By Samuel Ogude
Nigeria Union of Journalists, Delta State Council has called on the Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori to appoint capable hands that would help him actualize more agenda for the growth and development of the state. The body made this known during the courtesy visit to the Governor in Asaba recently. In his address, the Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalist, Delta State Council, Comrade Michael ikeogwu said governing a state like Delta with multi-ethnic nations, requires great wisdom, and therefore prayed God to give the Governor the wisdom of the biblical King Solomon to take decisions that will usher in unprecedented growth and development of the state.
While thanking the Governor for choosing one of their members, Sir Festus Ahon, as his (Governor’s ) Chief Press Secretary as a step in right direction, he urged him to appoint capable hands who will help him to run the state for its speedy growth and development saying, the present economic situation in the country requires sourcing of men and women who have a track record of performance.
His words:” Your Excellency, we are all aware that in the next few days, you will be making critical decisions on those who will help your administration to actualize your MORE Agenda for Deltans. In making such decisions, ensure that it is not based on political patronage as it has been before now. Let it be said that the present economic situation in the country requires sourcing of men and women who have a track record of performance irrespective of political parties, ethnic background, or religious inclination”.
Comrade Michael Ikeogwu charged the Governor to embark on programmes and policies that will usher in massive investment for the industrialization of the state to engage the mass unemployed youths just as he urged him to create enabling environment that would attract investors to the state as the state has abundant resources for them to invest in.
His words:” . It is on this note that we charge you to initiate a move that will take the state out of the usual rhetoric of making promises that will never be fulfilled. Embark on programmes and policies that will usher in massive investment for the industrialization of our state to engage our mass unemployed youths. Create the enabling environment that will attract investors and invest in the abundant resources that abound in our dear state. Look critically in areas where we have comparative advantage in terms of natural resources and deploy strength and energy towards attracting the international community”.
According to him, Delta State is blessed, as it only needs a man with the political will to take a decision that will turn around the trajectory of development in the state saying, with the experience, courage, and sagacity of the Governor, it is believed, he would do the needful in this regard. The Chairman said NUJ, Delta State Council now has a befitting press centre which was made possible through the efforts of former Governor ,Emmanuel Uduaghan who gave the land and started the structure and then the immediate past Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa who saw the need to complete the magnificent edifice. He said, there is much more to be done on the building to make the union comfortable and therefore appealed to him(Governor) to connect the NUJ Press Centre to the state independent power plant for constant electricity supply to enable union members seamlessly perform their duties of information dissemination without hindrance. He also appealed to the Governor redeem the promise made by the immediate past Governor to give a utility vehicle to the state Chairman which could not fulfilled due to exigencies of time.
His words:” Permit me to also use this medium to draw the attention of His Excellency to the promise made by your predecessor to give the Chairman a utility vehicle. This promise the immediate past Governor could not meet due to exigencies of time. It is our prayer that you use your disposition as the incumbent to fulfill the promises made by your predecessor as government is a continuum.
According to him, the Union missed a parting gift promised members by the immediate past Governor and therefore appealed for him to use his good office to make something available to the Council to pacify members in order to continue to engage the government through cordial working relationships. He said members assure their unalloyed support to his administration and avowed commitment towards promoting Governor’s M.O.R.E. mantra.