Comrade Deacon Johnbosco Chimaokwu Obodo Esq, is a constitutional lawyer, a reputable public servant, a realtor, a unique politician and an aspirant for the Oguta Local Government Area Chairmanship seat.
The illustrious son of Agwa in Oguta LGA has been privileged to hold key positions in different local government areas, served in different capacities in the church and has been a highly revered community leader who has occupied many positions in his community and is currently serving as the Secretary General of the renowned Agwa Clan worldwide.
In this exclusive interview with Reality News, Barr. Obodo elaborately discussed his ambition to chair the Oguta LGA council, his vision and agenda for the Oguta people, what he desires to do differently using the leadership position, amongst other important issues.
Excerpts:
Question:
Why are you in the race for Oguta LGA Chairmanship seat?
Answer:
I want to replicate the good legacies of our dear governor, distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma who has come to introduce infrastructural revolution in Imo state. As you can see, some of the roads people think were not possible to be reconstructed are today the best of the roads in the state, for instance, the Owerri to Orlu road, Owerri to okigwe road, Owerri to mbaise, to obowo road and MCC road. Some of these roads are long in terms of kilometres and I know some past governors dared to embark on such road projects but saw them as gigantic projects. Sometimes we see these roads as federal government project but our governor has come to break the jinx of backwardness in terms of infrastructural development.
He is the torchbearer and I wish to replicate the good works he is doing in my LGA. It is youth o'clock but it is not just about being a youth. It is about a youth making an unprecedented difference. Some people believe that the youths are only good to be used as political thugs and the likes, but I want to prove that when you give the mantle of leadership to a youth that is intellectually sound with an impeccable track record of achievement, he will produce excellent results.
Question:
What are your agenda for Oguta LGA?
Answer:
I have a lot of things I want to do for my Local Government Area ranging from infrastructural development, agricultural revolution, youth empowerment, educational and health reforms, security, power supply and the rest. I wish to elaborate further.
Infrastructural development:
The council headquarters of Oguta LGA is nothing to write home about. We don't have a good legislative building and conducive office spaces where our councillors can carry out their legislative businesses. Within my first 100 years in office, I will ensure that the council has a conducive environment to conduct legislative affairs.
The hall we have in our council headquarters was built by our late political leader and the first executive chairman of Oguta LGA, Hon. Nze Eugene Obiamadi in 1993. There is no other hall there now that is commodious enough to accommodate a large number of people. I want to replicate what the governor is doing in Imo International Convention Center (IICC) Owerri, in Oguta as well so that our people will have a very conducive place to gather for programs and events. We have some abandoned projects littered at the council headquarters. I have gone there with my team to inspect some of the projects embarked upon by the former administration which are nearing completion in some councils but in my council the building projects have been abandoned. We will take up the projects and finish them, then provide more office spaces for the staff and management. There is scarcity of good office spaces at the headquarters currently. The chairman's office does not befit the office of the chairman of an oil producing LGA. We will pull out the office of the chairman from where it is now and give the chairman a very conducive office that will have a state of the art equipment and facilities. It will also have a conference room where the chairman can conduct certain meetings and briefings instead of using his office for meetings. I will do this within my first 100 days of being in office. We will change the landscape of that place and design it in such a way that everyone will know that it is a government premises.
The council headquarters is not fenced at the moment, thereby giving room for encroachments. We will fence it and ensure that infiltrators stop encroaching on the land.
There are some customary courts in Oguta LGA that are not in good conditions. We want to reform the judiciary system and make it suitable.
Agricultural Revolution:
Local government is the government that is nearest to the people. We want to bring evidence of democracy to the people. We will change the agricultural system in Oguta. Most of the communities in Oguta LGA are feeding from agriculture as peasant farmers. We will introduce technology in their agricultural business so that it will be attractive to the youths. We will change the six years shifting cultivation arrangements. We will change the overall system of agriculture to ensure food security. We have large portion of land but the system of agriculture does not motivate large production of food. Our people go to Benue and some other places to buy food when we can confidently and conveniently produce food in large quantities. I shall invest in agriculture and ensure massive food production and security in the LGA.
Education:
We want to introduce technical colleges in some places in Oguta LGA so that by the time one is through with secondary education, that person must have acquired knowledge and skills that can help him or her to be self reliant. If the person doesn't have the economic capacity to further his or her education, the person can work to get some money. Gone are the days when youths carry certificates about seeking for employments.
Youth Empowerment:
We want to bring modern skill acquisition centers in Oguta where some of our restive youths can be equipped, rehabilitated, empowered and trained with the modern techniques now, so they can be relevant to the labour market. Instead of waiting to be employed or given money, they can generate income by themselves.
Empowerment is not just about giving people sewing machine or clippers for barbing salons, it is about equipping them with diverse skills that are obtainable now, so that they can be sought after. The world has gone digital. We need to train the youths inline with the modern trends of the present day. We shall give them digital skills that can enable them work anywhere with their smart phones. Website designing, content creation and the rest are very lucrative skills that they can use and make money even from the comfort of their homes. Many youths have smartphones which they can use to make money and not just surfing the internet without any resourceful gain.
Power Supply:
We are happy that our governor has instituted the Orashi electricity Regulatory Commission in Imo state and the commission is empowered to generate, transmit and distribute electricity in every part of the state. We have to contribute our quota to make sure that some communities that do not have electricity supply now can be connected to the national grid. We have some communities in Oguta that have not seen light for the first time in their lives. We want to change that so that the children that are coming from those areas can feel the touch of an impactful administration and be happy that they can have regular power supply without going to urban areas.
Security:
We intend to collaborate with the traditional rulers and presidents general of Oguta communities to ensure that we embark on community based policing in collaboration with our governor who has already set up the ministry of home land security. We will collaborate with that ministry to ensure that what our governor is doing in the state can be done at the rural areas so that there will be effective policing.
Health Sector:
Health is one of the biggest investments we have to make because as at now most rural dwellers do not understand what it means to access modern health facilities. They go and patronise quack maternity homes and sometimes in the course of doing that they may lose their lives. We want to change that narrative by bringing qualified medical personnel to our rural areas and make sure we provide some of the facilities our hospitals are lacking and then sensitize the communities on the importance of accessing these medical provisions. We will give them orientation on the need to visit hospitals instead of going to quacks where cases of emergency can result to regretful ends.
Question:
Do you think you are the best candidate for Oguta chairmanship position?
Answer:
By the grace of God, I am the most experienced amongst the contestants having been a staff of local government for years and having known the workings of the system. I think from my years of public service and my knowledge as a legal practitioner, I have garnered the experience to set the ball rolling immediately without going through the principle of learning the process afresh. Without exaggerations, I am the only candidate that do not have any scandal or ugly records and that is why the youths are rooting for me. They feel I have an impeccable character and the wherewithal to deliver even within the shortest period of time. I think I am the best because I am a home boy. I grew up here. I know the feelings of the people. I understand their pulse. I have not been away from Imo state since I was born. I travel and come back but I am resident here. I understand the system here and as such I am the best candidate that can bring the needed solution.
Question:
What do you have to say to Oguta people ahead of the elections?
Answer:
I am seeking for the support of our leaders. Oguta LGA has never been in short supply of high profile political leaders in the history of Imo State. I am seeking the support of our political leaders, highly revered royal fathers, clergy men and party faithfuls. Let them bless me, guide me and then watch me to see that I shall never disappoint them.
I am seeking the support of our youths, our men, our women, the progressives and every patriotic Oguta indigene who yearn for good governance so that in the end they themselves and ultimately our governor will be proud that such a choice was made to change the ugly narratives.
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