The Executive Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area, Hon. Engr. Samuel Nwanosike has said that although the decision to choose a successor at the end of his tenure, lies with the people, he would like to be returned for a second term.
Nwanosike who made this known while addressing journalists at Council Secretariat in Isiokpo on Wednesday, said he was compelled to make the appeal to enable him complete the numerous projects being executed by his administration.
He told the journalists, who were on project tour of his council, under the auspices of the Rivers State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), that the projects being executed by the council were enormous and may not be completed before the end of his tenure in June next year.
The Ikwerre council boss disclosed that projects have been scattered in all thirteen wards of the LGA while some have been completed and awaiting commissioning.
“You should join me to plead with my people to give me another term. Three years is not enough time to finish what we are doing. If they call us back, I give God the glory because that is what we want.
“Some of these projects have been completed and some are close to completion. They range from police station, hospital, classroom blocks both primary and secondary, town halls, markets and drainage, all geared towards improving the welfare of our people.
“Despite these physical infrastructures, we also have deliberate programmes and policies of government initiated to touch the lives of our people”, he declared.
Engr. Nwanosike who disclosed that his administration has engaged 112 aides to ‘carry the people along’, named one of the programmes as ‘Back to Farm’ initiative whereby the sum of N2million is being given to each of the 13 wards to enable rural peasant farmers boost their petty trade.
“We gathered our aunties and uncles and asked how much we should give them to improve their business and they requested for Fifteen Thousand Naira only. But we decided to give them Twenty Thousand Naira each, irrespective of their political leanings”, he explained.
He added that the programmes became successful because of the relative peace being enjoyed in the LGA, stressing that his administration upon assumption, fought insecurity and chased criminals out of the area.
Another programme worthy of note, according to him, is the ‘Back to School’ initiative aimed at redirecting their orientation from criminality to education.
“We are making them to see education as the only way to success in life. Education is the only solution to escape poverty. Education does not only mean degree from the university. Knowledge of crafts, trades and even music or dancing is education”, he said.
Nwanosike said these programmes entail free registration of WAEC and NECO and procurement of JAMB forms for the teeming youths of Ikwerre LGA, adding that over two thousand persons have benefitted from the programme in the last two years with many more awaiting to benefit before the end of his administration.
After inspecting the ongoing new secretariat building at the council premises, the tour took the journalists to Elelewhere they inspected market stalls undergoing construction; Ubima Town where work on a police station has reached advanced stage; a primary and secondary school project at Omagwa; and a town hall also in Omagwa, the home town of the Ikwerre council boss.
Speaking on behalf of the visiting journalists, the State Chairman of NUJ, Mr. Job Stanley Job said the visit was in keeping with the constitutional duty placed on journalists to see and report government’s activities to the people.
Mr. Job said with what the KELGA boss had placed on ground, there is hope that the third-tier of government can be productive with good leadership, urging other LGAs in the state to liaise with the NUJ in the State to let their people know what government is doing.
