By Anne Azuka
A Socio-Cultural group, Concerned Ute-Okpu Elites on Sunday congratulated the Executive Chairman, Ika North East Local Government Council, Hon. Monday Hunkanma Odigwe on his electoral victory at the just concluded Local Council elections in Delta State and successful swearing in.
The congratulatory message was contained in a Press Statement signed by the Chairman, Concerned Ute-Okpu Elites, Comrade Michael Ikeogwu and made available to newsmen.
Comrade Ikeogwu described Odigwe”s victory and swearing in as a very welcome development to the group in particular, Ika North East people and Deltans in general.
He said that the group was convinced of Hon. Odigwe”s victory the day he emerged as Chairmanship candidate, just as it expressed gratitude to the leadership and critical stakeholders of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Ika North East Local Government Area for their choice of their son.
Ikeogwu noted that Odigwe”s track record as the Secretary of Concerned Ute-Okpu Elites, coupled with experience gathered as a public servant and community leader were enough training for him to understand the terrain.
The group averred that it has implicit confidence in the ability of Hon. Odigwe to deliver quality dividend of democracy to the people of Ika North-East Local Government Area.
According to the statement, we are aware of the enormous challenges that have characterised local government administration particularly the issue of paucity of funds which understandably has impacted negatively on grassroots development.
” We wish to use this opportunity to remind you that the recent judgement by the supreme court that has granted financial autonomy to the local council in Nigeria, has placed additional burden on the councils if the claim that state government sometimes argument council allocations.
“Armed with some of these obvious challenges that local councils face, it is therefore, expedient for you to hit the ground running by thinking out of the box on how you are going to diversify the revenue base of our local government.
“In doing this Hon. Odigwe, you must avoid the pitfalls of pride and ego, research on why your predecessor couldn’t deliver on their political campaign promises, and embrace consultative style of leadership while implementing your blue print for the council area.
” Nevertheless, we have implicit confidence in your ability and capacity to deliver which were the Hallmark of your antecedent that endeared you to your party.
“We promise not to abandon you but to collaborate with you in actualising unprecedented development that has never been seen since the creation of the council. Once again, congratulations”, Ikeogwu stressed.
