… Lauds Uzodimma On LGAs
By Ifeanyichukwu Ibe
The Executive Chairman of Isiala Mbano LGA, Hon. Evang Chika Okoroike has described the LGA as a typical example of a flourishing local administrative system in the state with the positive impacts of projects and programmes felt by the indigines of the area. This was as expressed gratitude to Governor Hope Uzodimma for returning democratic governance to the grassroots, and for finding him worthy to occupy his present chairmanship position.
Okoroike, in company of his deputy, Hon. Mrs. Stella Onyema Laz and the Leader of the Council, Rt. Hon. Mgbeosum Godson (Suru), made the disclosures when newsmen visited his office at the LGA’s headquarters, Umuelemmai on Tuesday, January 28. He noted that his administration was under pressure and determined to deliver on its mandate, adding that nothing would fall short of delivering dividends of democracy to the people of Isiala Mbano to justify his election.
“Operating at the third tier of government is tasking as the people would want to feel the impact of governance and would not accept excuses, but evidences of the meaningful applications of the revenue accruing to the LGAs,” Okoroike stated, adding that he would strive to meet the aspirations and welfare of the people as his priority, hailing the support from Governor Uzodimma’s government.
On the people-oriented projects undertaken by his administration, the chairman disclosed that he inherited abandoned projects, but swiftly moved in to complete them, including the council secretariat office which is close to completion. He enumerated his other infrastructural achievements to include: comprehensive grading of rural roads, rehabilitation of electric transformers as well as the audacious gully erosion control project at Nkwo Mbaa which is at 70% completion.
He added that his administration launched “Rural Water Availability Project” to ensure steady supply of water in Isiala Mbano LGA, adding that the fruitful initiative was aimed at installing solar panels as sources of power to the boreholes. Relatively, Hon. Okoroike, said that his administration recently re-launched the “Back to Farm Initiative” towards ensuring food availability, economic stimulation and price control in relation to commodities in the LGA.
He explained that under the initiative, ten thousand suckers of plantains and cassava inputs would be distributed to farmers to ensure high, quantitative and qualitative yields. He added that the project would make Isiala Mbano LGA a cassava breeding ground, with plans to build a processing plant at PDS. According to him, the plant would produce starch for export as he administration was in talks with a company, while other products like garri and fufu from the cassava value chain would serve local the needs.
Okoroike, who enjoined the indigines of the area to be good citizens as well as to support his administration, noted that security in Isiala Mbano was top on his priority, hence his efforts at ensuring that activities in the LGA are unhindered. This determination he said had yielded positive results with zero cases of kidnapping recorded in the area in recent times, adding that a special surveillance team being assembled by his government would ensure total security through enhanced intelligence gathering, distribution, analyses and enforcements.
Concerned over the plight of the downtrodden, Hon. Okoroike, also highlighted his Special Intervention Programme for the needy and widows, adding that the council in partnership with the Office of the Imo First Lady, was constructing a second house to be dedicated to the welfare of widows.
He maintained that they have the ingenuity, passion and determination to meet the expectations of the people of Isiala Mbano with his thoughtful and robust programmes and projects, while expressing joy that the people of the area were happy and satisfied with his administration’s performances. He used the opportunity to solicit objectivity and collaboration from the media towards moving the LGA forward.
