From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
Governor, Dr. Alex Otti has tasked the newly appointed Transition Committee Chairmen (Mayors) for the 17 Local Government Areas of Abia State on the need to make the local communities conducive for active production and rapid growth.
Otti gave the task in his speech he titled “Expanding the Frontiers of Development”, during the inauguration of the new councils’ bosses.
“Your primary task as mayors and deputies shall be to make the local communities and towns conducive for active production and rapid growth.
“We expect you to quickly develop holistic frameworks for improving agriculture and light scale production in ways that enhance outputs and attract domestic and foreign investors.”
Otti reminded the newly appointed that their appointment was a call to serve and not to be served.
“We do not expect you to get everything right on the first day, but you must be willing to learn, keeping your mind open to new ideas and possibilities.”
While promising that his administration would give each of them free hand to manage the affairs of the council responsibly, the Governor reminded them the importantance to design their programmes in ways that align with the general development philosophy of the present Labour Party administration in the State.
He equally tasked them to enhance security of their various LGAs. “Your first task as leaders of the various LGAs shall include strengthening the security architecture in the towns and villages within your domain, especially as the yuletide approaches.”
The Governor disclosed that his administration was working with multiple stakeholders, including multilateral and donor agencies, global IT companies and local financial institutions, to develop a robust framework for addressing the critical challenges facing the people. including endemic poverty, restricted access to basic amenities, limited skills for enhanced earning and unequal access to the boundless opportunities of the 21st century global economy.
He charged them to get their priorities right and build networks that can help them drive the development agenda of the Labour Party in their LGAs.
On his reason for appointing such class of people as Mayors, Governor Otti said “We need the best hands and heads to drive the development of the state. We are in a hurry to elevate the standards of leadership to accommodate strictly those who have something to offer.”
He thanked the Mayors and their Deputies for accepting to bring their extensive wealth of experience in various fields of human endeavours to bear in the service of their communities and urged them to serve as the vanguards of the New Abia in the 17 LGAs.
The Mayor for IsialaNgwa South LGA, Dr. Elelenta Nwambuisi Elelenta, that of Arochukwu LGA, Chief Joe Eze Aru and their Ikwuano counterpart, Mr. Osinachi Nwaka thanked the Governor for appointing them and pledged their commitment to serve.