Daily Independent Online.
*
Thursday, July 01, 2004.
Abia council chairmen list priorities
By Uche Nwosu,
special
correspondent,
Umuahia
Some council chairmen who were sworn in on
Monday in Umuahia, Abia State by Governor Uzor Orji Kalu have vow to tackle the
immediate needs of the people and improve agriculture so as to uplift the
quality of life of the people.
They however decried the recently
introduced states/LG joint account, stating that such account will retard the
progress and speedy development of rural areas.
The chairman of Ikwuano
Local Government, Chief Kelvin Ugboaga, said he would improve internally
generated revenue to augment whatever he gets from the federal allocation.
“I will work towards the completion of abandoned
projects like the court complex at Arian and electricity and water projects
scattered all over the council to ensure that the people feel the impact of
democracy.” he said.
Ugboaga added that he would ensure that
agriculture got a boost at the council and place less emphases on federal
allocation. “Nigeria should by now shift emphasis from crude oil to
agriculture if we want the economy to be revitalised.”
Elder Kalu Eke Kalu also decried the joint
account issue, explaining that the account will not pose any problem to any
performing local government chairman.
On the controversy over the swearing in of
some council chairmen who the Senate President, Chief Adolf Wabara, reportedly
wanted to substitute, Kalu said Wabara should not have taken it upon himself to
play the role of a godfather in a state where there is an executive governor.
He said the issue did not affect him
because “I am not on the list that Wabara wanted to substitute. I come
from Arochukwu Local Government where primaries were held peacefully. I would
say it is improper for any group or individual to hijack the job of the state
Independent Electoral Commission for a selfish interest.”
“I have vowed that even if I am give
N1 as allocation, I will utilise it for the benefit of the people,” he
said.
The chairman of the Bende Local Government,
Chief Chukwu Ngozi Chukwu, said “If any council boss wants to perform,
joint account or not should not deter him. I do not believe anything will
happen to our account. After all, before now, the transition chairmen
performed. It is our duty to raise funds internally because we can not always
rely on federal allocation,” he affirmed.
