The immediate past governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa has urged all local government council chairmen in the state to continue to impact positively on the lives of their people even when their tenures are ending in a few months.
Senator Okowa stated this on Thursday, January 4, 2023, when he inaugurated the Ultra Modern Secretariat built by the Chief Goddey Obi Nzete-led administration of Ndokwa West Local Government Council at kwale, headquarters of the local government area.
The immediate past governor noted that his administration and the incumbent government in the state have ensured that local government councils receive their funds in full and even extra funding from the state.
He expressed delight that a lot of the local government council chairmen have put the resources into good use after payment of salaries.
“Yes, we have as a state continued to ensure that the local government councils receive their funds and even extra funding from the state. It was not only during my administration nut after my administration, the administration of Rt. Hon. (Elder) Sheriff Oborevwori has continued to ensure that the councils receive their monies in full.
“We have never through my tenure taken a kobo from the local government councils but rather we support them to succeed. I am proud that a lot of them have put these resources into good use after the payment of salaries.
“I must truly thank His Excellency, the Governor who has continued to cooperate with the local government council chairmen and to enable them to do the best they can do within the resources available to them,” said Okowa.
Senator Okowa while saying that local government council chairmen are selected by their leadership and their people in their council areas emphasized that at no point in time did his administration impose a local government council chairman on any local government.
He congratulated the chairman of Ndokwa West Local Government Council, Chief Goddey Obi Nzete for the building of the the Ultra Modern Secretariat to enhance the administration and provide a conducive work environment for the council staff to effectively carry out their duties.
The immediate governor stressed that despite having few months left to leave office, the current Local Government Council chairmen still have a lot to do in executing projects that are relevant to the people.
He said, “I want to use this medium to urge all local government council chairmen even when their tenures are coming to an end in the next few months that there is still a lot that could be done in the next two months. And we hope to see more councils commissioning projects that are relevant to the people.”
The member representing Ndokwa West Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Charles Emetulu, the Managing Director of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Chief Festus Ochonogor, the Chairman of the People Democratic Party, PDP, in Delta North, Elder Moses Iduh and others applauded Chief Obi Nzete for his consultative approach to governance which manifested in the execution of people-oriented projects across the wards in Ndokwa West Local Government Area and painted the PDP in positive light among the people.
Chairman of Ndokwa West Local Government Council, Chief Goddey Obi Nzete said the Ultra Modern Secretariat and many projects dotting the landscape of Ndokwa West are in fulfilment of his electioneering promises to the people across the twenty wards in the area.
He said since he assumed office on March 8, 2021, his administration has been able to give a true reflection of the resources received as evident in the 109 projects executed out of which 100 have been completed and even distributed across the local government area.
Obi Nzete said, “In the course of my electioneering campaign few years ago, I had the privilege to traverse the length and breadth of my constituency, touring all 20 wards. This gave me the opportunity to see and listen to the desires of our people.
“There is no gainsaying the fact that the Delta State Government has made immense efforts in meeting the yearnings of our people. On our part, we recognise that each tier of government has a role to play and I resolved to do my part to fulfil my calling and to build on the legacy of giving back to our people which was started by my mentor, Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa.”
The Ultra Modern Secretariat at the Ndokwa West Local Government Council is among projects executed by other local government councils in Delta State inaugurated by former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa since he handed over the realms of power to his successor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori on May 29, 2023.
The project was executed by Chief Goddey Obi Nzete-led administration of Ndokwa West Local Government Council in one year.
