Wild jubilation greets Ahon’s appointment as CPS

By Jon Egie

Wild jubilation greeted the appointment of Sir Festus Ahon as Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the governor of Delta State, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori.

Members of various organizations, groups, the Church and street peers, all expressed joy and happiness at the announcement which was made public yesterday.

News of the appointment spurred his associates to leap with joy and thanks to the governor who they believed, by the appointment, granted them a sense of belonging to his government.

Seen as a true demonstration of the street credibility of Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, the appointment of Sir Festus Ahon gave a ray of hope to many that one day, it would be their turn to shine.

Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Branch in a statement issued by the Chairman and Secretary, Comrade Michael Ikeogwu and Patrick Ochei respectively, paid glowing tributes to the new CPS and expressed special thanks to the governor for recognizing one of their own for the appointment.

They used the opportunity to request the governor to also appoint his Commissioner for information from among serving journalists in the State, assuring that by the governor’s gesture, the NUJ would be committed to supporting the success of the Oborevwori’s administration.

The Diocese of Ughelli (Anglican Communion) was agog in celebration. The WhatsApp group of the All Saints Cathedral Church, Ughelli burst alive with unending messages of goodwill; congratulating Sir Festus Ahon, hailing him as a “Noble Knight” in a rare show of love and display of sense of entitlement.

The new CPS and his wife were knighted in the Church a few years back.

Other corporate bodies and organs of journalists in the State including National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Delta Online Publishers’ Forum (DOPF), various media platforms and news outlets operators also took turn to express their joy and thanks to the governor while asking God for wisdom to guide the new CPS in the course of his duties.

Festus Ahon was the pioneer Chairman of Ughelli Correspondents Chapel, an organ of the State Branch of the NUJ. Until his appointment, he was a member of the Asaba Correspondents Chapel, Ex-Officio of the NUJ at the national level, Chairman of INEC Press Committee in the just concluded 2023 general elections and State Correspondent of Vanguard newspaper.