By Emmanuel Antswen
Mr Maurice Orwough, Chairman, Guma Local Government Area (LGA), says the council has leveraged local government autonomy to execute development projects, improve security and implement social programmes.
Orwough stated this while presenting 51 motorcycles to kindred heads in the area.
He said the motorcycles were provided to strengthen grassroots administration, enhance mobility of traditional leaders and support community security efforts.
The chairman listed projects executed by the council to include bridges, roads, clinics, boreholes and rehabilitation of council facilities across eight wards.
He also cited the construction of the five-kilometre Gbam-Udei road and a one-kilometre road at the Guma council headquarters.
Orwough said the council had awarded scholarships to about 200 students and donated about 40 motorcycles and vehicles to security agencies to enhance their operations.
He said improved security had enabled about 80 per cent of residents who previously fled inaccessible communities to return and resume farming.
The chairman, however, acknowledged that some criminal elements were still active in parts of the local government.
He commended Gov. Hyacinth Alia for granting local governments autonomy and supporting security initiatives, while appreciating President Bola Tinubu for approving the establishment of an army barrack in Guma.
Orwough said the army barrack project is expected to commence operation in September, adding that the council would continue to execute projects and tackle security challenges.
Dr Ortese Yanmar, Commissioner for Cooperative and Rural Development, said he was born and raised in a rural community in Guma, where he also attended primary school.
Yanmar said the prevailing insecurity and displacement caused by attacks on communities would have denied him the opportunity to acquire education if he were born in the current circumstances.
He therefore commended the establishment of an army barracks in Guma, saying it would contribute significantly to restoring peace and encouraging residents to return to their communities.
Mr James Dwem, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, commended the Alia administration for what he described as fairness to the people of the area.
Dwem said the governor had appointed indigenes of the area to key positions, including Secretary to the State Government; Commissioners for Lands and Survey, for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and for Cooperative and Rural Development.
He urged traditional rulers to work toward ending the conflict between Nongov and Tarka Local Government Area.
Also, Chief Augustine Shunyi, a third-class chief, pledged the continued support of the traditional institution for government policies aimed at improving the lives of the people.
Shunyi commended the federal and state governments and the council chairman for supporting the establishment of an army barracks in Guma to tackle insecurity.
Earlier, Mr Cletus Upaav, a former member of the House of Representatives, commended Orwough for restoring respect to the traditional institution through his programmes.
Upaav said the motorcycle distribution demonstrated that local government autonomy was operational in the state and urged the chairman to support the governor’s administration.
He advised the chairman and other council leaders to avoid confrontation with the governor, recalling previous disagreements between local government chairmen and state authorities.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Chief Yameyem Alu, Kindred Head of Mbakombor Sagher, commended the chairman for providing the motorcycles to ease transportation and grassroots administration.
Alu, enthroned in 2005, described the gesture as unprecedented, saying it was the first time traditional rulers in the state were receiving such attention from a local government administration. (NAN)
