By: Ike Philip Abiagom
[dropcap]R[/dropcap]t. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, the executive governor of Delta State,has urged members of Association of Community Newspapers Publishers of Nigeria (ACNPN) to always share information to effectively reach people at the grassroots. Governor Oborevwori made the call when the executives of Delta State Council of members of Association of Community Newspapers Publishers of Nigeria (ACNPN) led by Comrade Jude Obiemnyego paid him a courtesy visit in Asaba.
The Governor who lauded the fact that publishers of community newspapers have an umbrella body to champion their course, reiterated that sharing of information and ideas, would ensure that people at the rural communities are abreast with happenings in other localities.
“It is my pleasure to welcome the esteemed publishers of Community Newspapers in Delta State to Government House Asaba.
“I have looked forward to this meeting because it will give me the opportunity to formally convey my profound appreciation to you people for your contributions before, during and after the general election.
“Indeed you have been a pillar of support since my days as the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly. I am counting on your usual support and cooperation to propagate the policies and achievements of this administration”. He said community newspaper were key to information dissemination because of their closeness to the grassroot and urged the publishers to use their medium to unite the state further.
Governor Oborevwori enjoin the Community Newspapers to be part of this administration and he said his doors are opened to all members of Community Newspapers in the state. He urged the community newspaper publishers to abide by the ethics of the journalism profession by ensuring that rules guiding the profession were adhered to in their reportage. We have worked together before and I want to assure you that we will continue to give quality leadership to the people of Delta”.
The Governor further said he would commence project inauguration across the three senatorial districts in the state to mark his administration’s first 100 days in office.
“By Thursday, we will commence the commissioning of projects to mark our 100 days in office.
“We have also set up a committee to handle the palliative, where things will be distributed across the three senatorial districts, the Local Governments down to the wards. The Labour movement, Christian Association of Nigeria, PFN and others will be involved. We are following the palliative model of the COVID-19 era so as to get to the people in the grassroot.
“We have also set up a committee to handle the impending flood even though we are praying that the flood doesn’t come, but we are also preparing for it. We have informed our people living in flood prone areas to prepare to relocate,” he stated.
Earlier, Comrade Obiemeyego said they were at Government House to felicitate the Governor on his successful assumption of office and for the numerous achievements in his first 100 days in charge.He commiserated with the governor on the passage of his mother-in-law, and said they were ready to collaborate with his administration in its drive to scale up the tempo of development in the state.
Comrade Obiemeyego urged the governor to provide quality and purposeful leadership in his determination to fulfil the M.O.R.E Agenda of his administration for Deltans, even as he called for the inclusion of journalists and publishers in the state as beneficiaries of the palliative programme of the state government.
He appealed to the governor to assist members of the Community Newspapers with a bus that would enhance their mobility, just as he also, solicited for the appointment of a member of this group as the Governor’s Media Aide on Community Newspaper.
