The member representing Ika North East Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon Anthony Elekeokuri has called on critical stakeholders from the local government area to do more for the growth of the area.
Elekeokuri stated this while speaking during a mock session for the Ika North East Local Government Legislative House, held at the Delta State House of Assembly Complex, Asaba, as part of the programmes for the capacity building workshop for the Council’s councillors.
Elekeokuri, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts, maintained that Ika North East requires all-around development and that the commitment and support of stakeholders were needed to achieve the desired goal.
The lawmaker explained that his sponsorship of the training programme for the Councillors was part of efforts towards moving the Ika North East Council forward as the legislators play pivotal roles for grassroots development.
“As I always told people that the importance of human capital development cannot be overemphasized, people will continue to get knowledge and knowledge is power in the sense that it brings innovation. It brings up creativity and potentials are highlighted. It helps to manifest whatever you have learnt, giving knowledge day by day is what empowers you to do your work better,” he said.
Continuing, “So what they are doing here is to equip themselves, get some tools, go back to the House and use these tools to work effectively for the development of our society in Ika North East and that is what they are going to do. I call on all political stakeholders especially in Ika North East, that whatever they can do to help out – not just in infrastructural development, but also to look at human capital development. That is the way to go right now”.
Hon Elekeokuri charged the Councillors to be focused and never be afraid of failures, as they must make mistakes as they strive to make their debates convincing and elegant.
On the mock session of the Legislative House, the Ika North East Representative, stressed the importance of training and retraining, saying that they were still many areas left uncovered.
“Using the order paper to follow up the proceedings, you will see that the Councilors have a different experience contrary to what they used to know. From the look of things, it is obvious that they have gained so much. They looked at the rules of the House, the ethics of the House, how to behave in the House as everything were brought to bear, especially using the example of the Delta State House of Assembly,” Elekeokuri stated.
Speaking further the lawmaker said “Why they are here is to do better. The presentations were good, those that went in favour of the debate and those that went against and how everything was brought to bear. In the long run, they are excited and I am also excited because they have gained knowledge. They have also promised that when they get home, they will implement everything they have learnt to the latter under the ambit of the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and their own bylaws so that people will have a better understanding of how to relate even with the executive”.
The Councillors paid glowing tributes to Hon Elekeokuri and the resource persons for the training programme, affirming that they were now better legislators.
