The Mayor of Bende Local Government Area, Abia State, Hon. Barrister Chijioke Nwankwo has taken members of Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (OMPAN) Abia State chapter on tour of his projects in the local government secretariat.
The council boss also promised to work with the online media practitioner to foster transparency through timely and reliable information dissemination to members of the public.
During the project tour, Barr. Nwankwo emphasized that he is open to constructive criticisms to enhance good governance in the council.
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He showed OMPAN members some of his completed and ongoing projects, which include the rehabilitation of the entire building of the political block, legislative block, Hall for traditional rulers ,Staff offices , Works department, Library department , Deputy Mayor’s lodge, construction of a single sports court for three games, volleyball, handball and basketball, removal of all wooden doors and windows in all the offices ,replacing them with iron doors and protectors, installation of new WC, reticulation of water to the offices, purchasing of a trailer load of cement for moulding blocks to fence the Council among others.
“I am open to work with you and I am open to support you where we can. Our leadership is a participatory leadership.I understand the importance of working together. I should be open to work with you because it is a relationship that is mutual, progressive and beneficial”, he said.
According to him, “I am a man that is very open to constructive criticisms and I would not say I know it all. I will let you access me and let you see my person and access my ability,if I am not doing well,I expect people to tell me the truth.I expect you to be bold enough to tell me the truth of where we need improvement.If you see something that is good, you should be able to say it also”
He encouraged media practitioners in the State to do more of investigative journalism to ensure they are factual in their reportings.
“So let us do more of investigative journalism,it will be to my advantage here in Bende because we are doing much we can to change the face of the Council” he stressed.
Earlier in his speech,the Chairman of OMPAN and leader of the delegation, chief Promise Uzoma Okoro informed him that the OMPAN EXCO were in Bende LGA Secretariat to interface with the Mayor on the possible ways of partnering with him in the area of information dissemination and communication.
He stated that OMPAN is neither an arm of the opposition nor a tool in the hand of government, added that, “We support the government where necessary and criticize the government when necessary”
