Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has openly accused former Governor James Onanefe Ibori of dishonesty and inconsistent leadership, particularly in the context of a deeply fractured Urhobo political landscape.
The Governor made the startling remarks on Tuesday April 29, 2025, during a vigil mass held in honor of the late former Deputy Governor of the State, Prof. Amos Aigbe Utuama, at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, Otu-Jeremi, Ughelli South Local Government Area.
Oborevwori used the solemn occasion to deliver a politically charged message, stressing the need for the unity of the Urhobo political class.
Speaking candidly before a mixed audience, Oborevwori said, “Urhobo is not one. If you say Urhobo is one, it is a lie.”
The video shared on Facebook by one Akpodhoma Michael Mikoko, elicited a response from a follower, Oghenero Robert Origho, who said: “when you insulted Ibori you need thought of this because you feel your new found leader Okowa can save you”
Watch full video below 
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BGZNwvjAN/
The statement, which appeared to be directed at Ibori, challenged long-held claims of unity within the ethnic group and raised questions about Ibori’s role in fostering division.
Without explicitly naming the former governor at the outset, Oborevwori lamented the scattered state of the political family, warning that a sentimental approach to leadership would cause the center to collapse.
“When you see your family scattered, what do you do? You gather them,” he said. “But if you don’t gather them and you are sentimental, the family will break. The center cannot hold.”
Oborevwori recounted a recent interaction with Ibori, suggesting the former leader was not forthright about his movements.
“As he came here, I asked him, he said he was just coming from Lagos, but I know he was in Abuja,” the governor said pointedly, drawing murmurs from the crowd.
The governor then challenged Ibori on his political allegiance, hinting that he was planning to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“When you are leading your children, some are in APC, some in Labour, and I asked him, when is he going to join us?” Oborevwori queried rhetorically, eliciting laughter and a chorus of ‘Amen’ from the audience when he declared, “We will receive our leader in Jesus’ name.”
While Oborevwori acknowledged Ibori’s past contributions, he stressed that “he needs to try more.”
He continued, “You have created a big family and the family needs to be united. Unite the Urhobo. You are loved, but the love will not be complete if the people are divided.”
The governor’s remarks, laced with humor and religious overtones, struck a deeper political chord as he appeared to use the occasion to settle scores and position himself as the true unifier of the Urhobo people.
Political observers say the speech reflects mounting tension between Oborevwori and Ibori, who has reportedly fallen out of favor with the current political establishment in Delta State.
The former governor’s perceived double-speak in Abuja and back home in Delta appears to be at the center of Oborevwori’s frustration.
While the gathering was meant to honor the life of late Prof. Utuama, Oborevwori’s unscripted address turned into a thinly veiled political rebuke, one that may have significant implications for Delta politics and the future of Urhobo unity.
Hear him: “So, when you see your family scattered, what do you? You gather them but if you don’t gather them, because I always say the truth.
“If you don’t gather them and you are sentimental, the family will break, the center cannot hold.
“I didn’t want to speak here but our Bishop says speak so that people will hear.
“So, when our leader leaves here and go home, you see your family today, scattered.
“And when you go to Abuja, you speak with different voice with different tunes.
“You are speaking here, other people are speaking here and you must lead well, it is now the time to lead us well.
“If you are a leader, because he is from Central, this is an Urhobo matter. Urhobo is one. But is it true that Urhobo is one?
“Urhobo is not one, no, if you say Urhobo is one, it is a lie. Who will make Urhobo one? Asking the audience”.
He continued: “You know you must talk to your elders. Even though you take advise, counsel from your elders.
“As he came here and I asked him, he said that he is just coming from Lagos but I know he is in Abuja, and I asked him one thing because when you are leading your children, some are in APC, some are in Labour, some are in here and I asked him when is he going to join us? And I know he is going to join us very soon in APC, is it not true? He asked the audience again.
“And we will receive our leader in Jesus name, the audience echoed amen.
“Speaking further Oborevwori said: “but joke apart, let us continue together. I am just saying this so that there will be something to take home.
“You have created a big family and the family needs to be united. I know you want to respond (laughing), you can’t respond, once I speak, you will not ehe (the audience bursted into laughter).
“You know it is opportunity to tell our leaders some of these things and that is why I was mentioning all these, he has tried very well but he needs to try more.
“He needs to try what? More, the audience responded.
“Unite the Urhobo, you are loved, but the love will not be complete if the people are divided.
“So, I thank you when you said that I should speak, I know but I have to say it (as if someone spoke to him).
“So, we are here for the vigil mass of our leader who has lived a very good life. There is no better time to die. When you die, you die like as we have said, he lived well and die well.
“So, one day we will still go. He has lived above past 70 years as what God have said in the Bible, in the scripture at 70 years (three scores and ten).
“So, we will pray for him, for the Almighty God to receive him well. So, I thank all of you for coming, tomorrow is the funeral mass, we will all be there to be celebrated his life time.
“So, thank you and God bless”.
