An Address Presented By The Executive Chairman of Ahoada East Local Government Area, Hon. Barr Ben Eke On The Occasion Of The 2021 Independence Day Anniversary Celebration In Ahoada East LGA On 1st October,2021
Protocols,
It is indeed with great pleasure that I welcome you all to this very historic occasion,as we join our fellow compatriots across the nation to mark the day when the Union Jack was lowered,to signal the emergence of Nigeria as an independent nation. The Independence we celebrate today was a priceless legacy from the founding fathers of this country to the contemporary Nigerians of their time, to our present generation and to posterity. It therefore behoves us to guard this liberty jealously within the framework of Justice, equity, fairness, love for one another and in unity.
Today is significant in both symbolic and substantive perspectives. This is so because beyond the fanfare and merrymaking, it serves as a constant reminder of the baseline of our journey into nationhood and how we have fared so far in that journey. It is a day that calls for retrospection, introspection and stock- taking.
This occasion also calls for sober reflections as to whether the dreams and visions of our founding fathers have been realized or are indeed realizable,in a nation so richly endowed with abundant human and natural resources after 61 years of nationhood. I say this because in the face of the very daunting challenges of insecurity, economic recession,COVID-19 pandemic, religious intolerance, ethnic polarization, banditry and other global phenomena confronting us and threatening our collective well-being,there seems to be so much apprehension and misgivings in the air.
I however wish to urge that we must continue to exercise abiding faith in the unity and corporate existence of Nigeria, even in the midst of these monumental challenges,as there is more than enough reason to be optimistic about the future of this country,if only we are willing to rekindle the spirit of patriotism and to foster the enabling environment for peace to reign,by emphasizing more on the things that unite us as a people rather than on our differences.
Here in Rivers State, the narrative of these harsh economic realities and pervasive negative trends have been largely mitigated,by the pro- active measures and interventions of His Excellency,the Executive Governor of Rivers State, Chief ( Barr) Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON,GSSRS, POS-AFRICA, ” Dike-Ohna Ikwerre”, a.k.a “Mr. Quality Project”,whose massive investments in the security architecture of the State and infrastructural developments have yielded the required dividends and continued to guarantee the safety of lives and property of our people,as ensuring that economic activities continue to thrive, hence making life more meaningful here than elsewhere in most parts of the country.
A case in point is the recent siting of the Faculty of Humanities of the Rivers State University and the expansion of the Ahoada- Omoku Road into a Dual Carriage Way. These are legacy projects that are bound to enhance the capacity and expand the scope of economic and social activities in Ahoada East and other neighbouring Local Governments. We must therefore key into this vision and development driven agenda of His Excellency,by preserving at all cost the prevailing peace we enjoy and protecting at all cost the infrastructural facilities that have been placed at our disposal, for the economic advancement and well-being of our people,by providing the enabling environment that ensures that these projects are successfully delivered on schedule.
As a way of complementing the laudable efforts of His Excellency in enhancing the development and well-being of our people,my administration has also embarked on several people-oriented programmes and projects, from inception in 2018 till date, and we promise not to rest on our oars till our time is done.
While it is impossible for any administration to completely meet the yearnings and aspirations of its people within the lifespan of it’s tenure,we are proud to say that with very prudent and judicious management of available resources,we have been able to record these modest achievements:
1. Construction and equipment of a new Mechanical Workshop at the Local Government Industrial Unit, Ahoada.
2. Reconstruction and equipment of a new Tailoring Workshop at The Local Government Industrial Unit, Ahoada.
3. Neighborhood Water Scheme in the 13 Wards of the LGA.
4. Renovation and furnishing of the Ahoada East Legislative Complex.
5. Procurement of two ( 2) 500KVA Transformers, poles and cables for Ihuowo Community Electrification Project
6. Clearing of 320 plots of land and re-establishment of the survey beacons of the proposed Ahoada Stadium site.
7. Completion of the Design for the Stadium Complex
8. Yearly payment of Bursary to Students of Ahoada East LGA in tertiary institutions
9. Empowerment of indigent Widows and the physically challenged in Ahoada East LGA.
10. Financial Assistance in support of Law School Students of Ahoada East origin
11. Distribution of free Exercise Books to UBE Students in Ahoada East LGA
12. Distribution of School Desks to Primary Schools in Ahoada East LGA
13. Sponsorship of 100 Youths of Ahoada East origin for a six(6) months ICT Training programme, in PortHarcourt.
14. Sponsorship of Ahoada East LGA indigenes on a Three (3) Week Agricultural Empowerment in Partnership with the National Directorate of Employment ( NDE)
15. Empowerment of 100 persons as Sanitation Marshals
16. Restoration and Sustenance of peace in Ahoada East LGA
Recognitions And Awards:
1. Award – Winning Chairman in Rivers State on Prevention of HIV/AIDS Surge
2. Award-Winning Chairman on Sports Development in Rivers State
On-Going Projects:
1. Construction of a new Universal Basic Education ( UBE) Office at the St. Paul’s State School, Ahoada
2. Re – Construction of a Four (4) Classroom Block at St Paul’s State School, Ahoada
3. Construction of a Home Economics/ Management Training Center at the Local Government Industrial Unit, Ahoada
4. Completion of Ihuowo Town Electrification Project
5. Re – Construction of Unuoshi Road, Ahoada
I must hasten to admit that these achievements we have recorded would have been possible without the support and co-operation of all relevant stakeholders as these projects and programmes have been carefully chosen and put in place with a view to boosting economic activities within the Local Government Area and to impart skills that will equip our youths and improve on their capacity for being employable or self – reliant.
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I therefore use this opportunity to call on our Youths, who are the future leaders of this nation to cash in on these windows of opportunities that are available, and to shun all negative tendencies such as cultism, drug abuse, kidnapping, illegal oil bunkering and other social vices that are capable of truncating their future, because all that is necessary for the success of any individual is just the will and determination to succeed, for as the saying goes, “were there is a will there is always a way”.
I wish to commend the heads of Security Agencies in the LGA, Traditional Rulers,our Youths and the general public for the synergy and the mutual co-operation we have enjoyed since the inception of my administration,in our collective resolve to make Ahoada East Local Government Area peaceful, for it’s indigenes and those who reside here in pursuit of their legitimate business.
Once again I welcome you all to this occasion and wish you a happy Independence Day Anniversary Celebration.
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria !!!
Long live Rivers State !!!
Long live Ahoada East Local Government Government Area !!!
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