By Eseoghene Emuke
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has appointed Mr Ifejika Olise as his new Chief Press Secretary (CPS), WARRI TODAY can authoritatively reports.
Olise will replace the versatile Charles Aniagwu formerly with Africa Independent Television (AIT) who will be sworn-in on Tuesday as commissioner and member of the State Executive Council.
This medium exclusively gathered that the governor will announce Olise as his new spokesman during Tuesday’s swearing-in of the commissioner in Asaba, the state capital.
Aniagwu, who is loved by journalists in the state, was elevated with his recent nomination as commissioner by Governor Okowa. He is among the last batch of commissioner to be sworn-in on Tuesday.
The former CPS is also being tipped to head the ministry of information which was hitherto headed by the now commissioner for basic education, Mr Patrick Ukah.
Olise, a renowned journalist with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), was picked ahead of three others which came into the governor’s consideration.
The new CPS hails from Illah in Oshimili North Local Government Area of the state. Until his appointment, Olise was also a former board member of the state owned newspaper, The POINTER.
He was also a member of the Justice Francis Tabai-led 2012 Delta State Flood Committee inaugurated by former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan. He represented the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on the committee.
It was gathered that Olise has been a long ally of the governor.
It was learnt that one of the governor’s former SA on Media, Mr Nelson Egware, was among the suitable persons that came into the governor’s consideration until he finally settled for Olise.
It was gathered an appointment letter, which was signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Chiedu Ebie, had already been issued to him on Monday afternoon.
