Councillors representing the various wards in Asaba at the Legislative Arm of Oshimili South Local Government have been charged to be accountable to the people they represent.
The Asagba of Asaba, His Royal Majesty, Prof Epiphany Azinge, SAN, OON, FNIALS, who gave the charge when the Councillors paid him a courtesy visit, said as grassroots representatives, the Councillors needed to be close to the people to be able to adequately feel their challenges and proffer solutions to some of them.
The Monarch emphasized that the Councillors were not in office for self aggrandizement or enrichment, and cautioned that it would no longer be business as usual under his watch, while stressing that they should be prepared to give account of their stewardship for regular assessment of their performance.
His Royal Majesty said the Council legislators should relate more closely with the Palace for regular updates on their functions and challenges, adding that they should strive to leave behind enduring legacies for posterity, so that beyond their tenure in office they could still be remembered for good.
“The life of a politician is so transient and ephemeral in the sense that before you known it your name is gone to the trashcan of history. No body remembers you, either as Honourable or Rt. Honourable. So it’s important that we see regularly to give me the opportunity to challenge you”, the highly esteemed traditional ruler said.
Asagba Prof Azinge urged the Councillors to individually and collectively complement the efforts of the Asagba-in-Council and other traditional institutions, already yielding results in different areas, pointing out that there were lots of work to be done in the community by the Local Government, citing such areas as market, cemetery, borehole, solar streetlight, amongst others.
“The Asaba Development Union (ADU) worldwide, under my watch was able to do some of these things. We had no budget but there was that spirit to give back to Asaba to the best of our ability, so why can’t you? If you can come together you can do a lot, even if not from the Council’s budget, let it be your personal commitment, so that Asaba people will see that something is being done”, the Asagba added.
He drew the attention of the Councillors to some roads within Asaba that needed to be graded, especially in Umuonaje, and the absence of a Primary Healthcare Centre at Umuezei, which he challenged them to endeavor to establish by 2027, and enjoined them to find a way to appropriate funds for the projects in the Council’s budget.
The Leader of the Legislative Arm of Oshimili South Local Government, Hon Michael Okonji, who led the Councillors to the Palace, had told the Asagba that the visit was to pay their respect as subjects and to seek the advice and royal blessings of the King.
He commended the Monarch for all he had achieved since ascending the throne and pledged the support of the Councillors for his vision for Asaba.
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