A Federal High Court Sitting in Port Harcourt last week nullified the May 23, 2015 Local government election conducted by the defunct Prof. Augustine Ahiazu led Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).
Shortly after the court’s verdict, names of caretaker committees (CTC) were forwarded to the Rivers State House of Assembly for screening. Thereafter the CTC chairmen were sworn-in that same day. This is a welcome development.
The importance of local government administration in the development of rural communities cannot be over emphasized. The local government administration focuses on the aggressive and hasty development of the rural areas.
The bulk of the population in the country reside at the rural communities. Hence any government project or policy that has no positive impact on the rural dwellers cannot stir up development.
Last week, Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike inaugurated new CTC chairmen and challenged them to develop their LGAs.
The new CTC chairmen should understand the essence of local government creation. The task before the CTC chairmen and their members are enormous. The rural dwellers need better policy(ies) that will uplift their standard of living.
However, the CTC chairman in Asari-Toru Local Government Area, Chief Odiari Princewill has unfolded four (4) point agenda, on how he will pilot the affairs of the council.
The four (4) point agenda include: security, agriculture, education, and skills development. I think these form the foundation for rural development. CTC chairmen from other LGAs should borrow a leaf from the Asalga boss.
The four (4) point agenda rolled out by Chief Odiari Princewill should be the overall agenda of the CTC chairmen of the Rivers LGAs at this point when communities are searching for development. ###
Damiete West
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