Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba
Delta State Commissioner for Works (Rural and Riverine Roads), Mr. Charles Aniagwu, has described the state Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, as a prudent manager of state resources, which is good for the state, especially at a time the country was hit by severe inflation.
He urged the media to give the governor all the support they can towards the overall success of the administration’s development blueprint encapsulated in the M.O.R.E. agenda, noting that the role of the media in influencing the governance process could not be over-emphasized.
In his remarks when he received members of the Asaba Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), who visited him yesterday in his office in Asaba, Aniagwu noted that the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa administration enjoyed a robust and cordial relationship with journalists, during which period he served as the governor’s chief press secretary and also the commissioner for information, and sued for the sustenance of that spirit in the present government.
The commissioner said: “Many a time I hear people say that I was successful in performing those two roles; but for me, I know that the larger part of the success came from the support I got from you, the journalists.
“I never had any cause to worry or begin to refute anything because you reported me correctly. Secondly, you never engaged in any clandestine activity to undermine what we did as an administration then.
“Journalists will, therefore, do well to extend the same vigorous commitment and support to the current state information commissioner, Dr. Ifeanyi Osuoza, by ensuring that the numerous programmes and activities by of the government are given effective coverage and dissemination.
Aniagwu stressed that given the inflationary trend in the country, the governor was careful with spending available funds in order not only to meet contractual obligations on numerous completed and ongoing projects but also to ensure that Deltans had full benefit from the financial resources accruing to state.
He noted: “There are lots of projects that we are handling, and policies that are being churned out. The governor is also being careful because there have been lots of changes in terms of our economy as a nation from when he took over and now.
“So, the governor is being careful in terms of application of resources; some who do not understand may think that we are being slow. No!
“Those of us who are quite integral in the administration understand that we needed to be careful so that any fund that we spend, will give Deltans value for their money.”
Aniagwu promised that in spite of the challenges, there were lots of activities going on across the state, noting that activities to mark Governor Oborevwori’s one year in office were in top gear, especially in his ministry.
Earlier, the Chairman of Asaba Correspondents Chapel, Ifeanyi Olannye, said that the visit was primarily to felicitate the commissioner on his appointment as Commissioner for Works; Rural and Riverine Roads, urging the commissioner to sustain the cordial relationship he had with the chapel and journalists in the state in general.
