The recent financial autonomous status granted to local governments in Nigeria by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, has created a new wave of political dispensation while gradually but steadily redefining the strategic responsibilities of the third tier of government to the grassroots.
Despite the arguments, speculations and assumptions as to whether the local government is actually financially independent of the state overnment or not, one local government chairman whose activities have defiled these speculations is Chief Francis Uche Nwodu, the Executive Chairman of
Ehime Mbano Local Government Area.
Upon assumption of office shortly after the September 2024 local government election, the newly elected fire brand executive chairman did not mince words in outlining the part he
will toe as far as the development of the near comatose local government is concerned. The educationist turned politician was unequivocal on his first address to the good people of Ehime Mbano who gathered in a dilapidated council hall covered in ornaments of decorations, to hear from their first duly inaugurated executive chairman after about 15 years.
While he outlined his priority areas which include health, agriculture, security and human capital development, he made it clear that the local government funds belong to the people and will be used for the people.
The echo of excitement and approval that punctuated his speech at the event, was later discovered to be a testament of the people’s believe in his delivery ability, outstanding pedigree of performance having distinguished himself impeccably in previous assignment. The people still remember how he facilitated hundreds of teaching and non teaching appointments for young graduates when he held sway at Imo State Secondary Education Management Board, an uncommon gesture that earned him the revered chieftaincy title of Ihie abata1of Umunakanu.
They remembered the supersonic speed of progress recorded at the local government in less than 4 Months he functioned as the Sole Administrator (Solad) of the local government.
No wonder myriads of appreciations and thanks were heaped on His Excellency, Gov. Hope Uzidimma, the leaders and the people of Ehime; Mbano who worked tirelessly to ensure he emerged successful both at APC primary and general election.
The people of Ehime Mbano viewed his emergence as God’s given opportunity for entrusting the leadership of the local government to one of their own, a man of deep value who they are certain will reposition the local government, return it to life and set it on the part of steady growth for the development of the rural communities.
True to their expectations, Chief Uche Nwodu did not disappoint. Like a servant who understands the nuances and heart beat of his master, he has painstakingly followed after the monumental developmental trajectory of his master- Gov. Hope Uzodimma, who in less than 5 years transformed the state beyond the imagination of pessimists. Chief Uche Nwodu, knowing that the 3-R administration seeks human oriented policies, has made true his promises to the people by initiating huge and far reaching projects that rubs-off on the people directly.
The Executive Chairman, in conjunction with the legislative council, has embarked on unprecedented multi-million naira free health insurance scheme policy for over 3000 vulnerable people in Ehime Mbano. These carefully selected beneficiaries cover children between the age of 0-5, the elderly above 65 yrs and pregnant and nursing mothers. This is huge and massive. It has never happened before in Ehime Mbano at the instance of the local government fund.
Kudos to our performing governor who is working assiduously hard to provide quality an affordable health care to all Imolite at the state level. This has become the spring board that jump started unusual free health care in Ehime Mbano.
The local government headquarters which wore forlorn and abandoned ambience before the emergence of the executive chairman, and was derogatorily referred to by many as a ‘pigpen’, is being revitalize by Chief Uche Nwodu’s administration. As expected by the good people of Ehime Mbano, life has returned to the Local government headquarters and it is now a beehive of activity. The aerial view of inside the council headquarters at night shows a beautiful scenery adorned with solar powered lights that serve multiple purpose of illumination, aesthetic and security. These achievements couldn’t have been possible except for Chief Uche Nwodu, the indefatigable Executive Chairman.
Worried by darts of offices for appointed and employed staff of the local government, he has approved the reconstruction and renovation of an abandoned edifice at the local government. This multi-million naira project is nearing completion.
All these are part of a blueprint of total beautification of the local government complex including a planned state-of the-art landscaping of the entire local government headquarters.
With the insignia of the legislative council, the unrelenting local government chairman has also finalized arrangements with Mbara Ozioma Institute of Technology, one of the best mono technique in Nigeria with international affiliation, to train Ehime Mbano Youths in diverse areas of their interest.
The icing on the cake regarding the training partnership the local government entered with Mbara Ozioma is that best performing students have the chances of oversea job placement. This is so because Mbara Ozioma Institute of Technology has foreign partners willing to work with willing students. This is no joke.
Such project embarked upon by the local government is in the magnitude that can only be contemplated by the state government. It is capacity building and entrepreneurial
project that has covert strategy of reducing unemployment, youth restiveness and curbing insecurity.
Recall that His Excellency, Gov Hope Uzodimma has successfully trained thousands of Imo youths in various fields of Information Technology under his Skill Up Imo Project and has recommended massive training for the youths to the elected local government chairmen on the day of their inauguration.
Chief Uche Nwodu has carefully taken after his master the governor. As a man of the people, for the people and with the people, he mingles and dines with the lowly and indigents at the grassroots; he understands that “stomach infrastructure” particularly for the lowly is non negotiable. Hence he organized a brief prayer session with the widows and indigents during the festive period after which he doled out foodstuff and cash to them. It has never being this good in Ehime Mbano!
If all these achievements were recorded in less than 5 Months of democratically elected government of Chief Francis Uche Nwodu as the Executive Chairman, then the good people of Ehime Mbano ‘ain’t seen nothing yet”, as the Americans would say.