growth while basic public utilities remain purely theoretical.
We are not asking for royal treatment or political favors. We are simply pointing out the absurdity of being the seat of local government while living like an afterthought. Real progress requires more than photo opportunities; it takes clear timelines, visible funding, and actual execution.
As an opposition figure, I have no trouble crediting the government when a brick is laid. But I also have an obligation to point out when the house has no roof. My welcome to the Governor would have been warm, but my message remains straightforward: let Akwukwu-Igbo be remembered for something more enduring than election-year pit stops. Let this visit be the moment proximity to power finally translates into real development for the people who live here.
Hon. (Dr.) Kenneth Chibuogwu Gbandi MPS, D.CM, FIMC, CMC, Global Chairman, ADC Diaspora Network (ADC-DN), ADC Deputy National Chairman & Delta North Senate Candidate (2023) Contact & Mobilisation Liaison Officer, Delta State PCC (Directorate of Stakeholders)
