The Nation Newspaper

Tag: grassroot

  • Aspirant pledges grassroots development

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Adamson Ayinde has called on all stakeholders in the Onigbongbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) to unite for the progress and development of the council.

    Addressing reporters at a rally in Lagos, he said the council has been neglected by past chairmen of the council, noting that youth restiveness, unemployment and under-development would give way if competent hands were elected to run the affairs of the council.

    Ayinde who said he would contest for the chairmanship position of the council in order to fast-track the council’s development, added that he was familiar with the needs of the people.

    He said: “I want to bring about the much-needed change in the council. There are a lot of things that need to be put right in the Onigbongbo council. These are things people with vibrant and dynamic minds can contemplate and implement.

    “Politics has to do with bold ideas and not just sitting somewhere and toy with the collective destiny of the people. The youth need to be employed. Onigbongbo council has a lot of viable opportunities.

    “We will create one-stop investment centre with the council serving as intermediary. It would be between the investors coming in and the state government. The people that will be employed will seek the investors that will turn the council around. The health care system will be improved upon for the people’s benefit.

    “The one-stop investment centre will increase the internally generated revenue at a very high rate. Those to be engaged will go round to look for investors to tap the council’s resources. The collapsed industries in Onigbogbogbo will be revived.

    “Most industries  have been turned into car parks or event centres. What needs to be done is to meet with owners of the properties to discuss ways of reviving the industries. Once they come in, the corporate social responsibilities will be taken care of.”

    He said greed was responsible for under-development at the grassroots, noting that it was time the people thought deeply before they choose their leaders.

    “As a young man full of life and strength, I am aware that the past administration failed the people. It did not meet their yearnings. With the experience I have garnered so far at the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council, the political terrain and as a grassroots politician, I am aware of the pains of the people and ready to ameliorate their sufferings.

    “A leader must be willing to defend his people; he should be able to take responsibilities and must be aware of the problem they face. He should be in a position to tackle the problems which I strongly believe that I can.

    “Onigbongbo is not working, but we thank God for Govenor Akinwunmi Ambode who is trying to change the system to enable it work. The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) led the country for 16 years without much prospect. With the APC government, there are hopes that things will work well again in the country,” he said.

  • Ugwuanyi’s grassroot initiatives

    As Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State strives tirelessly to advance development in the state in spite of the current economic challenges which have drastically afected the state’s revenue, it is imperative to understand the present predicament to be able to appreciate the governor’s painstaking efforts towards good governance.

    Oil prices have slumped by more than 70 per cent over the past 19 months; today, it is down to barely $30 per barrel. The resultant crash in revenue has impacted negatively on the economic indices of countries like Nigeria and Venezuela  that depend  heavily on oil sales.

    It is well known that Enugu State is third from the bottom on the federation account allocation chart. Not only that, it is a predominantly civil service state with plethora of needs ranging from provision of social services, advancement of infrastructural development and other essential amenities that guarantee the security and welfare of the people, especially those at the grassroots.

    In view of the current harsh economic situation in the country and in the context of the daunting task before our leaders who are painstakingly working round the clock to surmount the challenges, one is compelled to align oneself to the popular view that this is not the best of times to be a governor of a state or occupy an exalted office in the country.

    But, a look at the pace of development in Enugu State since Governor Ugwuanyi assumed office, his eight-month scorecard and commitment towards the advancement of good governance, despite the negative trend in the nation’s economy, goes a long way to prove that in Enugu, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

    The governor’s landmark achievements in the areas of roads construction, education, rural development, healthcare delivery, investment promotion, agriculture, human empowerment, workers’ entitlements, provision of other basic amenities, among others, speak volume and can better be appreciated in the context of the present economic reality.

    Through vision, innovation, selfless service and absolute faith in God, Ugwuanyi has kept his promise to pay special attention to rural development where majority of the people reside. This bold initiative is borne out of the governor’s desire to take good governance closer to the door steps of the people at the grassroots in order to give them a sense of belonging as well as create fresh economic opportunities that would reduce pressure on Enugu metropolis.

    It is pertinent to note that the first project Governor Ugwuanyi executed immediately after his inauguration, was the 15km Inter-Town-Connection (ITC) 2.5MVA Injection Sub-Station at Ezi-Nze in Udi Local Government Area which provides electricity to communities across Udi, Uzo-Uwani and Igbo-Etiti Local Government Areas of the state. The project which was in keeping with his administration’s rural development initiatives, will also supply power to the Adada Dam project and open up business activities in these communities. Upon completion, the dam will power the greater Nsukka Water Scheme that has also been in the proverbial pipeline for decades.

    Recently, the governor in a bid to fast-track the on-going roads construction, mostly in the rural areas, mobilized the contractors handling the projects with a marching order to deliver quality jobs within the stipulated contract period. He had also embarked on unscheduled inspection tour of the sites to assess their performance, and reassure the people of his administration’s commitment to deliver on his campaign promises in spite of the economic downturn.

    It is worthy of note that the progress report of the over eight road projects simultaneously on-going in the state is impressive as the construction companies are in advanced stages of earthworks, concrete and pavement works.

    On water supply, Governor Ugwuanyi during a fact-finding tour of the water facilities in some remote villages in the state recently, had declared that he will now spend more time on the field than in the office as that is a better way he can feel the impulse of the people and ascertain the true position of things.

    In an effort to ensure effective supply of potable water to the people of the state, especially those in the rural areas, the governor through the state executive council recently approved the release of the sum of N100 million to the state Water Corporation to enable it carry out repairs and maintenance work on some broken down facilities at its Enugu and Nsukka water supply schemes.

    Although the governor’s determination to fulfill his campaign promises to the fullest is being weighed down by the lean resource inflow across the country, kudos should go to his administration for its vision, managerial instinct, steadfastness and undaunted spirit in provision of the basic needs of the people.

    At a time like this, it is imperative to note that what the governor needs in return is the maximum cooperation of the people to enable him tackle the present economic challenges through viable people-oriented policies that would not only engender sustainable economic growth but also propel the process of good governance for the people to reap the full benefits of democracy.

    It is therefore, incumbent on the newly inaugurated Local Government Area caretaker committee chairmen and their executives to raise their performance bar as well as key in expeditiously into the new ethos of leadership and development trajectory of the present administration in Enugu State.

    As the State Chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) and Committee Chairman of Enugu East Local Government Area, Prince Cornelius Nnaji recently stated during the inauguration of members of his executive, which has equally taken place in other Local Government Areas of the state, “our governor has laid a solid foundation that is grassroots-oriented for us to build on as grassroots soldiers in the third tier of government. He has kept faith with his promise to give special attention to rural development and bring good governance closer to our people”.

    ”We at the helm of affairs of the 17 Local Government Areas, therefore, reassure our visionary governor of our maximum support to his grassroots development initiatives aimed at ameliorating the suffering of the people; the electorate, whom he (governor) described as the true heroes of democracy for defying rain and sunshine to ensure that their votes were counted during the last general elections. We must work hard to deliver in our various Local Government Areas so that his vision for the state will be fully actualized”.

    In view of the above, there is no doubt that Governor Ugwuanyi has through his grassroots development initiatives proved that as far as the progress of Enugu State is concerned; as far as the welfare of the people is concerned and despite the hydra-headed economic meltdown which the country is confronted with, he still remains committed to his solemn pledge to render selfless service and work tirelessly towards giving the people of the state quality leadership.

    The onus is therefore, on the people to continue to give his administration the needed support to sustain the current tempo of governance and take Enugu State, in spite of the present economic challenges.

    • Amokewritesfrom Enugu.

  • In search for grassroot Heroes

    Chinyere Ogbukagu, who heads Plateau-based Havilla Timeless Production, is a culture advocate with a clear-cut mission. She is out to raise culture gladiators.

    After several years of bursting with the thought of using television to engender the cultural values of the various ethnic nationalities in Nigeria, Ogbukagu, arrived at a unique concept, which she christened Heroes: Back To The Roots, a reality TV show which aims at promoting peace and inter-ethnic understanding.

    According to her, what began as a thought became reality when she met up with a film’s director. “After meeting, Ifeanyi Onyeabor, a renowned Nollywood director, the idea took flight, and metamorphosed into what is today known as Heroes: Back To The Roots, a reality show which sets culture-based tasks for housemates who are in contest from all the states of Nigeria and FCT, with the sole motive of letting ethnic nationalities in Nigeria to better understand one another. This has proven to be the required panacea for peaceful co-existence urgently needed in Nigeria today,” she said.

    Heroes: Back To The Roots, she asserts, is out to do more in the promotion of Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage. She said: “Apart from re-awakening the interest in our culture, the show also highlights the various tourism potential abundant in the various states and some places of interest where the cast and crew of the show are visiting, such as Imo, Bayelsa, Kaduna, Niger etc. The states and the federal governments should begin to latch onto the richness of culture and tourism because it is the next alternative source of income, especially oil prices continue to fluctuate,” she said

    The show, produced by Ogbukagu, has produced culture “heroes” that smiled home with mouth-watering gifts: the first prize winner, Happiness Udodang got a car, N2million; Luther Emmanuel Ikyobo and Chelsea Chinenye Oguejio got N1.5million and N1million. The three winners, according to organisers, would feature in a film to be shot soon along with 10 finalists of the show.

    However, Ogbukagu said the road to Heroes: Back To The Roots, Season I, was not an easy one. Recounting rigour that went into the reality show, she said: “It took us a painstaking 104 days, navigating many states for the first batch of contestants, who were admitted for a 10-day orientation exercise in Kaduna, to emerge. From there the contestants moved to Plateau, where they spent another 10 days in which they were pruned down to 37. The final 37 later moved into a camp in Niger State where after 60 days, the activities produced the three winners. It was aired on Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).

    “The show’s first edition of the TV culminated in an award’s event last month in Niger State to recognise individuals and institutions that have contributed in no small measure to a better understanding of our cultural legacies in Nigeria, with great emphasis on cultural tolerance. Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu was honoured as the “Best Supporting Governor”; Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio as “Best Governor”; Cross River State got the “Cleanest State” award and Niger State was “Most Culture-Friendly State” Various degrees of support were gotten by individuals and organisations and governments for this project to come to fruition. We would specially thank Niger State for being a great host, IMO state for seeing the vision, among others.”

    She added: “Entry for the show starts with obtaining the form, and followed shortly by nationwide auditions in the six geo-political zones, where applicants are first screened for eligibility. Eligibility is strictly determined by the panel constituted for auditions that are drawn from the arts community. After auditions, five persons are selected from each of the states and FCT for the final screening to arrive at the 37 finalists-one from each state and FCT- to compete in the house where they would co-habit for 60 days. Contestants who have great understanding of their culture are usually on an advantageous pedestal to emerge victorious.”

  • Fashola: Justice delivery now grassroot issue

    Fashola: Justice delivery now grassroot issue

    Governor, Babatunde  Fashola(SAN)   has commissioned the combined High and  Magistrate Courts in Epe, which he named in honour of the late Lagos State Chief Judge of Lagos State, Ligali Ayorinde.

    Fashola said the inauguration of the complex was  a fulfilment of  a process of bringing  access to justice closer to  the people.

    He said delivery of  justice in a most efficient and conducive manner is now a grassroots matter traveling out of the town has now been greatly reduced in addition to the cost and inconvenience.

    Fashola explained that the location of such facilities like the Courts Complex has a role to play in maintaining law and order in the society, adding that without access to justice through the courts, the breakdown of law and order becomes a real possibility.

    In naming the Court complex after  Hon. Ligali Ayorinde, Fashola said it has become the tradition of the present administration to honour those who have served conscientiously and whose labour of yesterday has made endeavours of today possible.

    Earlier, the Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Funmilayo Atilade said the completion of the structure is another great step of the present administration to ensure greater access to, and speedy administration of justice.

    This, she said, would enhance  efficient justice delivery and assist  in prison decongestion.

    Attorney-General and   Commissioner for Justice  Mr. Ade Ipaiye  said with the growing pace of interpersonal, commercial and contractual relationships in Epe, it is  proper that matters of law and order be given priority consideration.

    He said with inauguration and handing over of the modern court house, the  challenges of quick dispensation of justice will be met, adding that Epe is ready to take on the task of ensuring that the orderliness, peace and tranquility for which this area is already well known, will remain, even as industrialisation and modernization arrives on a very large scale.

    Ipaye ponted out that  that the courthouse was conceived in 2008 as part of His Excellency’s Law and Order programme, addind that it has 6 fully air conditioned courtrooms for judges and magistrates, with Chambers and Secretary’s office attached to each, a reception and waiting area, all sizable and well furnished to a high standard, and It also has robing room and library for lawyers, registries, a total of six toilets and 4 shower rooms, a water treatment plant, furnished staff canteen, separate holding cells for male and female accused persons awaiting trial, two gate houses, a generator room, CCTV facilities for round the clock security and parking spaces for litigants and judges respectively.

    ”This provides us with a unique opportunity to accommodate judges and magistrates in this judicial division with very conducive facilities and amenities which will no doubt enhance justice delivery as well as the welfare of judges and magistrates. It also affords legal practitioners and litigants the best of facilities in which to do business and to resolve cases without having to travel long distances. I believe that this ultramodern courthouse will especially enhance the prestige of my colleagues who may now very rightly claim that they have one of the best working environments in the entire country”, he added.