Renowned Political Communication Strategist and Executive Assistant to Delta State Governor on Communications, Chief Dr Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, has said that it will be exercise in futility for any 2023 governorship aspirant to cast negative aspersions at the enviable achievements of Okowa’s administration.
He gave the assurance while receiving a Special Award of Excellence in Nation Building and Visionary Leadership in the Media Sector, bestowed on him by the Board of Africa Media Journal Concept, AMJC, in Asaba on Wednesday 17th November, 2021.
AMJC is a global news networking organisation, in partnership with major media agencies across the globe, and operates a regional office in Lagos, South West Nigeria.
Oghenesivbe said any governorship aspirant who intends to deploy media propaganda, hate speech and misinformation as a strategy to win 2023 governorship election in the state, will meet a brick wall, pointing out that falsehoods and lies cannot stand the test of time, but truth and glaring evidence of achievements will.
He noted that the opposition party in the state and her aspirant, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, have resulted to campaign of blackmail and falsehood against Okowa, as a plot to discredit undermine the achievements of this administration, adding that such negative mindset will only make Deltans to reflect on the achievements and better appreciate the good governance strides of the incumbent governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa.
He thanked management of AMJC for the Award, saying that in the midst of unfair criticisms by political detractors within and outside the system, he had received eight Awards since assumption of office as pioneer EA Communications to the Governor of Delta State.
“It is laughable for any governorship aspirant to tell lies against governor Okowa and this administration in terms of performance. Okowa’s numerous projects is likened to the biblical proverb of a ‘house built on top of a hill that cannot be hidden.’
“The new state secretariat, the Technical Colleges, the three new Universities, The upgraded Asaba Airport, the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba Underground Water storm project which finally put an end to flooding in the state capital, over 2,800 kilometers of road rehabilitated, Bridges built across the state, over 180,000 young Deltans and women trained and empowered, and many more enviable achievements of Okowa administration are there for all to see.
“There is no vacancy for APC in Delta State Government House, not in 2023, not thereafter. We trust the leadership capacity of Okowa to drive the process with other PDP leaders in the state to give Deltans a suitable successor that will build on the numerous achievements of this administration.
“And as Executive Assistant to the Governor on Communications, I will not cross my fingers and watch mischief makers talk down the governor and this administration in the political arena, rather I will ensure that propagandists and lying tongues are deflated by debunking their lies and articulating the exact and true position of the achievements of this administration.
“I thank the board of Africa Media Journal Concept, AMJC, for this Award. True appreciation and recognition comes from the observers of trends and developments which is why I cherish this Special Award of Excellence in Communication and Media Strategy.
“I wish to respectfully dedicate the Award to God Almighty for His Grace and inestimable love upon my life and family, and to my boss, governor Okowa, who gave me unrestricted liberty to exhibit my professional skills.
“I deeply appreciate the Governor and the state government for the numerous sponsored capacity building programmes which to a large extern sharpened my skills,” Oghenesivbe said.
Earlier, the General Manager, AMJC Lagos Regional Office, Frances Ogu, said the Award was in recognition of Oghenesivbe’s enviable contributions in nation building and visionary leadership style in the media sector.
She noted that since assumption of office, the Eacgov has been able to strategically project and defend government policies, programmes and have always responded swiftly to political detractors of the Governor, no matter the personalities involved.
“You are a role model to millions of upcoming writers, media enthusiasts and media practitioners in Nigeria, and across the globe. Your style, creative writing skills and presentation is unique, personalized, penetrative, inspiring, educative and in most cases very revealing.
“You are indeed, a factor to reckon with in the field of political communication and media strategy,” Ogu added.