Oborevwori Receives DOPF Legislator, Independent Parliamentarian Of The Year Award
MEMBERS of the Delta Online Publishers Forum (DOPF), on Tuesday presented ‘The Legislature Of The Year Award’ (State) bestowed on the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly (DTHA), Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, at the forum’s 2021 Annual Lecture/Niger Delta Media Hall of Fame Induction and Awards.
Presenting the award to the Speaker who is the member representing Okpe State Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, the Chairman of DOPF and leader of the delegation, Mr. Emmanuel Enebeli stated that the Forum found the lawmaker worthy of the award, judging by his 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.
The award presentation, which took place at the Speaker’s Office within the State House of Assembly Complex had in attendance, some of the Speaker’s colleagues; including the 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 Elekokwuri (Ika South Constituency).
According to Enebeli, who 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 of journalism quacks, empasizing that the present DOPF leadership was determined to ensure sanity in online journalism and publishing in the Niger Delta Region and Nigeria in general, the award was in recognition of Oborevwori’s efforts to his constituents and the State Assembly in terms of quality representation, leadership, outstanding performance and delivery of dividends of democracy.
These projects and performances 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.
While 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 made him to accept it, saying that he could not attend the Annual Convention of the Forum because it collided with the date and time the State House of Assembly received the 2022 proposed budget from the Governor of the State, Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa.
He dedicated the award to God Almighty and to his colleagues and commended members of DOPF for their dedication to the ethics of journalism profession, even as he noted that it is the duty of the Online Publishers to rid itself of bad eggs.
“Please continue to do the right thing at all times. Stand against blackmail,” the Speaker enthused.
