Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State wednesday announced the appointment of Professor Julius Ihonvbere; THISDAY Editor, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, and five others as his Special Advisers.

While Osagie was appointed as Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, the six other advisers are to handle other portfolios.

They include: Mr Osaro Idah (Political and Community Matters); Professor Julius Ihonvbere (Chairman, Strategic Planning Team, Governor’s Office); Mr Joe Okojie (Agriculture and Food Security Programme); Mr Joseph Eboigbe Economic and Development Planning); Mr Gowon Yakubu (Special Duties) and Dr. Joan Oviawe (Basic Education).

Osagie, in this role, would be responsible for and oversee the entire media and communication system of the governor and would be in charge of implementing the media and communications strategy and policy of the government.

Osagie who holds a Second Class Upper degree in Agricultural Economics and postgraduate certificate in Entrepreneurial Studies was the Deputy Group News Editor of THISDAY Newspapers where he had worked for 17 years, holding various other positions including Assistant Business Editor, Energy Editor and Industry/Agribusiness Editor, among others.

Speaking on the appointments, Obaseki reiterated his commitment to engaging only the best and brightest to work in his cabinet, stressing that each appointee was picked for the position due to their vast experiences in their various fields.

He stressed that the appointments should not in anyway be misconstrued to be a call to business as usual but must be seen as an opportunity to make sacrifices and serve the great Edo people.

“We have not appointed any one to office as a means of political patronage or reward. The debt we owe is only to the good people of Edo State who, against all odds, took their stand behind us and handed us the mandate to lead them. This debt I speak of which we owe the Edo people is the debt of service to all in fidelity, and a commitment to at all times ensure that we act in the best interest of the majority.

“Our ultimate goal is to make certain that at the end of our stewardship, we can stand boldly, either before God or men, in defense of our actions in governance to have been with integrity and the understanding that the power to serve our people was divinely bequeathed to us,” Obaseki said.

Thisday