A concerned citizen of Ogu/Bolo local government area in Rivers State and practicing journalist, Comr. Alapakabia Tobin, has challenged the serving twelve (12) wards councillors representing their various wards to render an account of stewardship to their wards as a means of fulfilling their campaign promises, irrespective of their party and political affiliations.
Comr Tobin gave the challenge while briefing his colleagues on Tuesday at the LGA headquarters, Ogu, as he expressed dismay over the failure of the councillors to properly deliver their legislative functions towards the enhancement of development.
The journalist in his outrage condemned the inability of the councillors to show forth their score sheets after 13 months, stressing that all have done nothing in his own estimation. Comr. Tobin noted that the most culpable councilors are the ones representing wards 7, 8, 9 and 10 pointing out that he has the conviction that all those who gave these councillors their mandates should by now be regretting their actions.
While it is clear and properly evident that democratic dividends have been going on in other local government councils of the state as people’s lives are seen to have been touched, Tobin wondered if the executive arm of Ogu/Bolo local government did not create the enabling environment for the legislative arm to perform their primary roles as enunciated in the constitution of the federal of Nigeria.
He remarked that several appointments were made to know the rationale behind the conduct of these democratic abuses that has impeded the speedy transformation and passage of meaningful bills aimed at developing the socio-economic and political well being of the Ogu/Bolo people but all proved abortive. He further emphasized that the state at different fora had urged all serving councillors of the LGA not to compromise their legislative rights to any unconstitutional authority but rather should legislate for progress and more political achievements at sittings.
However, Comr. Tobin stated that his findings revealed that the legislations going on in Ogu/Bolo LGA are mere discussions that strictly have no bearing with the people of the LGA called the grassroots.
He said, “I challenge all councillors of Ogu/Bolo LGA to show any bill before the House facing any setback or that has been swept under the carpet or even frustrated by a threat from any authority of the council. This means that the people voted into the local government council did not know what to do and did not know why they are there and also did not know the magnitude of the power of legislation because every councillor should know his or her legislative rights and then nobody has the right to dictate the tune of their legislations or limit their power.
Comr. Tobin also frowned at the attitude of councillors that have failed to embark on awareness programmes to develop the perception of the grassroots on election and development matters.
The journalist opined that staging topics of discussion on issues that affect the rural dwellers, rural development and the enforcement of democratic dividends in grassroots politics, leadership enrichment at the grassroots, selecting who to represent them and most importantly, imposition of candidates on the masses overnight after successful party primaries, are essential agenda that can be trashed via sensitization and public discussions. Hence, he challenged that they should rise up to their calling.
He said programmes of such magnitude will reshape and redefine the perception and position of the grassroots in community politics. He used the medium to congratulate the executive chairman of the council, Dame (Mrs.) Maureen Tamuno, for her speedy transformation in the area while appealing to her not to run the administration of the council as a family affair, adding that a local government chairman should pay much attention to her people in the communities to know their problems rather than running the council from Port Harcourt and overseas.
This, he noted, is strictly against the ethics of the policies enunciated by the Gov. Amaechi pragmatic and dynamic mission in achieving better governance for the people. ###
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