By Otobong Nsekpong
One of the main reasons the third tier of government was created in Nigeria was to bring governance closer to the people.
By the federal structure, the local government could best be described as the development delivery van of the people.
However, the local government administrations across the country have failed to justify this all important purpose for many reasons.
Some of the reasons that contribute to the dismal performance of local government administration include lack of proper legal or constitutional framework which failed to empower the local government administration financially, administratively and otherwise; corruption, embezzlement/ misappropriation of funds and undue influence of political godfathers.
Undoubtedly, the failure of the local government system leaves the people in communities poorer with absence of basic social amenities thereby increasing the rural urban migration.
However, Etinan Local Government Area under the able leadership of Hon. Uko Umoh is set to rewrite this ugly narrative about local government administration in the country.
Unlike his predecessors and contemporaries, Hon Uko Umoh has taken the bull by the horns by taking governance beyond the Council’s Secretariat to communities where he is determined to improve the well being of the people.
Having served as the chairman of the Transition Committee for Etinan local government area between December 2023 and September 2024, Hon Uko Umoh, he set up an audit committee to take inventory of all government projects that were executed by past administrations but are no p functioning in all the 64 villages in the local government.
Armed with the report of the committee, Hon Uko Umoh, now an elected chairman of the local government has started the process of breathing life into moribund government projects.
For instance, between the 28th and 29th of April, the Chairman in company of the political class, management and staff of the local government toured seven political wards to commission life touching projects in eight communities.
These projects include electrification project at Ikot Nkang in Northern Iman Ward 2 where he installed an electric transformer as well as replaced damaged electricity poles to restore light to the people.
At Ikot Ibok village in Southern Iman Ward 3 the council restored electricity to the people after 15 years of blackout.
At Ekpene Ukpa in Urban Ward 2 there was a replacement of a damaged transformer by the council while Etinan village also had their vandalized transformer replaced and electricity restored.
Benefitting communities of water projects include Iwor Etor in Southern Iman Ward 5, Ikot Eba in Urban Ward 2, Ikot Udo Otto in Urban Ward 3 and Afaha Akpan Ekpo in Urban Ward 5.
Addressing the people during the commissioning of these life touching projects, Hon Uko Umoh made a statement that has exposed him as a man genuinely interested in the welfare and good life of the people.
According to him, scare and limited resources must be properly channeled for the benefit of the people. He explained further that for government to have brought the projects to those communities in the first place, there was a reason which explains why he is more interested in seeing them work than embark on new projects.
“As we embark on these projects, we know it was a for a purpose and as a council we will not allow that purpose to be defeated.”
To confirm the chairman’s position, the Youth President of Iwor Etor, Comrade Edo Obo Sunday, said the water project serves three other communities of Afaha, Ikot Ekot and Ikot Akpan Ntembom. ” Chairman you are not just giving water to Iwor Etor but three other communities, one of which is in ONNA local government area”
The chairman of the local government Project Implementation Committee, Pastor Samuel Ikon, said the projects done by the local administration is based on the need assessment being the heart beat of the people.
Pastor Ubong Isong, the political leader of Urban Ward 3 described the chairman as an emerging African leader. According to him, by revisiting abandoned and non functional projects, the chairman is exhibiting the maintenance culture that is lacking among African leaders.
Barr. Ime Umoh, the political leader of Urban Ward 2, the government of Hon Uko Umoh centres around the people and their welfare. “We are already reaping the benefits of our support for you and we will continue to support you to do more for the people” he declared.
Hon Uduak Sunday, immediate past councilor for Etinan Urban Ward 2 said the chairman has started very well and with the speed he is going, no community will be left out in the distribution of dividends of democracy under his tenure.
It was an outpour of gratitude on the local administration from the youths of Afaha Akpan Ekpo for remembering the community in the scheme of things according to Ukai Aniebiet Effiong, the Youth President.
Engr Billy Etuk a member of the Local Government Project Implementation Committee admonished the people never to judge a book by its cover saying, the local administration under the leadership of Hon Uko Umoh has done beyond the expectation of the people.
The administration of Hon Uko Umoh is not only restoring electricity and potable water to communities in Etinan but has also embarked on grading of several rural roads to open up rural communities. So far, over 80 kilometers of rural roads have been graded to ease transportation and boost local economies.
The administration is also constructing an ultra modern Motor Park in Etinan local government from the ruins of former park located along Uyo road. Work has advanced on the project and very soon the contractor will deliver what will be the best motor park owned by a local government area in Nigeria.
According to the workaholic chairman, the next phase of projects will feature renovation and equipping of primary health centres in the local government area. He regrets the fact that Primary Health Centres that should serve as the first point of call in cases of emergencies cannot boost of personnel, drugs or infrastructure.
“We will take two health centres each from Northern Iman and southern Iman to make western health care accessible to the people.
The leadership approach of Hon Uko Umoh clearly shows that when the right persons with the right mentality about development is in position of authority, the right things can be done for the good of the people.
Clearly, Etinan local government area being one of the 774 local government areas in Nigeria is setting the pace in grassroots development and has redefined local government administration in the country.
Indeed, a new Iman is possible and Hon Uko Umoh is the new face of development in Etinan Local Government Area.
