In an era where democratic governance across the globe often struggles with public cynicism and broken campaign pledges, the true test of leadership lies in the quiet, steady fulfillment of promises.
In Delta State, the Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme, Ph.D., has emerged as a compelling exemplar of this rare political currency, accountability grounded in action.
Through an unwavering commitment to public service, grassroots empowerment, and the execution of the state’s M.O.R.E Agenda (Meaningful Development, Opportunities for All, Realistic Reforms, and Enhanced Peace and Security), Sir Onyeme is demonstrating how keeping electoral promises directly strengthens the pillars of local democracy.
Believing strongly that democracy thrives not merely on election day, but in the daily social contract between elected officials and the electorate, the Deputy Governor since assumption of office ensures that whatever promises he makes, he will find a way to ensure that such is kept.
His mien has endeared him so much to the Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori that most of us who are working closely with him believe that all that he has to do is to ask and the Governor will give to him, thereby, in a lot of ways, meet with political promises.
Based on what we see, we believe that the synergy that exists between Governor Oborevwori and his Deputy, Sir Monday Onyeme is unprecedented and this has rubbed off positively on the state which has remained remarkably on a progressive part.
On Thursday, July 23, 2026, Sir Onyeme led the bigwigs of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to meet with the promises made during the e-registration of members of the party in Ndokwa West Local Government Area.
During the registration exercise, the Deputy Governor on behalf of the APC, said that the Ward with the highest number of registered voters will win the sum of N5 million.
This the Deputy Governor ensured that it was possible on Thursday as Ward 1, Utagba-Ogbe got the sum of N5 million for registering more than 5, 000 persons and emerged the Ward with the highest number of registered voters.
It is a truism that when leaders treat campaign commitments as sacred obligations, citizens regain trust in democratic institutions. Sir Monday Onyeme’s political trajectory from his distinguished career as a Chartered Accountant and former Chairman of the Delta State Internal Revenue (DSIRS) to the Deputy Governorship has been defined by systematic delivery and fiscal discipline.
It would be recalled that when the Deputy Governor attended the Ijele festival of Akarai-Obodo in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State, in 2025, he listened to the appeal of the people for them to have an access road to their community. On his return to Asaba, he briefed the Governor about his experience. It is no longer news that Governor Oborevwori’s administration is spending a whooping N29.8 billion to link Akarai with their local government headquarters, Aboh.
I can still recall vividly during the campaign period ahead of the 2023 general elections when we visited Inam-Abbi through a dusty earth road. The only request made by the people was for the road to be constructed. Deputy Governor Onyeme assured the people that if Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori emerges victorious at the polls, the road will be constructed. The people took his statement with a pinch of salt, seeing it as one of those electoral promises they have heard over the years. As I write this piece, work on that road has reached an advanced stage because Governor Oborevwori has a listening ear to his Deputy.
No doubt, Onyeme has helped transform political promises from abstract rhetoric into tangible infrastructure and social safety nets. With his background as a seasoned financial manager and the fact that governance requires more than good intentions; it demands resource optimization, fiscal transparency, and prudent execution, Sir Onyeme is applying rigorous accounting principles to public spending, ensuring that state funds directly power community projects. by prioritizing what he also request from the Governor.
It is worthy to state that the Monday Onyeme Foundation scholarship for undergraduates in different institutions of higher learning is getting a lot of applications every year because of integrity and the fact that the Deputy Governor is the brain behind the scholarship scheme.
In a lot of ways, the Deputy Governor has used the scheme to ensure that a lot of persons have confidence in the education system and also, believe strongly that those who are holding political offices in Delta State are men who can always be trusted.
Onyeme’s leadership style emphasizes accessibility and grassroots connection. This is evident with the way political office holders in his local government, Ndokwa West in particular rallies round him because they believe that he cannot mislead them.
Such notable personalities in Ndokwa West like Rear Admiral Mike Onah, OON, the member representing Ndokwa West in the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Charles Emetulu, Engr. Michael Anoka, Chief Festus Ochonogor, Hon. (Barr.) Sam Osasa, Hon. Azuka Azaka, Sir Chris Osakwe, Engr. Dan Ossai, Ogbuefi Lucky Okuji, Pastor Chuks Agidigbo, Barr. Emmanuel Egri-Okwaji, Barr. Ernest Ogwezzy, Chief Fidelis Okolafor, Mrs Florence Omoni-Johnson, Chief Greg Edeme, Chief Anslem Nzete, among others are always supportive of the Deputy Governor not forgetting his rich grassroots support in the area.
During the presentation of the N5 million cash to Utagba-Ogbe people in an event that was almost turned to a political carnival with the Oduosa of Utagba-Ogbe, HRM Nze-Uku Isaac Obi fully represented at the ceremony, the Deputy Governor said, “during the e-registration of our great party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, last year, Ward 1 got more than 5,000 registered members, which means that with this strength, you will do well in the next election.
”Thank you for the support for our party; as a person, my word is my bond, during the e-registration of our party, I said the Ward with the highest number of registered voters would receive the sum of N5 million; that is why we are here to present the N5 million.
”With your cooperation, Ndokwa West is number three among those who registered in the state; if we continue in this spirit, more projects and political patronage will come to Ward 1, because, when you do more politically, you get more.
”Let me assure you, nobody can beat the APC in Delta State; don’t be deceived; our Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has done very well for Deltans, he is still doing more because he promised to do more for our people.
“Our people are seeing his good works and they are happy.
”The only way our people will thank him for his good works is through their voters’ cards, so, tell those few persons who have been deceived and are not sure which political party to join to join the APC, because it is better to be in a party that is winning than to be in a party that you are not sure of.
”I am also happy that Ward 1 has promised to deliver more than 30,000 votes for our party in the next general elections.
“With most of our people being in the APC, it is important to spread the message beyond Ndokwa and beyond Delta State; tell your friends in other parts of the country that it is good for democracy for the APC to win in the next election.”
One of the political leaders in Ward 1, Barr. Emmanuel Egri-Okwaji, thanked the Deputy Governor for encouraging party loyalty by redeeming political promises.
Also speaking at the occasion, Chief Princewill Olie, the House of Assembly candidate for Ndokwa West APC, said, “we are very happy in Ward 1 today, our Deputy Governor challenged our people and today, we are seeing that he is a man who keeps to his word.
”We thank the Deputy Governor and the political leaders for passionately working for the people.”
The Chairman of the APC in the local government, Chief Anselm Nzete, asserted, “we will all vote for the candidates of the APC, starting from President Bola Tinubu, because with them, we will get more development.
”Our amiable Deputy Governor, thank you for making our people more politically conscious; you have created so much awareness that more of our people will vote in the next election, and they will vote for all the candidates of the APC.”
APC Ward 1 Chairman, Chief Napoleon Aduwe, attributed the huge support of the people for the APC to the down-to-earth nature of the party’s leaders in the area.
Certainly, with Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and Deputy Governor Monday Onyeme in the saddle of leadership, Delta is in safe hands.
The writer, Comrade Fidelis Egugbo, is the Senior Special Assistant, Media to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State.
