Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has sent a list of 18 cabinet member-nominees to the state House of Assembly for due screening and possible confirmation as commissioners and members the State Executive Council.
Eleven persons in the old state executive council (Exco) made the list, including Charles Aniagwu and Fidelis Tilijie, who were the information and finance commissioners, respectively.
Others nominees, who were formerly commissioners until the dissolution of the Exco last month, are Dr. Barry Gbe, Economic Planning; Julius Egbedi, Agriculture; Festus Ochonogor, Housing; Arthur Akpowowo, Urban Renewal; Ifeanyi Egwuyenga, Youth Development and Orientation; Flora Alanta, Women Affairs and Community Development; Churchill Amagada, Lands and Survey; Chris Onogba, Environment, and Lawrence Ejiofor, Culture.
The fresh nominees in the governor’s list are Evelyn Oboro, a former member of the House of Representatives; Noel Omordon, Rose Esenwu, Shola Ogbemi-Daibo, Jonathan Ukodhiko, Kate Oniawan, and Johnbull Edema.
The names of the nominees were read on the floor of the Assembly by the Speaker, Hon Sheriff Oborevwori.
Okowa said the nomination of members of the state executive council was in line with the powers vested in him by the virtue of Section 192, subsection 2 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution as amended.
The list of nominees represents the first batch of prospective commissioners as at least seven more names are expected to be selected from the remaining seven of the 25 local government areas of the state.
Among the popular names in the old Exco that are conspicuously missing from the list of nominees are James Augoye, formerly in charge of works, and Peter Mrakpor, former Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice of the state.
Both men, who are believed to be 2023 governorship aspirants, are also members of the DC-23, a pressure group comprising Urhobo indigenes in Delta Central senatorial district of the state.
Okowa had said he had to dissolve the old Exco primarily because of distractions from some members of the council on account of their overly interest in the 2023 governorship election in the state, a situation the governor said was counter-productive for his desire to finish the remaining two years of his administration on a high note.
However, the submission of the list of potential Exco membership nominees to the state legislature was delayed for about three weeks due to the prolonged strike embarked upon by the parliamentary workers nationwide, which forced the state lawmakers to go on forced vacation.
Meanwhile, the aforementioned nominees have been directed to submit twenty-five copies of their CV to the office of the Clerk of the Assembly on or before June 21, 2021, and to appear for screening on June 22, 2021.
Source: This Day Live
