BY GODWIN IJEDIOGOR

THE Delta Commissioner for Works (Rural and Riverine Roads), Mr. Charles Aniagwu, has described Governor Sheriff Oborevwori as a prudent manager of state resources, in the midst of high inflation in the country.

    He said given the inflationary rate in Nigeria, Oborevwori has been meticulous in spending the state funds to ensure that contractors and the people reap full benefits of the available resources accruing to the state.

   Aniagwu, who stated this when executives and members of the Asaba Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council, visited him on Wednesday, April 17, in his office at Asaba, noted: “Let me first appreciate you for the  support I received for the eight years that I worked with you under former governor of the state, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, both as Chief Press Secretary (CPS) and Commissioner for Information.

   “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 because of 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 engage in any clandestine activities to undermine what we did as an administration then.”

   He, therefore, urged journalists to support the Oborevwori administration with same vigour and commitment they exhibited during the immediate past administration.

   Aniagwu enjoined them to also give the current Commissioner for Information, Dr. Ifeanyi Osuoza, the same support, even as he settles down in office.

   He stated that the Oborevwori administration was still putting things in order to enable it takeoff fully, adding: “I will still plead with you to be patient with us as an administration. You know there are lots of things that we are trying to put together to fully take off.

   “Even yesterday, some appointments were announced, which means this government is still being formed. 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 country, from when he took over and now.”  

   He explained that Oborevwori does not want a situation where he goes ahead to release money only for it to fall on infertile grounds, noting: “So, he is being careful, in terms of application of resources.

“Those who do not understand may think that we are being slow, but those of us who are quite integral in the administration understand that we needed to be careful, so that any funds that we spend give Deltans value for their money.”

   He acknowledged the need for the governor to understudy what he met and the impact of the present fluctuation of our currency on ongoing and intended projects, saying: “This is because if you do not have the clear understanding, there is the tendency that some persons who are either businessmen or opportunists would want to take advantage of the situation.

   “The governor, being one who has value for money, does not want to fall into that trap.”

   Aniagwu assured that in spite of the challenges, there were lots of ongoing projects and programmes across the state, adding that some of the projects across the 25 local councils would be inaugurated as part of activities marking Oborevwori’s one year in office.

   “Some are at the verge of being completed, some have been completed, while some are being initiated. But on the whole, every local government area in Delta would have a fair share of this administration.

   “I can confidently say that Oborevwori is determined to make lots of differences across the length and breadth of the state,” he said.

   Earlier, Chairman of the Chapel, Comrade Ifeanyi Olannye, said the visit was to felicitate with Aniagwu on his appointment as commissioner, this time in the Ministry of Works (Rural and Riverine Roads).

He urged the commissioner to sustain his cordial relationship with journalists, while soliciting government continued partnership to deepen development in the state, in line with the administration’s M.O.R.E. Agenda.

   “As CPS and commissioner for Information under Okowa, you related well with journalists and you performed creditably.

   “We are sure that as a Commissioner for Works (Rural and Riverine Roads) in this administration, you would also deliver creditably,” Olannye said.