Hon. Lazarus Gogoteh Nteogwuile
The Executive Chairman of Andoni Local Government Council, Hon. Lazarus Gogoteh Nteogwuile has sworn in the Vice Chairman-Elect, Hon. Mrs. Henrietta Mbatumu Simeon and Secretary to Council, Hon. John Dienye Ezekiel at the Council Secretariat in Ngo Town Headquarters of Andoni LGA.
*An inaugural address presented by the executive chairman of Eastern OBOLO LGA, Rt Hon Samuel Nteogwijah at Eastern Obolo local government headquarters, Okoroete to mark the official taking off of his administration dated 7/10/2024*
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen!
1. Few hours ago, I had sworn to an oath that was taken by all former chairmen of Eastern OBOLO local government area since inception on the 4/12/1996 and we have just witnessed the executive proclamation and the inauguration of the six legislative council and subsequent swearing in of honorable councillors of Eastern OBOLO LGA.
2. This, indeed is not only a victory for our party, PDP, not only a victory for democracy but also a big victory for the development of Eastern OBOLO LGA.
3. Therefore, let me thank His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno, the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State and the PDP family for standing by us for the victory we are celebrating today. We equally appreciate our people's overwhelming votes that have put us in office today. Through your support, our capacity remains undiminished. We are indeed very grateful for the trust you have bestowed.
4. More than two and a half decades ago, our founding fathers fought, won and secure for us a territory called Eastern OBOLO LGA. They forfeited their few worldly possessions and risked their lives across creeks and rivers in search of a new territory for us. They toiled the night and endured threats to their land, lives and offices to secure for us a territory called Eastern Obolo LGA. Therefore, permit me to salute their partriotic courage, tirelessly efforts and enduring fruits of their labour which we are enjoying today. Today, let us see Eastern OBOLO as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions, greater than all the differences of villages or families or factions.
5. Today, I stand here humbled by the task before us and mindful of the sacrifices that would be required of us to move Eastern OBOLO LGA forward. Our fidelity to our land and people requires new responses to new challenges and ultimately requires our collective actions and unified approach. On this note, let me assure you that the words I have spoken during the rising tides of campaigns that as Executive Chairman, I will not disappoint the people of Eastern OBOLO LGA are still my sure and watch words in this moment of celebration that will usher in the business of governance.
6. We are all aware that the challenges we are facing as Nigerians are real, serious and many. That Nigeria is in the midst of economic crisis and uncertainty in pump price of fuel that has triggered the cost of living in this country are now well understood by all. That our economy is badly weakened is now well understood by all. However, through our unified Agenda, we shall strive for unity of all segments, villages and groups, we shall seek to provide nurishment to all segments, supply infrastructure to all nooks and crannies, fortify our onshore and offshore areas, run an all inclusive government for the benefit of all, ensure education for the younger generation and see to the development of all facets of Eastern OBOLO LGA, galvanize and partner with IOCs operating in our area to provide employment for our youth. All of these will not be met easily or in a short span of time but they will be met. All of these require our unified actions and our resolve to make hard choices and prepare for this trying times and for this new economic age.
7. As a people, we have come from a long rugged path towards unity, peace, prosperity and happiness. Therefore, the time has come for us to choose brevity over faint- heartedness. The time has come and now is the time for us to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose development over distraction, to choose noble idea over mudslinging. The time has come for us to pursue full measure of happiness for all over neglect, to choose hope over fear, to choose unity of purpose over conflict and discord because society's ills can't be heal by government alone. It will require the effort of the youth, effort of the women, effort of the clergy, effort of the traditional rulers and of course effort of all of us to fashion a more prosperous, united and peaceful Eastern OBOLO for ourselves, for children and for our generation yet unborn.
8. Today we will promise less and prepare to do more than we had promised. We have a strategic blueprint and a unified plan to stamp our footprints across the ten wards of Eastern OBOLO LGA. Each ward shall have atleat one substantial project to remember our stay in office. We shall harness the resources that will be made available to us to give our local government area a befitting Secretariat.
9. On a very serious note, we are not ignorant of the recent traditional rulers issue and the remapping saga that seemed to threaten us in recent years as Obolo people and our God- given land. Neither are we ignorant of some developmental challenges facing us as a people in this digital era. We may not have the best strength, resources and resilience to face this new challenges but I can assure you that God will take care of all these issues and with unity we shall surmount all.
10. In all, we ask the youth to unite with us, we ask the political class to unite with us, we ask the women to unite with us, we ask the clergy to unite with us, we ask other political parties to unite with us and we ask the entire Eastern Obolo people to unite with us and let's move forward from here ; for what lies behind us and what lies in our hands are tiny compare to what lies ahead of us. For we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Amen!
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