By Oyana Alphonsus
” Some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them ” — Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night
The above quotation in Twelfth Night, a play written by William Shakespeare, often times regarded as the greatest playwright in English language has become iconic for it transcends time and resonates with all manners of audiences across the globe because of the fact that, it encapsulates the complexities of human destiny and the pursuit of greatness in a society marked by diverse opportunities and challenges which individuals navigate in a complex web of choices, obstacles and occurring by chance in a beneficial way.
Some are born great means that, there are persons born into wealthy families by all standards hence, they don’t have to work so vigorously to achieve greatness in life if self disciplined .
Some achieve greatness in life through strenght of character, dint of hardwork work, determination and perseverance.
Some have greatness thrust upon them means that, there are persons who achieve greatness through some inexplicable divine interventions which provided sudden rare opportunities which when taken advantage of, propel such persons into positions of significance, trailblazers and extraordinary leaders.
So, arising from the above analogy between the workings of nature and those of human societies anyone who has probed into the life of Governor Oborevwori, will easily posit without any fear of contradictions that, although, not born into a wealthy family he however, achieved greatness earlier in life through strength of character, dint of hardwork, determination and perseverance. He equally has had greatness thrust upon him by divine interventions which he optimized to accomplish many firsts in the political landscape of Delta State
Born into a modest family of Chief Francis and Esther Oborevwori in Osubi town in Okpe LGA of Delta State on 19th June, 1963 and christened Francis, Sherrif Oborevwori . He however, achieved greatness earlier in life as a businessman in the hospitality and real estate sectors of the economy.
He holds the traditional chieftancy title of UKODO of Okpe kingdom (which means the wealthy, who uses his wealth to take care of his community) confered on him by HRH, Orodje of Okpe kingdom in 2002 in recognition of his leadershp skills and uncommon philanthropy.
He earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Political Science among the other professional leadership development certificates acquired locally and abroad.
He started his political career as a grassroot mobilizer and was elected councillor in the old Okpe LGA.in 1996 . In 2003 he was
appointed Special Assistant to former Governor Ibori . He subsequently, served as Special Adviser on Land Security to Governor Uduaghan .
Chief Francis Sherrif Oborevwori contested for the seat of Okpe State counstitucy in the Delta State House of Assembly in 2015, won and inaugurated as Honourable member.
How he had greatness thrust upon him.
So, perhaps if a soothsayer had told Hon.Sherrif Oborevwori during the inauguration ceremony event that, he will be elected Speaker two years after maybe, he might not have believed such a soothsayer as well as the prediction based on the fact that save for the first and second Delta State House of Assembly, no first timer of the house has been elected Speaker subsequently.
However, by divine interventions and sudden twist of fate Hon Sherrif Oborevwori was elected Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly on May 11, 2017 following the impeachment of Rt Hon Monday Igbuy that fateful day.
His extraordinary leadership skills and accomplishments.
So, no sooner had Rt Hon Sherrif Oborevwori became Mr Speaker than he began to demonstrate some extraordinary inate and acquired leadership skills such as, strenght of character, distinct cognitive cum emotional capacity and focused commitment in a manner never witnessed in the House .
He made the principles and virtues of self discipline, humility, astuteness, effective communication and integrity his watchword while on same wavelength, abhors greed , abuse of power, abuse of privileges, incompetence and corrupt practices .
End of part 1
Oyana Alphonsus, a media practitioner and SSA, Media to Governor Sherrif Oborevwori wrote from Asaba .