Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has presented 65 brand new Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) to traditional rulers across the state, describing the move as a strategic investment in grassroots governance and peacebuilding.
The presentation took place at the Government House, Asaba.
The vehicles comprise 60 Toyota Prado SUVs and five Toyota Land Cruisers, distributed to royal fathers from different parts of the state.
Oborevwori said the SUVs were meant to serve as “tools of service” to enhance the capacity of traditional rulers in maintaining peace, resolving disputes, and mobilising communities at the grassroots.
According to the governor, traditional rulers play a vital but often underappreciated role in governance, acting as intermediaries between government and local communities.
He noted that many monarchs operate in difficult terrains and frequently travel to mediate conflicts and collaborate with security agencies, often without material compensation.
Oborevwori added that the choice of rugged SUVs was deliberate, given the rural environments many royal fathers serve.
He commended them for their voluntary commitment to peacebuilding and stability, describing the gesture as symbolic of his administration’s appreciation and inclusive governance approach.
However, the gesture has sparked criticism from many Deltans, who questioned the timing and cost of the initiative amid economic hardship and insecurity in the state.
Critics argue that allocating high-value vehicles to unelected office holders could reinforce perceptions of elite privilege, insisting that the funds would have been better directed towards security and critical infrastructure.