Ikot Ekpene politics, Second term and I

 

In this interview, Obonganwan (Hon) Gloria Useh, Executive Chairman of Ikot Ekpene Local Govenment Area bare her mind on topical issues. Excerpts

May we know you? My name is Obonganwan (Hon) Gloria Useh, I was born some 46 years ago into the family of Mr. & Mrs. Sunday Ekanem Bassey of Afaha Ikot Ebak, Essien Udim L.G.A., I am married to Mr. Iniobong Useh of Nyarenyin village, Ikot Ekpene and the union is blessed with four (4) children. I am a teacher by training, a Christian by faith and a politician by calling. By the special grace of God, I am the Executive Chairman, Ikot Ekpene L.G.A.

Waste disposal seems to be perennial problem in Ikot Ekpene. What are the mitigating circumstances in effective sanitation of the metropolis?
It is true that waste disposal has been a perennial problem in Ikot Ekpene. As a matter of fact, before the inauguration of the present Local Government Council under my leadership, the problem of waste management was there, you can recall that upon my swearing-in, I inherited large heaps of refuse at many locations within the city. It became very serious that some residence of some of the affected areas had to abandon their homes because of the bad odour coming out from the refuse heaps. At Aggrey Road, people who lived there witnessed very high heaps of refuse; they ran away from their houses, those who had shops close to the market shut down their shops because of the refuse heaps by the road side. However, I prayed to God and God gave me the grace, today the story is different. Ikot Ekpene is far cleaner than what it used to be. We have put in place a machinery to ensure the evacuation of refuse in the town. Many people used to play politics with refuse in Ikot Ekpene but now we have been able to arrest the problem.

Let me point out this fact, Ikot Ekpene is an Urban Centre, many people from other Local Government Areas stay in Ikot Ekpene, so we take care of them in terms of security, environmental sanitation, and other needs of theirs. You can now understand why we have so much refuse in Ikot Ekpene.
But whatever, that is not an excuse to keep the city dirty and that is why my administration has done much to improve the sanitary condition of the Local Government. We have acquired a new dump site along Calabar Itu high way. We’ll relocate the present dump site from Cardinal Ekanem Avenue because it was not properly situated. We have increased the number of sanitation personnel from 219 to 334.

The council has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with a Lagos based environmental outfit, Musee Global Links Limited. They will partner with the Local Government to improve the sanitation of the area. To demonstrate our determination as a Local Government, we have bought (3) Three Tippers for effective refuse evacuation, we have procured about 100 refuse receptacles and the company would produce refuse bags which shall be distributed to every household in the Local Government. With this arrangement, the vehicles will be moving from street to street to collect refuse, while each household will be expected to pay a token for these services. You can see that the task of keeping Ikot Ekpene clean is a big one due to the population as a major city.
But we are determined to do our best to justify the confidence reposed on us by the state Government and the people of Ikot Ekpene LGA

What other challenges are you facing in the council as the Boss there
The major challenge facing the council is that of accommodation. As you know the old council secretariat is to be demolished to give way to the ongoing upgrading of the city centre and the dualization of roads embarked upon by the State Government. Consequently, we are trying to see how to accommodate our staff affected by this development. We need to also accommodate the Traditional Rulers Council that is equally affected and other agencies of the Federal Government that have their offices there. To address this problem, we are proposing the construction of an ultramodern Traditional Rulers Council hall, for our distinguished royal fathers. We are also going to build an office complex to accommodate our staff. Apart from the accommodation problems, other challenges we have is the deplorable nature of our federal roads.

For instance, the Ikot Ekpene Aba Road at Ifuho Junction is not motorable. The local government took some remedial measures but within one month due to the rainy season the road went bad again. We are appealing to the Federal Government to fix the Ikot Ekpene Aba Road which has claimed so many lives. Let me also add that God has been so faithful to Ikot Ekpene local government that is why we are not having many problems. Every first Monday of the month, we dedicate it to prayer and now we are counting our blessings. May be without prayers our problems would have increased.

Ikot Ekpene occupies a premier place in Nigeria’s political history, what advocacy channels have you opened to incorporate Ikot Ekpene in the centenary celebrations. Has the council harmonized its viable position with the federal government?
Ikot Ekpene holds a prime position in the political history of Nigeria. It is really unfortunate that the local government was omitted in the centenary cerebration of our country. Ikot Ekpene happens to be the first experimental local government in Nigeria.

Ikot Ekpene has contributed culturally, politically, and economically to the development of the country. Ikot Ekpene produces 80% of lawyer’s wig used in Nigeria and other African countries. We are noted for Arts and Craft manifesting in raffia works and other carvings. I find it very difficult to understand why the place where the colonial masters first experimented indigenous rule in 1951 would be forgotten.
It was in Ikot Ekpene in April 1951 that the then District Officer (DO) Late Col E. C. Alderton stepped aside and handed over the mantle of leadership to an indigenous administrator in the person of Late Chief Robert Udoka Umohinyang.

It will not be wrong to say that Ikot Ekpene was the fore runner of Nigeria’s Independence of 1960. We have written letters to the Federal Government drawing their attention to this historical fact.
We took another bold step by celebrating the 62nd anniversary of our local government which was staged (Ikot Ekpene at 62nd fiesta) in April this year. This was a way of telling Nigeria that we exist and what history we hold for the country.
We are going to do more and we are hoping that Nigeria will take notice of these. This is important because Nigeria cannot afford to forget history.

What measures are being taken to boast up the IGR of the council?
The present administration knows that the council will not do well without internally generated revenue and consequently machinery was set in motion. The council hired the services of a consultant to bring up the data base on all sources of revenues in Ikot Ekpene.
Now we know all the revenue sources and our IGR have improved. We are hoping that by next year it will be better.

What about the ultra modern Trade Centre at Urua Aran? Is the council going ahead with the relocation of major markets within the metropolis?
The Ultra Modern Trade Centre at Urua Aran in Ikot Obong Edong is a pet project of this administration. If you go there you will realize that the job is at an advanced stage. If not for some legal tussle, the project would have been completed by this December.

That notwithstanding, immediately we are through with the court case the project will continue in full swing. The administration is making effort to boost the economy of the local government and to promote commerce through the building of markets. We are building an Ultra Modern Timber Market at Urua Nkwa Itiat in Ibiakpan. You can visit the place and see the level of work done. We are trying to decongest the city centre and we will spare no effort in achieving this.

Your emergence as council chairman came at a trying moment in the politics of Ikot Ekpene. Is your administration working at building consensus with the political leadership?
I became the Chairman of Ikot Ekpene Local Government not by my political might but by the special grace of God through the overwhelming support of the people.

I never dreamt of becoming the chairman of the local government but God destined it to be so. I emerged through the benevolence of the State Governor, Chief Dr. Godswill Obot Akpabio (CON) and his dear wife and by the overriding acceptance of Ikot Ekpene people.
It is true that I came at the trying moment in the politics of Ikot Ekpene and it is also true that I came with the message of peace. My campaign slogan was “Peace 2012”.

Today we have peace in Ikot Ekpene local government. Politically there is peace and we no longer have factions. In terms of security we are enjoying an atmosphere of peace, crime rate has drastically reduced, we give God the glory and we thank the security operatives. As I speak, Ikot Ekpene people can speak in one voice and am enjoying the support and advice of our political leaders.

Is the council considering the repositioning of raffia products manufacturing in reflection of the cultural heritage of Ikot Ekpene?
Yes, we hope to reposition raffia products manufacturing because raffia is our cultural heritage. The council has opened links with a Chinese base company that would produce machine that would help in the mass production of Raffia products and Lawyers wig. When the arrangement is concluded the council hopes to send some people overseas for training on how to use the machines. We want to take the raffia production to the next level. The present production level cannot meet up with the massive demand for raffia product the world over. We need to mechanize the entire process of raffia production and this will create jobs for our teaming youths and boost the economy of the Local Government.

Can you expatiate on the council’s decision to give due recognition to the family of Late Chief Robert Udoka Umoinyang?
Late Chief Robert Udoka Umoinyang remains the first Local Government Chairman in Ikot Ekpene Local Government. To honour him, even in death, the Council has renamed the former Ibo hall road after him. This is to immortalize him as someone who was first to call the shot in the Local Government. We are planning other things in his honour and at the appropriate time we will make it public. Let me assure you that the labours of Late Chief Umoinyang and other leaders in Ikot Ekpene can never be in vain.

Do your future political contemplations include a second term?
No! Presently I am concentrating on giving Ikot Ekpene a face-lift. You know it is the first time a woman is sitting as a Chairman of the Local Government in the over 60 years of the Local Government. So every day I pray to God to give me the grace to make a mark and to right the wrongs and to leave a worthy legacy. I want a situation that when I leave they will look for another woman to occupy the seat. You know women are good managers, we manage our homes, manage our husbands, and manage our children and what have you. This is what I want to do and not to waste my energy looking for a second term when I have a lot to do for the good people of Ikot Ekpene.

On account of 2015 Governorship, there seems to be a crack in ALGON.
Not at all. In ALGON we are one. We have a leader with sterling leadership qualities. We belong to the same political party and the Governor is the leader of the party. We are strongly behind him. We believe in him and we will follow him to where he is leading us to. Let us concentrate on other things and leave 2013 for now. There are so many things we should think about. 2015 will take care of itself.