‘’I Want More People To Be Employed In The Local Government System,’’ Says Mrs Onuorah Ogechukwu Lynda , Chairperson Njikoka Local government area

     

Mrs Onuorah Ogechukwu Lynda is the Chairperson Njikoka local government area , Anambra state. In this interview with odogwuemekaodogwu.blogspot.com, Mrs Onuorah spoke on a wide range of issues including the Governor’s wife visit , security and empowerment of Njikoka women as wife of the local government chairman.   Excerpts brought to you by odogwuemekaodogwu.blogspot.com :

      

Goals to compliment the wife of Governor Obiano, Chief Mrs Ebele Obiano

     My target as a chairperson in Njikoka is not on temporary basis  but something when I am gone another person will still continue . So it is not just a short term goal but one that will still continue even when I have left the seat as chairperson, I would be working towards opening an NGO which will help our women, children and youth at the street, these organization will be a voice for women, children and our youths that are in need of help and a voice for our daughters that are being violated everyday because there is no one to speak for them.

And because our roles are complimentary as a helper to the man, so my role as the wife of the L.G chairperson is to assist/ help in the day to day affairs of women and children, helping the women in the grass root by empowering them; it can be by skill acquisition, it can be by giving them loan to start up small scale business among others.

         And  you know that because rural people are involved transparency must be our watch word the in the discharge of my duties. I will strive to maintain mutual relationship with my people so that they can understand me and how things are running in the day to day affairs of these government , so that when stories start flying as wont to fly in political environment , they would be first to put the records straight for those flying the rumours before I even speak.

How many projects have you initiated

          For now, I have not been able to execute any project because the office of the chairperson is not being funded but I have one that I am trying to put in place which will help our unskilled women to learn how to make beads or how to use beads to create lots of things like bags, shoes, jewelry, etc. So by these we would be able to empower about 50 women or more depending on the resources I would be able to mobilize in that regards.

I am saying these because some unofficial assistance we rendered took those who benefitted far and we would like to really do a lot but without resources we are handicapped. And again our coming to the local government brought hope to the widows and orphans and Vulnerable children, even the disables, it gave them hope that someone cares about them and that they are not in whatever they are passing through alone. We are with them.

Obiano’s wife visit impact

     Yes , Her Excellency’s visit really left an indelible mark in my council area. It was so tremendous that the orphans, physically challenged and widows once again have the sense of belonging.

Her Excellency’s memorable key events included women, children and youth empowerment with particular reference to the less privileged as well as utmost concern for the widows and vulnerable ones. Many of them were really empowered with cash, food and supplements.

     And the Governor’s wife charged us on issues of security on the need to support our husbands in terms of security challenges since that was one of the major pillars of the Governor’s four pillars of development.  We are meant to understand that protection of lives and property could not be done by one person but we must be vigilant and have access to communities  to enable flow of information that would be used to nip kidnapping and all forms of crimes in the bud.

We are encouraging community policing in any manner we can and so far , my women are solidly behind me in tackling providing information even when their own is involved  in the community policing we operate. They always render  profound assistance whenever the need arose for the communities in the local government to resolve any security issue.

There are six communities in my LGA, namely – Abagana which is the head quarter, Enugwu- ukwu, Nawfia, Nimo, Abba and Enugwu- Agidi.

Allocation to work with

     In discharging of duty, I would rate our allocation not satisfactory in the sense that the duties or rather the projects it ought to be utilized on are too numerous all demanding for attention at the same time.

And sequel to this we could not do much but we have a challenge of many people retiring and there is need for more hands to be engaged.  I would rather say that I don’t have much challenge except pleading the concerned body to recruit more workers as some are retiring from service hence affecting the strength of the human resources.

Obi and Obiano government ideology, any difference

No, I don’t see different goals and ideology from the past government to the present because the same ruling party ( APGA ) that was previously on seat is there presently and there is continuity. So the political ideology and goals of the two remains the same.

Remembered for

     After my tenure, I would like to be remembered for being able to pursue good governance to the best of my ability and a government worthy of emulation by incoming people. And I would like to have peace with all men even after testing power because most times when you are in position of authority , a lot go wrong and when you come out your friends wont be yours again. I need prayers to succeed in serving my people better.