The Executive Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, Hon. Engr Samuel Nwanosike, celebrated two years in office on Thursday, 18 June, 2020 – but the anniversary started on Wednesday, 17 June as he took newsmen around projects.
The project tour started off with the chairman taking newsmen around council secretariat where he showed reporters a drainage and road network he said he constructed as he assumed office. He also showed reporters new secretariat complex he has built to accommodate all civil servants.
As he took reporters inside the new secretariat building, Hon. Engr Nwanosike said that principal officers would have offices in suite in the secretariat complex.
He said the project was finished in less than six months and has 1,000-sitting- capacity hall.
The council boss said that the hall would generate revenue as it will be hired for events.
He also said that there’s 200 KVA generator set adding that he did perimeter fencing round the council secretariat and built a new gate house at the entrance to the secretariat when none was in place when he became chairman.
He took reporters to the old council secretariat building which is undergoing renovation.
Describing it as iconic, the council chairman said it was built by one of the founding fathers in 1952 saying the old secretariat building is named Jackson Mpie House after Jackson Mpie who built the complex saying that since then previous administrations failed to build a new secretariat complex.
He said that his government was proactive and looking at the future and was worker friendly.
He also said his government had approached a financial institution to set up one of their branches in the council area to provide financial services to people in the local government and showed reporters the institution’s building which has been completed and ready to be used by the bank for operations.
He said he refurbished National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) building for Corps members and renovated a building for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He said that his government liaised with the State Ministry of Power in collaboration with his counterpart from Emohua Local Government to reconnect communities in the local government areas to the national grid.
The chairman said his government is developing sports in the local government area saying that he came into office with five-point agenda which is security, agriculture, education, infrastructural development and employment generation adding that he has made achievements in all areas.
At Omagwa, the chairman took reporters to a 1,000-sitting-capacity hall for traditional rulers which has been completed and also took reporters to a Community Secondary School which has been completed at Imegu, Omagwa.
He said although the school was state-owned he intervened and built a new building.
A former principal of the school, Emejuru John-Wale, who was at the premises told newsmen there was no proper school building when he was principal and commended the chairman for the feat.
The tour proceeded to Aluu where the chairman showed reporters a 10-classroom block built by his administration.
He had said he became chairman on 18 June, 2018 and had not owed any worker since adding that he gives awards to motivate council staff.
He said that his team is in government to serve people in the local government area saying projects executed by him were those chosen by the people.
At Igwuruta, he took reporters to a health centre nearing completion which he said had been an old dispensary built before the Nigerian-Biafran Civil War.
He said that he started the project from scratch for the people of the community saying contractors have started roofing of the facility adding that it was what the people requested during his campaign.
He also showed reporters a police division undergoing construction in Ubima Community opposite a model secondary school built by state government.
He said he wants the community to attract investment which is host to oil companies in the local government.
He also took reporters to a market under construction in Elele and said that no project would be left uncompleted.
The celebration continued on the following day at an official gathering inside the secretariat where the chairman reeled out projects done by his administration.
In his address titled The Journey So Far, the Chairman said: “Two years ago we signed a pact titled Our Social Contract and Bond With The People of Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State which encapsulated our commitment to prudently manage the local government resources to advance the well-being of the majority of our people. Today our administration is two years old and we are happy to report to this Council that we have faithfully and conscientiously delivered on our developmental agenda”.
He expressed gratitude to the governor of the state, Chief Nyesom Wike, for privilege to pilot affairs of the local government area and appreciated the good people of the local government area for overwhelming trust and prayers in the last two years.
The ceremony was attended by principal officers of the local government, councillors in the thirteen Wards, traditional rulers, lawmaker representing the constituency, women and youths and representatives of security agencies.
In solidarity speech people spoke and commended the chairman for his accomplishments in the council area.
The lawmaker representing Ikwerre Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Anslem Oguguo, said the day was symbolic and historic and applauded the chairman for building a new secretariat saying it was first time lots of projects were also spread in thirteen wards in the local government council.
He also said that the chairman carried people along.
The Vice Chairman in the local government, Hon. (Mrs) Ifeoma Rejoice Nyenwe, said in her solidarity speech she was happy to work with the chairman describing him as hardworking and having integrity.
She said they were able to fulfil their campaign promises because God helped them and thanked the governor of the state for his support for women giving them opportunity to serve.
The Leader of the legislative council in the local government, Hon. Nwobuisi Chikwe-Tasie, said that there was evidence in every community of achievements made by the administration adding that projects delivery is way of life of the council chairman.
He thanked the chairman for good working relationship with the legislative arm and also thanked his colleagues for playing their part in supporting the chairman perform his responsibilities.
The Head of the Local Government Administration, Dr. (Mrs) Fortune Nne Okah, said that the chairman have had good working relationship with civil servants in the local government adding that projects delivered were as said by him.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in the council, Engr. ThankGod Ichem, said that the group would crown the chairman as Best Chairman of the year saying they will also support him for second term.
The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in the local government, Hon. Dennis Amadi, said the chairman had put in everything to develop the local government area and lauded him for accomplishments so far made.
Women in the local government area sang a song in their native Ikwerre language to express appreciation to the chairman for all the achievements made in two years.
