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… As Southern Ijaw Promises Him 100 Percent Votes
By Amos Okioma, Yenagoa
The governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has charged new caretaker committee chairmen of councils and their Rural Development Authority (RDA) counterparts in the state to reside in their local council headquarters.
Governor Diri gave the directive on Wednesday during the swearing-in ceremony of the eight councils and 32 RDA chairmen at the Executive Council Chambers of Government House, Yenagoa.
The oaths of allegiance and office were administered by the state chief registrar, Amaebi Oruka.
According to a statement by his chief press secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, the governor stressed that his administration will frown at any council chairman that flouted the directive on residency.
He also directed the new chairmen and their RDA counterparts to appoint only five supervisory councilors, adding that they are only entitled to three personal aides.
Governor Diri equally reminded them that the embargo on employment was still in force and that loans from banks and private sources were prohibited.
He urged the National Assembly to consider creating more local government areas for the state, stating that Bayelsa deserves at least 30 constitutionally.
He said: “All caretaker committee chairmen and Rural Development Authority chairpersons are to reside in their local government headquarters and daily work there. Any travel outside the local government must be with the permission from my office.
“For the eight local government chairmen, you are to appoint five supervisory counselors. You are entitled to three special assistants only. And they are personal assistant, chief security officer and protocol officer.
“There is still embargo on employment at all levels of staff be it temporary or casual employment. There is also a complete ban on all forms of borrowing, including loans from the bank and private sources.
“For emphasis, the issue of residency is very serious. We have had council chairmen that resided in Yenagoa. But we will no longer tolerate any chairman of council that makes Yenagoa his home rather than residing in the headquarters of the council or development authority.
“Bayelsa State currently has eight local government councils as enshrined and recognized by the 1999 constitution as amended. I therefore like to call on all members of the National Assembly from the state to make effort to ensure our 24 RDAs are recognized as local government councils.
“Local government councils should actually be the creation of the people of a particular state, depending on their resources. I do believe and know that if we control our resources in Bayelsa, we can create the number of local governments that will benefit our people,” he said.
The new caretaker committee chairmen are Alabo Hanson Karima (Brass), Chief. Belemu Nemine (Ekeremor), Inemo Oruebimiekumo (Kolokuma/Opokuma) and Chief Samuel Kalaguo (Nembe).
Others are Chief Ibu Williams Mizodome (Ogbia), Richman Samuel Ebipade (Sagbama), Lucky Okodeh (Souther Ijaw), and Mr. Tobi Andy (Yenagoa)
Among the newly appointed 32 RDA chairpersons were seven women.
Meanwhile, stakeholders from the Nigeria’s largest local government area, Southern Ijaw, have not only endorsed the second bid of Governor Douye Diri but urged all to vote massively for the Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidate and his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.
Speakers after speakers of who is who in Southern Ijaw politics at the reception turned carnival that was held in honour of the Southern Ijaw Caretaker Committee chairman, Hon Lucky Okodeh, and the Rural Development Areas counterparts.
Chairman of the occasion, Hon Moses Marlon, who eulogize and poured ecomiums on the state governor, Senator Douye Diri and his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, for their choice and approval of Hon Lucky Okodeh as the Southern Ijaw CTC, and urged the appointee not to disappoint the confidence reposed in, by ensuring that he consults widely and galvanizes grassroots for the reelection of Governor Douye Diri come November 11, 2023.
“He that much is given, much should expected,” Marlon said.
Others who spoke at the occasion included, the leader of the state House of Assembly, Rt Hon, Monday Edwin Bubo Obolou, the immediate past chairman of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Chief Nigeria Kia, the chairman of the state Development and Physical Planning Authority, Hon Koruakegha Dorgu, state secretary of the People’s Democratic Party, Hon Geiye Isowu, and Former Hon Adolphus Ofongo all lent their voices to reiterate the need for the celebrant to close ranks and mobilize full support from the entire Southern Ijaw Local Government Area to sustain the party’s political dominance since the inception of the nascent democracy.
They also assured him of their unalloyed support and collaboration all of which, are aimed at the development of the area to an enviable height.
In his response, Hon Lucky Okodeh thanked and appreciated God almighty, the One who gives power, and the state governor, Senator Douye Diri, deputy governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, Hon Moses Marlon, member representing Southern Ijaw Constituency 3 in the state House Assembly and every one for their prayers and supplication for his emergence as the caretaker committee chairman of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.
He promised not to be an island to himself, but to consult widely and seek the cooperation from all well-meaning stakeholders towards giving Governor Douye Diri a hundred percent votes come November 11, 2023 and also to embark on projects that will impact positively on the lives of the rural dwellers.
“I am aware of the enormous responsibilities and will not disappoint the confidence reposed in me for the onerous assignment,” he said.
Our correspondent reports that the reception which was attended by traditional rulers, youth, women and opinion leaders from all the nooks and cranny of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area took the resemblance of political rally as the local musician entertained the audience with scintillating music that praised the governor and other politicians for their excellent performance in the state.
