By: Peace Udugba.
Governor Hope Uzodimma has told the Local Government officials in Imo State, particularly the elected ones, to use their offices to serve the people who elected them into office and not to punish them.
The Governor who spoke on Thursday at the Rockview Hotel Owerri while declaring open the three day retreat for Imo State Local Government officials also read the riot act to those of them who do not take their responsibility to the public seriously.
The theme of the three day retreat is: Public Sector Governance for Officials of Local Government in Imo State with emphasis on “Enhancing local government sustainable development.”
Governor Uzodimma reminded both the elected and appointed officials that the public office is a calling that requires those holding them to be responsible, passionate about service to the people, accountable and ready to give those they are serving a sense of belonging.
His words: “Those elected by the people are to represent the people not to punish the people. They are to improve on the welfare of the people who elected them.”
Governor Uzodimma who said that the Local Government Chairmen must regularly meet with the stakeholders in their domain for inclusiveness, responsibility and sense of belonging also noted that the Councillors must regularly consult with leaders in their Ward with regard to the needs and challenges facing their communities.
He further urged the Councillors to make it a habit to interface with the Traditional Rulers and the Town Union Presidents in their Ward, insisting that their different responsibilities are cut out for them.
While urging them to remain focused in discharging their duties in the midst of unwarranted distractions and malicious attacks from those who may be eyeing their positions, Governor Uzodimma reminded them that they must live among, and with the people who elected them.
Governor Uzodimma however reminded both the Chairmen and Councillors that he had briefed the security operatives to monitor the movement of those of them who flout his directives as regards doing the right thing, living among their people and serving the people well.
The Governor who mandated them to serve the people in line with the All Progressives Congress (APC) manifesto added that part of the reasons for the establishment of the Progressive Institute last year was to fashion out a think tank that can serve as compass for the implementation of the Party’s development agenda nationwide.
“Imo is an APC State and you must serve based on the APC manifesto and progressive ideology,” the Governor explained, noting that when the Institute was opened last year, he made a promise to leverage its presence to train the Imo State Local Government officials. “I have kept the promise to the APC Institute,” he said.
Governor Uzodimma said he has confidence in the ability of the resource persons from the Institute to drill the participants in such ways that they will take stock of what they are expected to do, reflect deeply on the job of service as elected officials, and then come to the realisation that they must work together to achieve optimum results.
Earlier, the Director General of the Progressive Institute, Mr. Lanre Adebayo commended the Governor for fulfilling his promise to have his resource persons train the Imo State Local Government officials.
Adebayo lauded the quality of those who were elected and appointed officials of the Local Government Areas in Imo State, noting that their contributions during the retreat showed they were prepared for the position they are holding.
He said that the quality of the contributions of the personnel at the Local Government Areas of Imo State attending the retreat was not only unbelievable but a reflection of the purposeful leadership the Governor has provided in Imo as a true ambassador of the APC and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Adebayo thanked the Governor for providing an enabling environment for them to hold the retreat, adding that “Owerri is peaceful, a very peaceful city in the South East, and contrary to the insinuation of insecurity.”
“Since we arrived we have taken time to go round Owerri and we can tell that the city is peaceful and we have enjoyed our stay.”
In her welcome remarks, the Imo State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Mrs. Ruby Emele, thanked both the Governor and the resource persons, and said that the participants look forward to more of the retreat.
Mrs. Emele who told the Governor that he may not know how much he had invested in the training of the Local Government officials free, added that the Governor has not just proven to be “Infrastructure Governor but also Human Development Governor.”
The event was well attended by top government officials including the Deputy Governor, Lady Chinyere Ekomaru, the Secretary to the State Government, Chief Cosmos Iwu, the Chief of Staff, Barr Nnamdi Anyaehie, members of the Imo State expanded Executive Council, heads of traditional rulers of the 27 Local Government Areas in Imo State led by Eze Imo, HRH Eze EC Okeke, critical stakeholders, among others.
