LG Chairman Gives Tuber of Yam, Hoe and Cutlass as Empowerment
Reactions have trailed the empowerment of constituents with a tuber of yam, hoe and cutlass by the Chairman of Obanliku Local Government Area in Cross River State, Evang. (Mrs.) Margaret Inde.
According to THE PARADISE, the empowerment exercise was in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Local Government and the New Yam Festival celebration.
A statement by Evang Margaret during the ceremony reads in full;
ATTENTION: Click “HERE” to join our WhatsApp group and receive News updates directly on your WhatsApp!
“Fellow Obanliku people, on behalf of myself and the executive council, I wish to congratulate all of us on the historic 30 years of existence as a Local Government.
“Also as we celebrate our new yam festival signalling the end of hunger in our traditional calendar, I bring you warm greetings and candidly commend your individual and collective hard work at ensuring food security in the entire area.
Read Also: About 1.35m Women Have Benefited From FG’s Entrepreneurial Programmes Since 2015 – Osinbajo
“30 years ago, our local government I mean our fatherland – this beautiful land with different faces of natural endowments especially its geographical landscape spread across the political wards became a reality on August 27 1991, through a proclamation by then Military President General Ibrahim Babangida.
“I wish to proceed with my speech by making reference to the Almighty as encapsulated in Psalm 125, ‘What marvels the Lord worked for us, indeed we were glad, for it was like a dream’ We rejoiced, we danced and our joy knew no bounds.
“Beloved of God, exactly Thirty years after our creation, I am here before you on behalf of the solid and sincere conscience of the Obanliku people dead and alive, born and unborn come before you first as a responsibility on our part as a council to reflect on how far we have come and as well as to harp on the need for us to remain united as we work together to chart a new course to move forward to where it should be characterised by a strong, united, developed and community promoting equal opportunity for all.
“As we rejoice on this day, permit me to pay tribute to our past leaders and founding fathers who in the last 30 years have made huge sacrifices in leadership and many areas which enhanced the recorded our collective achievements.
“Their commitments have contributed to what we call Obanliku today. I therefore sincerely thank them for their services and pray God to bless them abundantly. This appreciation also extends to the successive local government administrations for their laudable initiative for sustaining the tempo of development.
“As the current executive Chairman, this occasion provides me with a great platform to tell you how we have fared with the mandate you gave us but first, I want to remind us of the economic situation of Local Governments in the country with very little resources available to run a government closest to the people.
“When we assumed office, with the resources available to us, we undertook the renovation and furnishing of the Secretariat. We also renovated and furnished the legislative chambers of the council.
“More so, we have set in motion the discussion for the overall development of our LGA. This includes the inauguration of a High Powered Committee for the development of an Obanliku new City. In spite of the lean resources, we were also able to participate actively and supported the Obanliku stakeholders’ conference held in June on June 14 -15, 2021 during which robust discussions aimed at fast-tracking the development of our dear Local Government took the centre stage. The outcome of the conference has already kick-started the implementation of the resolutions.
“The Council under my watch recognises peace and security as pivotal to the growth of the LGA.
“In our time in office, we have made this critical sector a priority through regular meetings with security heads and traditional rulers council.
“I again urge us today to increase our commitment to the security of life and property at every time.
“In the area of cultural preservation, we have given all the support to our traditional institutions and leaders and we will continue to do so. Our new yam festival which we celebrate today is a testament to this fact.
“Fellow Obanliku people, Let me reiterate the point that to truly grow, we need to unite. We need to solidify our strength which is our people who remain our greatest asset.
“The spirit of hard work and excellence passed down to us by our forefathers should continue to burn in us.
“Our youths must rise to the occasion of community building even as I congratulate them on nation-building.
“From Bendi to Becheve, from Bishiri to Utanga, from Basang to Bisu, from Busi to Bebi, Obanliku is one.
“In conclusion, as earlier I mentioned, we must pause and take an assessment of the progress we have made and the way forward so that together, we can build an Obanliku we can all be proud of,” she added.
