Every sincere and honest citizen of Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State, will attest to the fact and reality on ground that, Ughelli South is lagging behind in terms of infrastructural, human growth and development.
Over the years, successive leaders saddled with leadership responsibilities often left without a mark.
Though, they maybe praised as faithful, loyal party men by their cronies during their tenure, but in reality, some have grossly failed in their role as custodian of the grassroot development.
This perhaps maybe as a result of lack of clear agenda and preparedness for the task of governance. The reason maybe that because some were brought from their various fields and profession and imposed on the masses against their wish, while some who were given power were alien to politics, hence they are manipulated all through their tenure for the interest of the few and their personal interest.
Another factor that has made Ughelli South local government backward is what seems to be tradition, and what has now become an acceptable norm of gross impunity, corruption, non performance and refusal to give account of stewardship by those in office.
Secondly, the ‘godfatherism’ factor has really dealt much with us as citizens greatly.
It no longer matters whether a local government chairman performs or not, all he or she does is, to lord over the people and give peanuts to some allies, then the praise singing mantra continues to the detriment of the entire council.
For some years past, it is becoming deliberate as anyone that ascend the seat sees it as a birthright. The masses are kept mute either by threat to life or threat to lock them up should they dare to ask questions. Public resources are diverted to private pockets and private businesses as no one dares to ask questions. With all these, the development of the local government remain static, stagnant and behind.
More so, because those imposed on the people were not qualified, they remain silence even when they are under pressure by their godfathers to do their bidding of diverting all resources to personal pockets.
This piece is not to maligned anyone or call names, but a clarion call to change our pattern of electing our leaders.
No doubt, we will all agree that good name and right attitudes attract prayers, good things and praises, while bad attitudes may bring setbacks.
Now that we have the opportunity again, we will not want a local government chairman who does only his or her interest while the masses live in penury and pains.
This is our chance. This is our chance to bring in fresh blood.
We do not want a chairman who is self centered. We do not want an arrogant chairman. We do not want a chairman who is not youth friendly. We do not want a chairman under whose watch, pupils will be learning while sitting on the floor. We do not want a chairman who sees what is going wrong and closes his eyes. We do not want a chairman who will divert local government resources into personal pockets. We want a chairman who is known at the grassroot, close to the grassroot and a core grassroot man with a good reputation as a politician and as a person.
It is about time we copy good things. Let look and imitate the legacies of the immediate past Chairman of Oshimili South Local Government Area, Dr. Ebonka.
A young, versatile, vibrant, creative innovative and full of dreams for the council and his people. He did transformed the council within three years with a lot of viable and tangible projects that you can see with your eyes.
Hon. Anthony. Isikuru has been in the struggle long ago. He is well known, recognized and accessible to every youths, women, elders and children in the local government and beyond.
He has worked assiduously to enthrone successive governments and administration in the state. He is a party man, loyal and peoples friendly.
Given the opportunity, he will definitely change the narrative for good. This is not to say, his predecessors have not work, but as a young man with the zeal and enthusiasm to deliver the dividends of democracy to those in the grassroot, we believe he will improve better.
Isikuru will not deny the people of their opportunities
Isikuru will not reject the peoples wish and aspirations.
Isikuru will not conspire against his people’s and retard them from benefitting what is due to them.
Isikuru will not betray his own people nor humiliate them because he is the chairman of the council.
If truly, youths are the leaders of tomorrow, why not give a young, vibrant, dynamic and visionary youth in the person of Hon. Anthony Isikuru that chance to make the difference?
Like he once said, ‘I have not been given the opportunity to serve in any capacity except as a Special Assistant on Security and Youth Matters, but that little office given to me, I believed and others did testify to it that I used it to empower my followers judiciously’.
Such a man with foresight, innovations, creativity, vision, dream and plans to make the council work again, if given that opportunity, he will definitely change the narrative for better. He will look into programs that should benefits the people of Ughelli South.
Yes, there are job opportunities for the youths, women and the people if we harnessed our potentials positively.
Ughelli South local government have grown beyond mere borehole in three or six years. We need tangible projects, sustainable empowerments, provision of healthcare facilities, construction or renovation of schools.
It is therefore absurd, for a council chairman in this 21st century to point at a borehole as an achievement after three or six years.
All geared down to lack of preparedness, people oriented programs, clear plans and strategies to tackle the endemic challenges confronting the local government area.
Let me reiterate here that there are minor issues the local government can handle without seeking the intervention of the state government. Patching or maintenance of failed roads, refurbishing or renovation of schools, health care centers and market stores or provision of water can be handled to an extent by the local government. If we are to be sincere to ourselves, not everything we blame on the President or the Governor.
What then is the role of the local government chairman? Is his duty only supervised the payment of salaries with the monthly allocations?
Such narrative is about to change by this young, dynamic and vibrant politician who believed in the growth and development of the grass root.
Over the years, since the return of democracy in 1999, Ughelli South Local Government have not had it right, as few persons have held the council hostage.
They determine who is selected instead of election. It does not matter whether or not the chosen one is prepared for leadership, but all that matters, as long he or she will do the bidding of their ‘godfathers’, the lucky one is selected. The choice of the masses is often neglected. They run and control the council as as individual business.
They determine what happened to the monthly federal allocation and the monthly generated IGR after grudgingly paying salaries.
The youths of Ughelli South have come to reality, that now is the time to develop Ughelli South. Now is the time to change the lives of our people. Now is the time to change the blood line.
Our father’s and mothers should rest after being active for so many years.
It is our time to feed them and report back to them how we are faring. Let’s give Anthony Isikuru a chance to bring in new ideas, meaningful development, peace and security, accessibility, empowerments and human capital development to all.
With Anthony Isikuru, Ughelli South will be great and developed.