Asari-Toru is one of the twenty-three (23) existing local government areas in Rivers State. It was created through a military fiat under General Ibrahim Babangida’s administration in May, 1989. Asalga was carved out from the present Degema Local Government Area. The LGA is made up of fifteen (15) communities with Buguma Town as its headquarters.
The other towns include: Ido, Abalama, Tema, Oporoma, Ifoko, Krakrama, Sangama, Omekwe-Ama, Omekwe-Tariama, Angulama, Minama, Ilelema and Okpo.
Since the creation of the Asari-Toru LGA, 37 years ago, some prominent female politicians have contributed immensely to the socio-political development of the Local Government Area. They include:
(1) Mrs. Agbani Pedro: She is a frontline female politician. Mrs. Pedro is the mother of the immediate past executive chairman of the LGA, Hon. Ojukaye Flag-Amachree. She was a one time an Adviser and a member of the Caretaker Committee, CTC in the area. She has contributed so much to the political growth of the LGA. Her footprints cannot be easily erased in Asalga politics.
(2) Hon (Mrs.) Daisy West: Currently she is an Adviser to the Rivers State government. Mrs. Daisy West was the first female legislator in Rivers State. She hails from Ward 9 in Asalga, and had held so many prominent positions in the political space of the LGAs. She has created indelible marks in the history of Asalga.
(3) Hon. Mrs. Ominim Jacks: She is the current Commissioner for Agriculture in Rivers State. Mrs. Jacks contested for the National Assembly on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to represent the People of the Asalga/Akulga Federal Constituency twice, but met a brick wall. She has helped the women of the LGA in several ways. Mrs. Jacks is a strong pillar, as far as Asalga politics is concerned.
(4) Hon. (Mrs.) Adaba Erekosima: She is a tireless and dogged mobilizer of the women at the grassroots. Mrs. Erekosima, a two time member of the Caretaker Committee, CTC of the Asari-Toru Local Government Area. She doubles as the women leader of the PDP and the Grassroot Development Initiative, GDI in the area. She is a true mother of all and always carrying the women along in the scheme of things. Women in the area have benefited so much under her leadership.
(5) Hon. Boma Goodhead: A prominent member of the PDP and a federal parliamentarian representing the Asalga/Akulga Federal constituency in the lower chamber of the National Assembly, before her election was nullified by the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja December last year. ###
Damiete West
08037502931
wdamiete@yahoo.com
