Traditional Rulers’ Council, Others Laud Ukwa-East Council Boss, Hon. Wabara, As He Unveils Scorecard

…Hon. Chuks Wabara has outperformed past Chairmen of the Council – Ndoki Indigenes Insist

 

The Chairman, Ukwa-East Traditional Rulers’ Council, Abia state, HRM Eze Anthony Alali Wabara Akara has applauded the Executive Chairman, Ukwa-East Local Government Area (LGA), Hon. Chuks Wabara for his infrastructural strides and Human Capital Development in LGA.

The Mbele 1 of Ohambelem autonomous community who stated this during a chat with our Correspondent in Aba, Abia state, noted that Hon. Wabara demonstrated frugality in managing the little funds available at his disposal to executive legacy projects in the area.

He noted that the LG council used to look like a village house but was given a facelift by Hon. Wabara, maintaining that the LG boss has improved the lot of his people within his two years in office.

The royal father listed other projects executed by Hon. Chuks Wabara to include; building of an ultra-modern health facility at Ohambele, youth empowerment, grading of rural roads, provision of portable drinking water, palliative work at Mkpukpule axis of Aba-Azumini road, facilitation of electricity in Ndoki among others.

Contributing, the Secretary to Local Government (SECLOG), Mr. Emmanuel Shebbs noted that Hon. Chuks Wabara has digitalized governance in Ukwa-East by creating a platform that allows all Ukwa-East indigenes in Nigeria and in diaspora to participate in his government.

The LG scribe added that extended dividends of democracy to over 87,500 people living in Ukwa-East, insisting that Hon. Wabara redrawn the map of governance in the area, and set a structure for economic growth and development in Ndokiland.

In their separate remarks, the Treasurer, Ukwa-East LGA, Elder Rasmus Echezola Okata, the Director Head of Department (HOD), Agriculture Department, Mr. Mark Chimaeze Samuel noted that Hon. Wabara has performed creditably within the resources available to the LGA.

They explained that the chairman has a robust relationship with the staff of the council and has lived up to his billings while in the office.

In a related development, the Supervisory Councillor for Environment, Hon. Uche Okere and his Transport and Revenue counterpart, Hon. Michael Nnah have disclosed that the Council boss has outperformed all the past chairmen of Ukwa-East LGA, explaining that agricultural, health and other critical sectors were touched in his administration.

In their words: “For the first time, people’s salaries care now complete.

Hon. Wabara does not use the guise of ‘don’t pay’ used by previous administration to short-change staff of the council. No staff of the council is owed any salary arrears”.

Meanwhile the Ukwa-East Council boss also known as Mayor in a media chat with National Ambassador revealed his scorecard.

Excerpts:

What’s your experience in office as the Executive Chairman, Ukwa-East Local Government Area (LGA) Abia state?

 

It has been exciting. In seeking for leadership position, you must be prepared. Having been a Deputy Chairman, Ukwa-East LGA from 2016 – 2018, this prepared me for the position of the Chairman, Ukwa-East LGA today.We came on board 2020 and pretty soon we would round off. It has been an excellent experience. The desire to serve the people has been a thing of joy to me.In clear terms, how has your government touched people at the grassroot?The Local Government is the government closest to the people. In my quest to make a difference in lives of the people of Ndoki in Ukwa-East, I have engaged extensively. Prior to this time, I have a full grasp of what the people need and so far, as the Executive Chairman of Ukwa-East, I have tried to my best within the limited resources available to us.The first thing we did when we came on board was to give the Council a facelift and ensure we have good working environment.We also facilitated the enduring peace existing in Akirika-Obu today. Prior to our administration, Akirika-Obu in Ukwa-East LGA, which is a border community between Abia and Ika, Etimekpo LGA, Akwa-Ibom state has been a perennial flashpoint of boundary dispute. This has led to loss of several lives and property but when we came on board, we approached the Governor of Abia state, Okezie Victor Ikpeazu (Ph.D). He invited his Akwa-Ibom state counterpart, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, and today, peace has been restored in area with soldiers stationed within area. In terms of projects, we have done a lot and they include:Is there any input in the Agricultural Sector to ensure food security?

The Agricultural sector in the LGA had its fair share under our administration. We are mostly farmers (agrarian people) and are limited in terms of mechanized farming.We have distributed farming tools, fertilizers among others to all the wards in the LGA. This will ensure better cassava and yam yields and at large, enhance food security as well as better return in terms of revenue.In the health sectorThe medical condition in Ukwa-East was deplorable as we don’t have any functional health facility. People can’t be dying from Thyphoid and malaria at this age. No! We decided to put up a functional health facility at Ohambele to solve the primary health needs of the people. The health centre has Doctors’ quarter attached to ensure prompt and adequate healthcare services is offered to the people at all times in Ukwa-East LGA. This is the first of its kind.We have done the most in the health sector. Governor Ikpeazu supported this administration in putting up the edifice – the health facility in Ohambele.Going forward, His Excellency, former Senate President has been magnanimous and has donated free medical equipment Hundreds of Millions to kick-start the health facility. This include hospital bed, laboratory apparatus among others. I thank him immensely. Gov. Ikpeazu has also procured medical equipment for the centre as well.

What’s the rate of women and youth involvement in your administration?

I believe in affirmative action and my administration has been gender-friendly. Ukwa-East is the only Council that has a woman as the Leader of the Legislative Council. We have always considered women as our topmost priority. In the healthcare facility, women would be the most beneficiary of the facility. Women are the ones that suffer the most when there is any health challenge. The women resident in Ndoki do not have a well-equipped place to go for antenatal and post-natal care but with the new health facility put in place, the problem would be solved. Youths This administration has been youth-friendly.

The Secretary to Local Government (SECLOG) in Ukwa-East happens to be the youngest in the state. He has done excellently. We have catered for the students within the resources available to us. We have provided scholarship to our students, gave bursary to the indigent students, secured university admission for some of our young people. This would enhance Human Capital Development index in the area and bring development to Abia, Nigeria and the world at large.

What is your relationship with Staff and National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE)?   

 

We’ve enjoyed a cordial relationship with LG staff and NULGE. NULGE had their elections in the Council and it went smoothly without any interference from the office of the LG chairman. I have always believe in democratic process. We partnered very well in the advancement of the Council.The welfare of staff has been my priority as I have never used ‘Don’t Pay’ policy to short-pay any staff since assumption of office.

Other Achievements?

It important to note that Ukwa-East LGA have not passed any bill since inception but our administration was able to make history and passed two bills. These bills are Ndoki Mass Transit Bill and Ndoki Cultural Day. Ndoki Mass Transit Bill was designed to enhance transportation of our people, create jobs and generate revenue to the LGA among others.This would also allow people to use our franchise to do transport business. While the business owner gets 70% of the profit, Ukwa-East gets 30% of the profit from every bus under our franchise for instance. We will give our partners or subscribers the right of passage by giving them our Local Government plate numbers to ply freely at the way to and fro Lagos, Abuja and other parts of the country like other transportation outfit. In most cases, our indigenes coming from Lagos, Abuja are usually dropped at Port-Harcourt, Aba, among other places and getting to Ndoki communities in Ukwa-East could be a huge problem to our people, hence, the need to have a motor park at Obohia Ndoki, Ukwa-East LGA Abia.The next is Ndoki Day Bill. It is a day set aside by virtue of the bill to showcase and promote Ndoki cultural heritage among other things.

How is your relationship with Dr. Ikpeazu’s-led administration?

My relationship with the Abia Governor is quite cordial.
Firstly, I sincerely commend the Governor of Abia state for allowing LGAs in Abia to run democratically. Under Gov. Ikpeazu’s tenure, he has had two LGAs elections twice (2016 – 2018, and 2020 – 2022). I give him kudos for that. In the past, it has been from one Transitional Committee Chairman to another but Gov. Ikpeazu made the difference which gave us the privilege of serving our people. What Would You Consider As Your Greatest Achievement In Office?The primary health centre in Ohambele is a legacy project. Secondly, I would want to be remembered as one that served the people with the fear of God.

Sir, If you have more funds/resources available at your disposal, what more would you have done?

Hmmmm… Smiles… Quite rhetoric. If I have more fund and time, I would turn Ndoki to Dubai. For close to nine years, the entire people of Ukwa-East LGA stayed without electricity, but by the grace of God, under my administration electricity was restored to our people. Many thanks to the Abia state Governor, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu for his prompt intervention and uncommon assistance in realizing electricity in Ndoki land. If I have all the resources couple with my over 20 years diasporan experience, I will make sure that I industrialize Ukwa-East LGA. I will ensure that the artisans out there get electricity to make a living and our deplorable roads would be given good attention.I would ensure that our entrepreneurs have access to loans and grants to start-up and upgrade their businesses. These are things that are lacking in our clime. Health-wise, people are dying from minor ailments that should have been treated easily without panic.There’s a little bit of starvation going on, even though it’s not peculiar in our area but a national/global issue. The truth remains that you can write a different story about your place. In fact, if we have more funds, we’ll take Ukwa-East to a different level.

What challenges did you encounter?

Our major challenge has been paucity of fund. It is like being sent to war with your hands tied. I prayed that things get better. We pray that the National Assembly do something urgently concerning the Local Government autonomy as this would enhance the development of the LGAs in Nigeria.

What’s Your Message To The People Of Ndoki?

 

Our people should continue to be patriotic, maintain peace and order and support the administration of Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu.
Also, elections is at the corner. Our people should ensure they vote the right people. They should be part and parcel of leadership selection process. Specifically, leaders should be held accountable and we shouldn’t be docile. We should shun apathy come 2023. This is because, all that would emerge would definitely affect the people directly or indirectly.

 

Appreciation!

I want to thank my dear wife for her enormous support, my wonderful team; SECLOG, Head of Service (HOS), Chief Press Secretary (CPS), all staff and executives of NULGE for their uncommon supports all through the period.This administration has done a lot to better the lots of the people of Ukwa-East. Most of thiese projects took place under a year after painstaking needs assessment.

Meanwhile, the Chairman, Ukwa East Local Government Area, Hon Chuks Wabara, Tuesday, received the Abia Ambassador Platinum Award Of Excellence as the “Best Performing Executive Local Government Chairman Of The Year 2022.

 

The Award presented by the Abia Newspapers and Publishing Corporation (ANPC), Publishers of the National Ambassador Newspaper; a media outfit of the state government, is in recognition of his outstanding contribution to humanity especially his efforts in extending dividends of democracy to the grassroots.

Recall that Hon. Wabara on assumption of office as the Chairman, Ukwa East LGA embarked on critical infrastructural projects in his council area which cut across Healthcare delivery, Human Capital Development, Youth Empowerment Programmes/Skill Acquisition which has impacted positively on the lives of the people.

The Ukwa East Council Boss among other developmental projects in his council area, constructed the Ultra Modern Primary Healthcare Center at Ohambele with Resident Doctors Quarters, sponsored bills in the local governments legislative council as well as ensured grading of rural roads, provision of electricity, Security and Pipe borne water to the rural populace.

Presenting the Award at the Council Headquarters, Akwete, Ukwa East LGA, the General Manager, Abia Newspapers and Publishing Corporation, Deacon Francis Nwaogu commended Hon Wabara, for exhibiting passion in leadership.

Nwaogu, noted that the award is in recognition of Hon Wabara’s outstanding performance, excellence and diligence in service to the people.

He said: “We are recognizing those who are doing well and you are one of them.

“You have performed well and served your people with diligence and have provided democracy dividends to the people at the grassroots hence this award”.

In his response, the Chairman Ukwa East LGA, Hon. Chuks Wabara while noting that the Abia Ambassador Platinum Award Of Excellence as the “Best Performing Executive Local Government Chairman Of The Year 2022 is a call for greater service to the people, said it would remain a “humbling experience”, that would spur him to greater achievements in future endeavours.

The Ukwa East Council Chairman disclosed that the death of his mother after his birth moulded his character and resolve to impact on the healthcare needs of the people, adding that his administration’s Star Project which is the Ultra Modern Healthcare Center with residents Doctors’ quarters is aimed at giving the rural populace quality healthcare services as well as curb issues such as infant and maternal mortality cases.

Wabara further disclosed that his adminstration focused on meeting the mandate of ensuring security of lives and properties by facilitating lasting peace in Akirika-Obu, Human Capital Development, provision of basic amenities to the people, skill acquisition and empowerment, grading of rural roads, provision of fertilizers and other farm implements to farmers as well tackling critical infrastructural development projects across the council area.

He commended the Management of Abia Newspapers for finding him fit for the award and thanked his team for working in line with the present administrations vision of impacting positively on the people and ensuring that dividends of democracy gets to the grassroots.

Present at the ceremony include Management staff and Supervisory Councillors in the Local Government as well as the Chairperson, Special Projects Unit of the Abia Newspaper, Ms Ugochinyere Okere, Assistant News Editor, Deacon Emeka Egejuru among other Editorial staff of the Corporation.