Since the creation of Obot Akara Local Government Area some years back, administrations have come and gone. Some council chairmen have performed while others have not lived up to the expectations of the people. However, the present administration, led by the Chairman of the Area, Hon. (Prince) Idongesit Ntekpere has within one year, surprised the people of the Area by being an agent of transformation.
Although some Local Government Chairpersons in the State have been in the habit of lamenting to their citizens, insufficient funds, little or delayed allocation from the state and inadequate machinery for the implementation of democracy dividends which often times, protracts to non-payment of workers, the Obot Akara Council Chairman has been able to use the little allocation given to him to embark on life-touching projects which has changed the face of the area. Those who did not believe his performances were marveled when the Council Boss invited members of the Press for a briefing as part of the activities marking his one year in office last week. Hon. Ntekpere took time to highlight his achievements in the past one year.
In his words “gentlemen of the press, I invited you today to see it, feel it and celebrate it and to agitate you to ponder as our dear performance-laden Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, ‘so government can work even in the grassroots?’. Within one year, we have already exceeded our avowed targets and are still waxing strong. I give God all the glory for His divine wisdom and guidance. As I take you through our achievements, I stand tall today to salute his Excellency, Chief Godswill Akpabio and my party the PDP for giving me the opportunity to serve and also the good people of Obot Akara for trusting me with their votes”.
Among projects highlighted by the council chairman was the construction of ultra modern executive chambers complex at the Local Government Headquarters, Nto Edino, construction of a world-class Traditional Rulers council chambers at the Local Government Headquarters, Nto Edino, furnishing of legislative chambers, renovation of Obot Akara unity hall at Nto Edino, construction of model FIDA community civic centre at Urua Offiongettor, reconstruction of village hall at Ikot Ukpong, drilling of 200ft borehole complete with power source and 20,000 litres overhead tanks on a 40ft steel tower at the council headquarters, rehabilitation of three (3) boreholes at Ikot Ukpong, Utu Ikot Inyang and Urua Offiongettor Udo, rehabilitation of Mbiaso/Ikot Ukpong bridge, upgrading of the bridge head at Mbiaso/Ikot Ukpong road and grading of 27km feeder roads in the local government area.
The chairman who noted that he was relying on a strong belief of intellectual gathering and prudent management of team resources in the carriage of those outstanding job, further disclosed that he purchased one Saloon car, provided/constructed an palm oil depot at Nto Ndang, resuscitated adult education through the enhancement of 29 adult education centers, partnered with the National Directorate for Employment (NDE) for the intensive coaching of graduates and Senior Secondary School leavers in the area, sponsored free eye care/treatment and surgery for one hundred people across the local government area and was selected the first among the 31 local government areas for the FGN/EU/UNICEF Water, Sanitation and Health (WASH) project in the state after a competition technical presentation.
On capacity building and empowerment, the Obot Akara boss has also embarked on the empowerment of 48 small scale entrepreneurs, sponsorship of various skill acquisition training for 100 indigenes, hosting of a 3-day training retreat for the executive, legislative and principal staff of the council at Calabar; hosting of A-day interaction retreat for all ward executive members at Uyo, giving of subsidy to indigenous lawyers to attend the 2013 bar conference, distribution of 10 motorcycles to indigenes and the acquisition of another 130 motorcycles to distributed as well as the designing and hosting of the local government website (www.obotakaralg.com).
He also mentioned his involvement in the hosting of the prestigious Gulder Ultimate Search, season 9 in 2012 and the outright permission for another hosting of the ongoing season 10. The Chairman mentioned his commitment to the monthly payment of allowances to former Chairmen of the council’s party executives, his liaison with the State Security Service for the establishment of their branch in the local government headquarters, his reconstruction of Methodist Church Nigeria in the local government headquarters, payment of counterpart funding to the State Agency for community and Social development for the construction of community centre at Ikwen and Health Centre at Ikot Ukpong, Ikot Udo Anwa; as well as regular payment of salaries, leave grants and promotion arrears to all workers and political office holders in the council. With these life-touching projects on ground within one year in office, there is no better word to describe this gentleman than for me to call him an agent of change in Obot Akara Local Government.
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