Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has sworn in three newly appointed Commissioners, charging them to lead by example.
The new Commissioners are Mr Ekemejero Ohwovoriole, SAN, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice; Dr Ifeanyi Michael Osuoza, Commissioner for Information, and Prince Kelly Kalanama Penawou, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
He described the new Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice as a brilliant and capable lawyer schooled in the best traditions of legal practice.
“Deep, driven, and devoted to his craft, Mr Ohwovoriole brings to the office almost 30 years of distinguished service at the Bar,” the governor said.
The governor said the state ranked first among states in the country in Criminal Justice Reforms by the Abuja-based Centre for Socio-Legal Studies.
Governor Oborevwori stated that the state achieved the feat following the passage of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2022, and Administration of Civil Justice Law 2022 by the State House of Assembly under his leadership as Speaker.
He challenged the new Attorney-General to sustain the state’s pacesetter role in Criminal Justice Reforms, adding that state’s criminal justice laws are adjudged widely to be 21st century-compliant, especially with recourse to technology.
“The transition period of both laws ended on December, 22, 2023. So, both laws are now operational in all courts in Delta State. The rigorous and successful implementation of these laws is, therefore, imperative for Delta State to maintain its leadership position.
“Only recently, Attorneys-General of the south-east states adopted the Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2022 as their model, hailing it as a unique framework for the administration of criminal justice,” he said.
Oborevwori further remarked that the new Commissioner for Information is a tested hand and avid communicator in the field of political communication and information management, having served meritoriously as the PDP State Publicity Secretary in the last eight years.
“His appointment as Information Commissioner is thoroughly well-deserved. Dr Osuoza, popularly known as Agenda, is a committed PDP member, humble leader, avid communicator, and relentless public commentator,” Oborevwori said.
“It is my earnest expectation that he will take the government’s information management machinery to a whole new level. I expect creativity and innovation in government communication in a way that ensures optimal, fact-based projection of the policies, programmes, achievements, and activities of the government.
“One major shift I will like to see in the Information Ministry is for it to go beyond the information arena and engage in positive citizen engagement and mobilisation.
“It is my considered view that stakeholder perception audits must be integral to the operations of the information ministry. It should serve in the best traditions as a sensor, gathering intelligence and inputs from the citizenry that would form the basis of the policies and programmes of the government,” he said.
As for the new Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Governor Oborevwori described him as a grassroots politician of immense stature with extensive experience in local government administration.
He said he expects nothing but excellence and exemplary performance from the commissioner, having served as Special Adviser on Local Government Affairs in the immediate past administration.
He charged the Commissioners to lead by example by being role models in their respective ministries.
“To the commissioners, I leave you with no charge other than the one I gave to your colleagues, and I quote: ‘As heads of Ministries, your personal example is the most powerful leadership tool you possess’,” Oborevwori said:
