Chidi Lloyd Didn’t Disappoint Us In His First Term, And One Good Turn Deserves Another — Emeka Woke
Emeka Woke Urges Crisis Merchants To Allow Gov Fubara To Work For Rivers People
As the two-week harvest of projects organized by Emohua local government gradually winds down, the local government chairman, Dr. Chidi Lloyd, has attributed the successes recorded by his administration to the grace and mercy of God, stating that the change of narrative in the local government area wouldn’t have been possible without God’s intervention.
He said his administration had always depended on God for direction and protection; hence, he and his team were able to make an impact in the local government area.
Speaking at the commissioning of the 350-seater Emohua Council ICT Center conceived and built by his administration, held at the local government council secretariat complex on Friday, Dr. Lloyd noted that there is nothing impossible for God to do for a willing heart.
“It is important to note that what God cannot do doesn’t exist. Once there is a will, there certainly will be a way,” says Dr. Lloyd, as he recalls the challenges encountered by his administration during the preparation for the commissioning of the ICT center, occasioned by the late arrival of the computers, while thanking God for the successful completion of the projects.
Dr. Lloyd said the ICT center, which is named after the erstwhile chairman of Emohua LGA, Chief Engr. Chukwuemeka Woke, was conceived to improve information and communication technology in the area, stating that the center will be used to train youths of the area in different computer application skills, free of charge.
According to the council chairman, the ICT center is also expected to generate revenue for the local government council, as it will be open to examination bodies like JAMB, NECO, GCE, etc., and cooperate with organizations for computer-based examinations and seminars.
“We conceived the idea of solving a genetic problem; the problem of our children having to go as far as Aba and Owerri to write computer-based exams. So, we decided to make Emohua local government a one-stop center for computer-based exams.
“The idea behind this is that we intend to train one hundred and forty (140) of our youths, with ten (10) beneficiaries coming from each of the 14 wards in the area, quarterly, on all kinds of ICT-related programs, to enable our youths to become ICT-compliant.
“This facility will also help our youths who come to fill out online forms for Air Force, Police, Army, and Navy recruitment exercises. We know what we go through to enroll our children in these recruitment exercises. This center will solve that problem.
“It is no longer news that Emohua local government doesn’t have too much of what generates revenue; then, as leaders, we must think outside the box, to do things that will inadvertently generate money for the council. That was why this ICT center was conceived.
“The center will be linked to JAMB, NECO, WAEC, and others, and they will not be using the facility free of charge, of course, they will have to pay money to the council for the use of the facility.”
The Emohua Council boss said the center was named after Engr. Emeka Woke in recognition of his contribution to the development of Emohua local government area.
“We were deliberate in our choice of who to name the center after, we have to name the center after someone who has also sacrificed immensely for the development of the local government area.”.
He urged the people of the area to collectively see to the maintenance of the ICT center, especially at the end of his administration.
“I want to plead that we own this facility and maintain it after we have left office.
“It will be painful to come here after I have left office to see this facility in ruins. Whoever will come after me should please have the fear of God and maintain these structures.
Speaking further, Dr. Lloyd said he may not have shared the commonwealth of the local government area with individuals in the name of empowerment but has provided the ICT center to empower the youths of the area to become computer complaints, stressing that the world had already moved from analog to digital solutions.
The special guest of honor and erstwhile chairman of Emohua LGA, Chief Engr Chukwuemeka Woke, in his address, commended and congratulated Dr. Lloyd on the numerous infrastructure projects undertaken by his administration across the LGA, emphasizing that the council chairman has made tremendous improvements in infrastructure development in the area.
He noted that the leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Emohua LGA never made any mistake in their choice of Dr. Lloyd for the chairmanship of the LGA in 2021, stressing that the council chairman has displayed capacity and preparedness in the office.
He added that it is only natural that a good turn deserves another, as he also noted that the decision on whether or not Dr. Lloyd will be having a second term doesn’t solely rest with him.
“First of all, I want to thank God that since we started this project commissioning on February 19th until today, nobody has encountered any problems; no deaths or accidents have been recorded.
“Let me also congratulate and appreciate our council chairman for the numerous projects executed across the LGA. The projects enumerated here, as we have seen, are physical.
“It means that the leadership of the PDP and the entire people of Emohua LGA that gave you this mandate during the administration of His Excellency, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, didn’t make any mistake.
“You have proven that you have the capacity, and you’ve also shown that you came prepared.
“I have administered this council from 2004 to 2007, I came back again in 2008 to 2011, and I know that I will be a liar if I say that the way I left this council in 2011 is still the way it is today. You have made tremendous improvements in infrastructure development.
“We thank you for not disappointing us, and I’m proud of you. That’s why I identify with you each time you call me, and it is only natural that one good turn deserves another. So, because you have done well, we shall say that you will go back again.“.
“Chief Emeka Woke, while recalling the circumstances that surrounded his second-term ambition as the chairman of Emohua LGA in 2007, noted that every administration is bound to have opposition, no matter the achievements.
He said, “I want to say something here, it doesn’t lie in my personal opinion, but it is God almighty that gives power. Of course, in every dispensation and administration, some will believe you have performed, while others will say, No, you didn’t do well.”.
Chief Emeka Woke, while condemning the organized social media attacks on Dr. Chidi Lloyd by some misguided youths of Emohua LGA, noted the negative effect of the activities of the youths on social media on the development of Emohua local government area.
“I want to address those writing all sorts of nonsense on social media, I told them privately in my residence that they are only de-marketing the local government area, chasing investors and developers away from the LGA, they’re chasing away the students that will reside in our local government and improve the economy of the area.
“If they think that they’re writing anything against Chidi Lloyd, they’re wasting their time. If they think what they write will determine whether Chidi Lloyd will have a second term or not, they’re also wasting their time. Whether the council chairman will do a second term or not, it is about himself, his destiny, and his God.”.
He appreciated Dr. Lloyd for honoring him by naming the council ICT center after him, describing the chairman’s gesture as a mark of gratitude.
Meanwhile, the former chief of staff at Rivers State Government House has urged politicians seeking relevance by fueling the political crisis in the state to stop distracting the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, so that the governor can work for the people who voted him into office.
He lambasted those whose new job is to cast aspersions on the person of the immediate past Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, at every political gathering, describing them as distractions to the state governor.
Chief Emeka Woke, who recalled the achievements of Nyesom Wike within one hundred days in office as Governor of Rivers State amid political turmoil in the state at the time, urged Gov. Fubara’s distractors to allow the governor to drive development in the state.
“Most of those casting aspersions on Nyesom Wike today are either former council chairmen or former assembly members who were not allowed to do second and third tenures. Let me ask, are you the only person in your local government or your constituency?
“At the time he recognized and empowered you, what about others? Yet you come here to say someone is greedy. If it is not greed, what is driving you?
“I pity those listening to them, and I also pity the person they’re dancing for, but my happiness is that he knows them very well.
Emeka Woke commended Dr. Lloyd for recognizing the contribution of his administration to the development of Emohua LGA and consolidating on some of his achievements in office, stressing that government is a continuum, hence every administration must endeavor to improve on the achievements of their predecessors and not to condemn them entirely.
He noted that Emohua LGA would have advanced in infrastructure development if successive administrations had consolidated on the foundation laid by his administration.
In his address during the presentation of an outstanding leadership award to the chairman of Emohua LGA, Dr. Chidi Lloyd, the President of the National Union of Emolga Students (Worldwide), Comr. Dike Nnamdi-Mark, said the students identify with the transformation agenda of the council chairman, stressing that the administration of Dr. Lloyd has transformed the LGA within the council chairman’s first term in office.
He said the council chairman’s visionary leadership and commitment to infrastructure development have had a great impact on communities across the local government area.
He said the award became necessary following the council chairman’s innovations and sterling performance.
In his solidarity speech, former chief medical director of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Prof. Aaron Ojule, congratulated Dr. Lloyd on his outstanding performance during his first term in office, stressing that the council chairman has written a very good testimonial for himself while also noting that the future holds a lot for Dr. Lloyd.
The event attracted political leaders, traditional rulers, religious leaders, stakeholders, and principal officers of Emohua local government, with a special performance by popular Nigerian comedian, Danny Spry.
Dr. Lloyd was accompanied by his wife, Lady Divine Adanma Chidi-Lloyd.
Bright Jossy-Elendu
Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman, Emohua Local Government Area.
Friday, March 1, 2024
