How did Ejiro happen to journalism: A response to “How did Sheriff happen to Delta?”

A recent commentary by Festus Okubor sharply criticizes Ejiro Idama's writing, likening it to a comedian attempting to impersonate an auditor, where jokes land but the "arithmetic" does not. Okubor questions Idama's approach, suggesting satire has replaced evidence in his analysis of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori. He draws an analogy to medical malpractice, arguing that journalism should not diagnose based on imagination when facts are available.

Okubor asserts that Governor Oborevwori's position is a result of a democratic election, not chance, and that his victory withstood rigorous judicial review. The article counters Idama's implied criticism by detailing tangible governance achievements within Oborevwori's first three years. These include completed and commissioned road projects across all three senatorial districts, and hundreds of awarded and executed contracts for roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, and drainage systems.

According to the governor, projects worth over N654.5 billion were delivered in 2025 without incurring new debt, while maintaining fiscal stability and enhancing procurement transparency. The article also notes the consistent payment of workers' salaries and pensions, timely contractor payments, and the expansion of healthcare and educational infrastructure. Okubor frames Oborevwori as a "worker" prioritizing tangible outcomes like road construction and hospital development over trending social media narratives or political theatrics, suggesting this focus is a departure from what some commentators might expect or desire.