By Jonah Akpo – Ovoh
A group, Niger Delta Environmental and Good Governance Crusade (NDEGGC), has called for the immediate sack of the Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Ifeajika Olisa, in order to further rid Governor Okowa’s administration of alleged greedy media personnel.
The Group’s Chairman, Comrade Kelly Gilor stated this Thursday, while fielding questions from newsmen in Warri following the sack of Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, a former Executive Assistant on Communication to Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
He noted that Governor Okowa was a good and purposeful leader who meant well for Deltans but had surrounded himself with selfish and greedy people in the likes of Aniagwu and Ifeajika, the duo which he accused of having unholy cold war with the State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ.
According to the Gilor who is also publisher of Ijaw Voice newspaper, “the Commissioner for Information and the CPS do not have good relationship with State NUJ executive let alone its members, except for some few journalists whom they have been using to cause problems and disorganized the State NUJ.
“We are going to stage a protest match round the State and submit a letter to Governor Okowa if the two smart alecks are not sacked within seven days”. He said.
Gilor alleged that since the appointments of Aniagwu and Ifeajika as Commissioner and Chief Press Secretary, Delta journalists have been suffering untold disrespect in their hands. “And they have been using this divide and rule tactics to cause disunity among journalists in the State”.
“Ask Aniagwu of what value is his Smart Delta TV that he is using to syphon the State money? He is gradually killing the three State owned media houses especially DBS Asaba and Pointer newspaper.
“Go and find out how many copies of The Pointer newspaper that is being printed for circulation daily. He ordered that only 500 copies should be printed and circulated for a State like Delta and the country at large, who does that? If the intention is not to kill the newspaper house? Things were a lot better when Patrick Ukah was in Information. Or is it DBS Asaba where the G.M, Mr. Frankwhyte is struggling to push and start like a rickety vehicle.
“The state owned media houses only go to defend its yearly budget, yet they don’t get their monthly subvention to run the place from the commissioner. The Pointer newspaper case is even the worst, I feel sorry for those guys each time I visit the Pointer office”. Comrade Gilor added.
Comrade Gilor called on Governor Okowa to as a matter of proactive step, relief the Commissioner and the CPS of their duties so as to save his good name and the good works he was doing for journalists in the state and Deltans at large.
If the current commissioner of information Mr. Charles Aniagu and Ifeajika Olisa is a thief, their appointment should be terminated with immediate effect. People who disrespect others because of
political opportunities given to them should not be made to hold public office.
I urge His Excellency Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa to swing Into the matter and save delta state journalist from political oppressor.