Mr Enebeli presenting the award to the Speaker
By Jon Egie
Speaker of DTHA, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori has charged online publishers in the state to be committed to responsible journalism.
He gave the advice when members of Delta Online Publishers’ Forum (DOPF) led by its chairman, Mr Emmanuel Enebeli presented an award of excellence to him in his official chambers, yesterday.
Thanking the Forum for deeming it fit to honour him with an award of excellence as the legislature of the year, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori disclosed that he has been avoiding and turning many awards down but the credibility and importance of DOPF encouraged him to accept that particular award.
He apologized for his inability to attend the recent Annual Convention of the Forum which was held same day and time the State House of Assembly received the 2022 proposed budget from the Governor of the State, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa.
While dedicating the award to God Almighty and to his colleagues, Oborevwori commended members of DOPF for their dedication to the ethics of journalism profession and noted that it’s the duty of the Online Publishers to rid itself of bad eggs.
“Please continue to do the right thing at all time. Stand against blackmail” The Speaker charged.
Earlier, DOPF chairman, Emmanuel Enebeli commended the Speaker for his longtime association with the forum since inception, especially at the formative stage.
The commendation was given on Tuesday when the Forum formerly presented ‘The Legislature of the Year Award’ (State) bestowed on the Speaker at the Forum’s 2021 Annual Lecture/Niger Delta Media Hall of Fame Induction and Awards.
Mr Emmanuel Enebeli, also congratulated the speaker on his recent award of excellence presented to him by the Daily Independent media organisation, as the legislature and humanitarian man of the year and stated that the Forum found the lawmaker worthy of the award following the delivery of key projects to his constituents and the way he has been leading and managing the affairs of the State Assembly and being the longest serving Speaker in the history of the State.
Enebeli disclosed that the humble number of registered members of DOPF was a deliberate strategy to prevent the Forum from being a place for all comers and to insulate the group against the activities quacks in the journalism practice, empasizing that the present DOPF leadership was determined to ensuring sanity in online journalism and publishing in the Niger Delta Region and Nigeria in General.
He pointed out that the award was in recognition of Oborevwori’s efforts to his constituents and the State Assembly in terms of quality leadership, outstanding performance and delivery of dividends of democracy and itemised the projects to include: passage of development and legacy bills namely, the financial autonomy bills for the State legislature and judiciary, establishment bills of three (3) new universities in Delta State; massive facelift of the Assembly complex and legislator’s quarters, leading a peaceful and robust legislature amongst others.
In attendance at the event were some members of the State House of Assembly namely, Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Ferguson Onwo (Isoko South 1 State Constituency), Minority Leader, Hon. Innocent Anidi (Ethiope East State Constituency), Hon. Solomon Ighrakpata (Uvwie State Constituency) and Hon. Anthony Elekokhure (Ika South Constituency).
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