The Mayor of Umuahia North Local government area of Abia State, High-Chief Victor Ikeji, popularly known as Kpakpando has marked 30 days in office since he was appointed the leader of the local government by the state governor, Dr. Alex Otti.
He was appointed on November 30, a development which his chief press secretary, Tochukwu Eluwa in a statement said was greeted with “overwhelming applause”.
Eluwa reeled out some of the achievements of the local government mayor which include restoration of power in the council’s secretariat, repair of a dilapidated operational vehicle, restoration of water supply, and other “transformation” said to have been embarked upon by the council boss.
Read the full article below:
Ndi-Umuahia, Happy new year. Help is finally here!
Abia was indeed agog, when His Excellency, The Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti OFR made the announcement to appoint people of means and proven capacity as Mayors of the local government areas in Abia State.
On the 30th of November, 2023 Hon. High-Chief Victor Ikeji, Kpakpando Umuahia Gburugburu was sworn in as the Mayor of Umuahia North LGA and upon assumption of office, we told Ndi-Umuahia that help is here.
For Umuahia in particular, his decision to appoint High-Chief Victor Ikeji was greeted with overwhelming applause.
Not surprising, in less than three weeks of been appointed, The Umuahia Local Government has started to witness tremendous transformations. On assumption of office, Mayor Ikeji has not only lived up to expectations, he has been working the talk by matching words with actions.
Beginning with the Local Government Council headquarters, Umuahia has started experiencing the mildest touch of a dedicated and purposeful leadership.
After two (2) years without water supply in the Umuahia North Council headquarters, he has restored water supply to the premises.
Also, the Council has operated for more than four (4) years without power supply with its supply from PHCN been disconnected due to unpaid accumulated bills and the generator sets out of use for over five (5) years, Mayor Ikeji, just as his title “Kpakpando”(light) implies, has entered into negotiations with PHCN to restore power to the premises, but has also immediately fixed the long abandoned generating set which is now up and running, serving the entire premises.
Within this same period, he has fixed one of the operational vehicles of the Local government, haven been hitherto abandoned for almost two years, and left to rot.
Equally, the Mayor of Umuahia North has turned the council to a construction site. Upon resumption of office, after touring the entire council, he declared a state of emergency on the council’s infrastructure and commissioned an immediate renovation of the council’s secretariat starting with the political block housing the Mayor’s office, the deputy mayor, secretary to the local government and other appointees. The project which commenced immediately will be carried out in phases and will spread to all other offices within the council.
Furthermore, a total of 20 roads across Umuahia North have been marked for grading to enable communities within Umuahia North experience a hitch-free yuletide and thereafter.
As clearly enunciated in his inaugural address, he proclaimed that the welfare of his staff will be his top most priority and he has lived true to his words.
Due to hitches arising from banks’ inability to remit funds of councilors before the Christmas holidays, Mayor Ikeji opted to pay all the councilors from his personal purse to enable them enjoy the benefits of Christmas, pending when the banks rectify the hitches.
As a way of empowerment, he carefully selected 14 individuals with proven capacity as his aides. The good news is, all 14 of his aides specially celebrated the Christmas season with their families, courtesy of Mayor Ikeji.
In the same vein, Mayor Ikeji, in his usual manner of rewarding hard work and diligence, has placed all the principal executive officers of Labour Party in the 12 wards in Umuahia North on monthly stipends, the LGA executives are also not left out.
According to him, this gesture is necessitated to appreciate these party faithfuls and leaders who stuck with the party against all odds to ensure the victory of Labour Party in the last elections.
Actions such as these, shows that Governor Otti was right after all, when he decided to alter the status quo and opted to appoint these men and women as mayors and entrusted them with the responsibility of providing leadership at the grassroots.
Just as Abians have declared on Otti, without doubt, the people of Umuahia North can unequivocally declare that help is here.
In following the footsteps of his boss, Mayor Ikeji is working, as “E dey play and e dey show”. Help is finally here and the people of Umuahia North are witnesses. Indeed, of a truth, the dark days are over, light is now shining very brightly in Umuahia.
As we look forward to a prosperous new year, Keep the hope alive!
Tochukwu Eluwa
Chief Press Secretary to the Mayor, Umuahia North LGA
22/12/2023
