By Elias Inaede,
The creation of Etsako Central local government in 1996 by the Military junta of late General Sani Abacha has created a huge relief to the people and residents of the local government.
The Council has produced various Executive Chairmen who have contributed their quota to the advancement of the local government.
Find below the projects of the former Chairmen with effect from the administration of
Chief Hon (Dr) Joseph Akhigbe Alemoh (JP) as the first and second Executive Chairman of the Council. 1997 -1998 and 1999 – 2002
Construction of the local government Council Secretariat building
Construction of a two Kilometers road, Construction of a three bedrooms Nurses quarter at fugar Maternity now Unone Modern health Centre.
Construction of a three bedrooms Nurses quarter at Anegbette in South Uneme Clan.Others were renovation of fugar Market, Construction of a 26 lock up stores at Ekperi, construction of a borehole at Azukhala Ekperi, construction of boreholes at Anegbette and Osomhegbe communities. Renovation of Osomhegbe maternity, building of 6 (Six) lock up stores at Udaba market, Sinking of a borehole at fugar when the waterboard was no longer functioning, and construction of a borehole at Oghomhere.
Other achievements of the administration of Chief, Hon, Joseph Akhigbe Alemoh included the construction of a block of four classrooms at Imakhena Primary School, Ogbona, construction of a block of three Classrooms at Oghomhere. Construction of a block of three classrooms at Udochi, construction of a borehole at Udochi. Others were grading and building of converts at Udaba axis on Ugbekpe- Oghomhere road.
The administration of Hon.Akhighe Alemoh also gave priority to agriculture by establishing Yam and Cassava farms that were generating income for the Council.Payment of hospital bills for the less Privileged was top priority for the administration under review.
Regular payment of workers salaries between 25th and 26th of every month till the end of that administration in 20O2. Others were employment of One hundred (100) junior staff and the renovation of fugar rest house to a standard obtainable in developed areas, construction of drainage along Ivhiukasa road from fugar -Agenebode road and construction of drainage in between Oghiadomhe way to the Police station and other achievements time and space may not permit us to enumerate.
HON PASCAL UGBOME’S ACHIEVEMENTS As
Executive Chairman, Etsako Central local government Council, 2004- 2007.
Hon. Pascal Ikpemhoghena Ugbome was the Executive Chairman of Etsako Central local government from 2004 -. 2007.. Despite the limited resources, the administration achieved tremendous successes which included Purchase of Six brand new buses to start Central line,
Construction of a mini Stadium at Arua,
Building of Water points in all the Wards in the local government,
Purchase of 500KVA transformer for Unone Water Board
Extension of Electricity to parts of Ekperi Communities
Building of Cassava Processing facilities in Avhianwu and Ekperi Communities
Building of Mini bridge at Udochi community
Building and Equipping of Skill Acquisition Centres
Building of Abbatoirs
Regular payment of salaries and emoluments among others.
HON JOSEPH UGHEOKE’s ACHIEVEMENTS AS EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN , ETSAKO CENTRAL
LGA. 2007 to 2010
The administration of Hon. Joseph Ayegbeni Ugheoke’ recorded huge success in the areas of human and infrastructural developments.Below are the achievements of Hon. Ugheoke as the third Executive Chairman of Etsako Central local government Council.
Construction of Fugar township roads 8. 5km
Construction of Okpiemi Azukhala road 1.5km
Construction of Ugbekpe Oghomere road 1km Construction of Iraokhor Market , Construction of Udaba market
Construction of Anegbette Market and Doctors Qtrs inclusive
Renovation of Abebe primary school, Ugbekpe
Renovation of Ekperi Grammar school Ugbekpe
Beautification of Secretariat premises
Completion and energizing Udaba electricity project and renovation of Udaba primary school. Others were
Construction and renovation of Osomegbe primary school
Purchase of 13 hummer buses for Central line, Purchase of15 brand new Kia official vehicles and two Jeeps. Purchase of a hilux van for official use
Purchase of hospital equipment and drugs for 18 health centres
Construction of Ogbona Iraokhor road ( completed by Hon. Emma momoh)
Construction of 13.5km drainages in Fugar,. Construction of 9.5km drainages in Ekperi,
Construction of Azukhala-Ivhianake Road
Building of 14 Primary Health Centres, Building of 12 primary Schools, Construction of 13 Doctors quarters, Construction of 2 Skills Acquisition/Training Centres and building of Staff Carteen,, Control of Storm Water Project (1and2) at Azukhala, building of Ogbona new Market and Employment of over 3,000 Casual Workers.
Others were opening and grading of 50km Earth roads across the local government, building of 5 boreholes, Extension of light to Okphiemhi Community, purchase of cassava grinding machine for three communities, Extension of light to Imiava community, Extension of Pipe borne water at Fugar and Ugbekpe Communities and supply of books and other learning materials to schools across the local government. Purchase of Engine bolts for Riverine areas, Purchase of 1,000 Chairs for all primary Schools in the local government, Extension of Power SS lines in Azukhala community, construction of fish Ponds, Empowerment loans, Award of over 300 Scholarships to indigent Students, construction of bulk Stalls at Ugbekpe, Ekperii among others.
HON EMMANUEL MOMOH’s ADMINISTRATION 2013- 2016
Fondly called Odogu by his friends, business and Political Associates. Hon Emmanuel Momoh’s administration is adjudged as one of the best the local government has ever witnessed. The reasons are not far fetched. His administration was reknowned for his populist programmes that brought a lot of transformation to every nook and cranny of the local government.Every community benefitted immensely from the Momoh’s led administration.Some of his numerous projects were the completion of a block of three classrooms with stores and VIP toilet at Usagbe Primary School, fugar,
Renovation, furnishing of E – Library/ Conventional library at fugar
Provision of 30, 000 copies of Exercise books and White Board Markers to all Primary Schools in the local government,
Construction of a block of three classrooms with Offices, Store and VIP toilet at Ogochi, Ekperi
Supply of 1000 Units of Desks/Benches in all Schools in the local government area
Construction of three Classrooms block with Headmaster’s Office and toilet at Azukhala
Construction of a block of three classrooms at Oseseamhe Primary School at Udochi
Construction of Modern PHC at Unone Village, fugar
Renovation of Unone PHC Staff Quarter, fugar
Renovation of M and E block in Unone PHC Centre, fugar
Construction of new Primary Health Centre(PHC) at Ukho community
Construction of a new PHC at Okpenada, Ekperi
Provision of Hospital Equipment, furniture and dressing for PHC at Okpenada
Provision of Hospital Equipment, furniture and dressing at Ukho
Rehabilitation/ Renovation of District Hospital and Staff Quarter at Anegbette
Rehabilitation/Renovation of laboratory/ Tuberculosis/Leprosy Unit at Unone Maternity, fugar,
Actualization of 100 Percent Children Immunization
Construction of a new Primary Health Centre at Udochi
Construction of a new Primary Health Centre at Osomhegbe
Purchase of an Ambulance Vehicle for the local government
Construction of Cold Chain/Theatre block with Offices at Unone Maternity, fugar
Extension of light L.T.Phase 3 Electricity along Alhaji Ibrahim Street, fugar
Extension of 15KM Electricity from Iyerekhu to Odame community
Replacement of wooden Poles with Concrete Polesi fugar
Provision of Street light on selected roads in fugar
Purchase of 60KVA Sound Proof Generator including installation at Unone Maternity, fugar
Purchase of 60KVA Sound Proof Generator including installation at Anegbette
Purchase of 60KVA Sound Proof Generator including installation at Arua Village, fugar
Purchase of 60KVA Sound Proof Generator including installation at Ugbekpe, Ekperi Water Scheme
Construction of new blocks of 10 units each of Market Stalls and Renovation of two old existing blocks at Anegbette
Construction of 6 blocks of Market Stalls of 10Units at Ogbona
Renovation/Re roofing of 11 blocks of Market Stalls at Unone Market including partitioning of three blocks, fugar
Construction of 5 blocks of Market Stalls and Renovation/Re roofing at Udaba
Construction of Secretariat Extension Offices for 6 Supervisors
Rehabilitation/Renovation of Arua Market fugar
Beautification of Mission Road Entrance, fugar
Provision of Road Signs and fugar Town Renewal Project
Completion of Asphalt tarring of 1.5km Ogbona/Iraokhor Road with drains on both sides
Grading and Sand filling of Some roads within the local government
Viz: Atse Road, Ivhiavhe Road,Chief Ighiamho Street and Imiava Road, fugar
Opening of new Roads of average of 5KM per road in Wards One, Two and three and grading of Existing Earth roads in ten Wards of average of 5km per Ward totalling 50Km
Grading of newly opened/bulldozed roads (15km) in fugar
Supply of Prado Jeep in Chairman in fugar
Purchase of Toyota Corolla (1.8 GL,AT) for SLG
Purchase of 1 Toyota Corolla (1.8 GL, AT ) for HOLGA
Purchase of 1 Toyota Hilux WDDC Petrol S/S WAC
Purchase of 50 Empowerment Motorbikes
Purchase of 2 numbers of Toyota Corolla (1.8 GL, AT / L/Seat, 6 CD with six Speakers Push Start.
Renovation of Chief Joseph Akhigbe Alemoh’s Hall in the local government Secretariat
Furnishing of Chief J.A.Alemoh,s Hall in the local government Secretariat
Payment of Workers Salaries as and when due
Provision of adequate Security
HON.JOHN OSI AKHIGBE
Executive Chairman, Etsako Central local Government Council
2018 – 2021
Comrade John Osi Akhigbe, was the immediate past Executive Chairman of Etsako Central local government. His government, no doubt, was anti workers and anti people. The administration was famous for indiscriminate arrests and prosecution of local youths especially the opposition members.
Workers are being owed backlogs of salaries ranging from five to Six months as evident in the Council books by the administration under review. Contractors who finished their jobs with certificates of completion were denied payments by the administration of Comrade John Akhigbe.The neglect by the Council and the former Council Chair to honour the terms of agreements in the contract award letters led to series of litigations instituted against Etsako Central Council and the embattled former Council boss at the High Court in fugar, administrative headquarters of the local government, ELiAS INAEDE MEDIA GROUP can authoritatively report.
The local government transport company known as Central line was functioning with six buses and the major source of revenue for the Council.Shortly after assumption of office, Comrade Akhigbe crumbled the transport company to establish his own. As I write this piece, the local government has no single transport bus due to the inordinate ambition and mismanagement of Comrade John Akhigbe.
Also, unremitted Etsako Central and Etsako West Cooperative Societies Workers deductions by the embattled former Council Chairman were some of the reasons he was dragged to Court by the leadership of the various Councils Cooperative Societies. Documents at our disposal which will be released in our next publicication will attest to our claims as we are Privileged to have the monthly Allocation as released by the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission from March 2018 to March 2021 to local governments Councils which formed the basis of our reports. Council Workers and Residents in the local were happy that their tormentor had finally left the stage.
it is also on record that the embattled former Council Chairman has no respect for the Judiciary as several Court Judgments against him and the Council were never obeyed. His achievements included according to him are:
Renovation of Council hall built by Chief Jossy Akhigbe Alemoh’s administration
Completion of Executive block initiated by Hon. Emmanuel Momoh’s administration which was 90% completion.
Renovation/Reroofing of a block of Eight Classrooms at One Primary School, fugar built by Hon. Joseph Ugheoke’s administration and financed by the federal government.
Renovation of Doctor’s Quarters at Arua Maternity, fugar, built by Hon Emmanuel Momoh’s administration.
Implementation of 40% immunization excercise
Construction of a 10ft by 10ft Security Room at Unone Modern Health Centre , fugar.
Construction of a 8ft by 8ft room toilet at Arua Market, fugar
Construction of a block of. 4 open stalls at Unone market, fugar
Supply of Benches to Uralo Primary School, Iraokhor
Based on the following analysis, it is crystal clear that the administration of Comrade Akhigbe is the worst and most corrupt administration in the history of the local government.
Elias Inaede, is a Social Media Influencer and former Chief Press Secretary to Etsako Central local government Counci