…Charges them to ensure accelerated development.
Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has appointed Transition Committee (TC) Chairmen, popularly called Mayors for the 17 Local Government Areas of the state.
Otti also charged the newly inaugurated chairmen to make the local communities conducive for accelerated development.
They were also tasked to play active role in fishing out hidden talents in the rural communities.
Speaking while swearing them at the Michael Okpara Auditorium on Thursday, Otti said they were appointed to turn things around in the rural areas, adding that the execution of the policy is a task they must accomplished.
In his speech titled “Expanding the Frontiers of Development, Otti said, “Your primary task as mayors and deputies shall be to make the local communities and towns conducive for active production and rapid growth.
“We expect you to quickly develop holistic frameworks for improving agriculture and light scale production in ways that enhance outputs and attract domestic and foreign investors”.
According to him, their appointment is a call to serve and not to be served, stressing “We don’t expect you to get everything right on the first day but you must be willing to learn, keeping your mind open to new ideas and possibilities”.
The Governor promised that his administration would give each of them freehand to manage the affairs of the council responsibly, even as he used the forum to inform them of the need for them to design their programmes in ways that align with the general development philosophy of the present Labour Party administration in the state.
While tasking them to improve on the security of their various LGAs, the Abia chief executive declared “Your first task as leaders of the various LGAs shall include strengthening the security architecture in the towns and villages within your domain, especially as the yuletide approaches.”
The governor disclosed that his administration is working with multiple stakeholders, including multilateral and donor agencies, global IT companies and local financial institutions to develop a robust framework for addressing the critical challenges facing the people of the state such as endemic poverty, restricted access to basic amenities, limited skills for enhanced earning and unequal access to the boundless opportunities of the 21st century global economy.
The governor further charged them to ensure that they get their priorities right, build networks that can help them drive the development agenda of the Labour Party in their LGAs and discern where more would be achieved through partnership with relevant agencies of the state.
Warning against internal wrangling, Otti admonished them to guard against distractions that are bound to come from internal wrangling.
On his reason for appointing top businessmen and a woman, captains of industry, retired Generals etcetera as Mayors, the Governor said “We need the best hands and heads to drive the development of the state.
“We’re in a hurry to elevate the standards of leadership to accommodate strictly those who have something to offer.”
He thanked the Mayors and their Deputies for accepting to bring their extensive wealth of experience in various fields of human endeavours to bear in the service of their communities and urged them to serve as the vanguards of the New Abia in the 17 LGAs.
Earlier in his speech, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Uzor Nwachukwu revealed that it is the desire of Governor Otti to bring together such high-class individuals as Mayors and heads of the Local Government Councils “because he has great plans for the LGAs in the state”.
Such plans, according to the Commissioner, include ensuring the accelerated development of the grassroots, pointing out that there is no doubt that the Mayors would deliver given their pedigree.
In their various speeches, the Mayor for IsialaNgwa South LGA: Dr. Elelenta Nwambuisi Elelenta, the Mayor for Arochukwu LGA, Chief Joe Eze Aru and their Ikwuano counterpart, Mr. Osinachi Nwaka thanked the governor for giving them the opportunity to serve the people at the grass root and pledged their commitment to serve the people of the state diligently.
The event attracted many dignitaries across Abia State and the nation including the Deputy Governor, Engr Ikechukwu Emetu, Speaker of the State House of Assembly and members, Commissioners, aides to the governor, state chairman of the Labour Party, chairman, Abia Council of Ndi Eze and other traditional rulers etcetera, featured presentation of the report of the Committee on Civil Service Reform by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Kenneth Kalu.
The Mayors and their Deputies are;Aba North LGA: Chairman- Ide John Udeagbala
Deputy- Prince Nnaemeka Ogbonna, Aba South LGA: Chairman- Mr. Uchechukwu A. C. Wogu, Deputy- Mrs. Nkiru Ugwu, Arochukwu LGA: Chairman- Chief Joe Eze Aru, Deputy- Mr. Okezie Azuma, Bende LGA: Chairman- Barr. Chijioke Nwankwo.
Deputy- Mr. Onyedikachi Iroegbu, Ikwuano LGA: Chairman- Mr. Osinachi Hycinth Nwaka, Deputy- Chief Charles Ugbuajah
Others are, IsialaNgwa North LGA: Chairman- Mr. C. Y. Nwankwo, Deputy- Mr. Uchenna Nwanbuko, IsialaNgwa South LGA: Chairman- Dr. Elelenta Nwambuisi Elelenta, Deputy- Mr. Eberechukwu Ahuruonye, Isuikwuato LGA:
Chairman – Air Vice Marshal Chinwendu Onyike (Rtd), Deputy- Hon. Harrison Onuke, Obingwa LGA:Chairman- Dr. Eric Egwuibe, Deputy- Mr. Chiemela Ekpemu
Also included in the list of newly inaugurated Mayors are, Ohafia LGA: Chairman- Chief David Ogba, Deputy- Hon. Mkpa Oju Uka, Osisioma Ngwa LGA:Chairman- Engr. Israel Nweke, Deputy- Barr. Young Ngwaziem, Ukwa East LGA:Chairman- Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Nwagbara, Deputy- Chief Onyebuchi Nnah, Ukwa West LGA: Chairman- Mr. Newman Azu, Deputy- Mr. Anele Michael, Ugwunagbo LGA: Chairman- Comrade Nosike Ihesiaba, Deputy- Mr. Nnamdi Kelvin Chijioke, Umuahia North LGA:
Chairman- Chief Victor Ikeji, Deputy- Mr. Okechukwu Anthony Amah, Umuahia – South LGA: Chairman- Mr. Obike Ejike Nnochiri, Deputy- Mr. Olendingwa Nwabueze and Umunneochi LGA: Chairman- Mr. Ndubuisi Ike, Deputy- Mr. Njoku Augustine C.
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