When the righteous is on the throne the people rejoice is a popular Bible passage that most people are familiar with. The import of this statement clearly played out recently when Scoreline spoke to two notable politicians in the Isuikwuato axis of Abia State: Hon. Nkem Duncan Oji, Councillor representing the good people of Ezere Ward 2 and Deputy Speaker Isuikwuato Council Assembly; and Hon. Madukwe John representing the good people of Imenyi Ward 1.
Their submissions were indeed revealing, a testimony of democratic dividend reaching the people. It is equally an indication of the direction of the above cited Bible passage. Though Scoreline spoke to the two leaders independently, their view on the issue posed to them turn out to be the same.
Scoreline's decision to speak to them is anchored on the need to feel their pulse as leaders working closely and directly with the Chairman/Mayor of Isuikwuato Local Government Council, Air Vice Marshal Chinwendu Onyeike Rtd. The role of Councilors as the legislators in the democratic governance of the third tier of government in Nigeria, the Local Government system, especially in law making, project monitoring and carrying out oversight on the activities of the executive arm of government, in the present instance, Isuikwuato LGA, led by the Council Chairman/Mayor can never be overemphasized.
Before beaming her searchlight in Isuikwuato LGA and on the two councilors representing Ward 1 and Ward 2 of the LGA, Scoreline is aware of the need to create opportunity for leaders in the rural areas, tagged sometimes and in some quarters as the under-covered and under-reported, to lend their voice and speak to the people. In view of this Scoreline offered the two committed political and community leaders the opportunity to provide an insight into the leadership and governance style of the Council Chairman/Mayor of the Isuikwuato LGA, and in addition to this offer them a Platform to communicate their own perspective, opinion and honest assessment of the LGA activities as relevant stakeholders in the LGA. The need for this in our political landscape cannot be overemphasized, considering the importance of bridging the information gap between the people and their leaders, and also eliminating the inherent dangers of operating without testing public expectations, opinions or views from time to time.
Hon. Nkem Duncan Oji, expecting a road grading project by AVM Onyike, with support of the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alext Otti
Addressing the above need consistently by the public office holders whether on appointive or elective positions by way of engaging the masses regularly, working with them diligently, with commitment and transparency, towards knowing their expectations, understanding their varied needs and meeting their real needs, essentially in a democratic dispensation or setting are strongly and unflinchingly of interest to Scoreline. In view of this, emphasis is attached by Scoreline at promoting healthy engagement opportunities between the leadership and the people and strengthening all that is necessary to ensuring that effective delivery of the dividends of democracy to the electorate whose vote play vital role as the major decider of the faith of leaders in a democratic setting count highly in her coverage and reportage activities, operations and functions.
In view of the above, the two appointed local government legislators of Isuikwuato legislative house were provided the opportunity by Scoreline to essentially apply their mind and deploy their monitoring and evaluation skills and tools as law makers that engage with the executive arm, and also carryout or conduct oversight functions, to highlight for the interest of the public and consumption, the contributions, projects wise of AVM Chinwendu Onyeike Rtd, to the growth and sustainable development of Isuikwuato LGA and by extension the impact of such projects on the survival of the people, taking cognizance of the period he has occupied office as Council Chairman/Mayor of the LGA, and bearing in mind that they are performing this task on Nigeria’s Democracy Day celebration of June 12, 2024, when residents of Isuikwuato, were basking on the euphoria of democratic dividends that accrue to them from the performance of their political leaders.
In their separate responses to Scoreline, the two councilors informed the public that the people of Isuikwuato LGA are favoured to have as their Council Leader, AVM Chinwendu Onyike (Rtd), a personality they both described glowingly as a visionary, hardworking and committed leader, appointed according to them by a celebrated, serial achiever, Dr. Alex Otti, the Executive Governor of Abia State.
Hon. Nkem Duncan Oji, inspecting on another roa
In the words of Hon. Nkem Duncan Oji: “My Leader, Nwanneukwu AVM Chinwendu Onyeike is an all-round achiever, a goal getter and outstanding performer, a people builder, excellent planner, and resource aggregator and coordinator. His Projects within the short space of time he's being in the office are visible testimonials. They are there for anybody to see, are worthy of celebration by our people as their share of democratic dividends.
“Nwanneukwu has been grading roads, rebuilding dilapidated structures at the council headquarters and contributing significantly to the building of humans, in and out of the school system. Nwanneukwu AVM, and our Leader, the Governor of Abia state, Dr. Alex Otti, have been restoring the loss glory of the state through enduring projects in the state and in Isuikwuato LGA respectively.
Hon Madukwe John, representing the good people of Imenyi Ward 1, who also spoke to Scoreline on the same issue noted: “Dr. Alex Otti, Executive Governor Abia State, and AVM Chinwendu Onyike (Rtd) our Mayor has been amazing. Just one year in office as the governor, the state is already wearing a different look, and in six months or thereabout, after his appointment into office as our Mayor, remarkable changes are being noticed. At this pace, in less than two years, the LGA and the state in general will turn into a beauty of sort.
“The Mayor began his work immediately and has since been working tirelessly to ensure that roads are graded in the various wards in the LGA which are not beneficial only to the good people of Isuikwuato, but other communities, their neighbours as well as passers-by (travellers).
“Abia State and Isuikwuato under the current leadership are having their lost glory regained and restored. Things we merely hear of and never had privilege of seeing previously are finally becoming reality to us; they have been brought close to us, to our door steps. Working with our leaders, the Governor and the Mayor has been the best thing that has happened to me. Working under both leaders has been quite memorable, highly educating, empowering and relieving.
“The Council Secretariat has been amazingly transformed. Transformations in infrastructure development and men are visible in the LGA. The good people of Abia and Isuikwuato are seeing the dividends of democracy. Good Governance which has eluded the people for a long time – 24 years is back and visible in the streets of Abia state generally and Isuikwuato in particular. The lost glory of the state and the LGA has been restored. The LGA Council Headquarter that hitherto looked uninhabited has been totally transformed to look like a local government secretariat. The state is positively turning to what it is created to be, a home for Ndi-Abia.
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