By Jimitota Onoyume
PORT HARCOURT— GOVERNOR Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State, recently, swore- in Caretaker Committees to administer 22 of the 23 local government areas in the state. The chairman and members are expected to run a three- month tenure like the former committees they replaced.
Wait and see
Residents of some of the local government areas, who spoke to Niger Delta Voice, said they would want to see more of their chairmen living and working in the council, not operating from outside the local government.
They, however, noted that it was still too early to comment on the attitude of the caretaker committee chairmen to work since they were barely three weeks old in office. What is certain is that they all want improvement from them on what their predecessors did.
Past chairmen were indifferent
An indigene of Buguma, headquarters of Asari Toru local government area, Mr Anthony Opus, said most of the chairmen in the past ran the council from their base in the state capital. A drive from Port Harcourt to Buguma, headquarters of the local government is about 20 minutes. The area is reputed as one of the oldest towns in Kalabari with modern comfort such as electricity.
But sadly, according to him, most of the former chairmen operated from Port Harcourt. He said it was so bad that staff of the council had to be taking local government identification letters to the chairmen in Port Harcourt to sign.
He said the local government is made up of about 15 communities, adding, “Some of the past chairmen never went round them before the end of their tenure. I expect something better this time.”
Old wine in new bottle
In Emohua, one of the gateway local governments to the state capital, Niger Delta Voice gathered that the caretaker committee chairman, Mr Godstime Orluko , comes to the office three times a week.
In Ikwerre local government where governor Amaechi hails from, sources within the council secretariat said the caretaker committee chairman, Bar Nwabueze Amadi, comes to his office Mondays and Tuesdays.
…same story in Okirika, Ahoada West
In Okrika local government area, residents said the chairman breezes into the office anytime. It is the same story in Ahoada West and East local government areas.
Chairman of one of the local government areas, who spoke to Niger Delta Voice under condition of anonymity, said there was no way they (chairmen) could be in the office every day because it was political season.
His words: “We are in the field mobilizing support for our new party, the All Progressive Congress. So we set aside visiting days for people to come to see us and to treat files.”
In Port Harcourt City local government and Obio Akpor local government, Niger Delta Voice learned that the chairmen, Hon. Nnamdi Wuche and Dr Lawrence Chukwu, also breeze in at their own time.
Stress
A staff of Obio Akpor local government area, who did not want his name in print said some chairmen avoided frequent presence in the office because of pressure from their supporters.
“Some of the chairmen are not regular in the office because of pressure from their supporters. They come around looking for chairman for one form of assistance or the other,” he added.
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