Celebrating Udi’s RSSDA Merit Award Of Excellence

Naturally, celebrations are moment of joy and happiness. It is also a moment of stocktaking.
In a democratic system of Government, where supreme power lies with the people, assessing one’s performances is quite essential due to yearning and aspirations of the people.
This is true because elected public office holders are accountable to the people especially the electorates who voted them into office.
The achievement of Udi within the period under review is not only in the pages of Newspapers or in the wireless.
There is a popular saying that, “What we see is what we believe”. In view of this fact, Government agencies, NGOs and the press have been coming to Abua/Odual Local Government of Rivers State for on – the-spot assessment of the performances of the Abua/Odual Chairman, Mr. Udi Odum and their reports have always been positive.
Interestingly, a statistic survey on the administration of Udi in 365 days shows in practical terms that he is committed with sincerity to render quality services that would impact positively on the lives of the people.
That is why in several meetings, involving PDP stakeholders he often said, “the monthly allocation is open for the people of Abua/Odual who are the property owners of the council to verify, and greater percentage of the allocation is meant for development”.
Apparently, Udi, no doubt is in the forefront of being press friendly and have been fraternising with the men of the noble profession in realisation of his firm belief that the press is an agent of change in any democratic system of Government.
In fact, “a well established system of Government is a web of resistance as well as a circuit of control”.
Udi has made the people of Abua/Odual to realise that indeed there are dividends in democracy. This, he is doing by embarking on sustainable and people oriented projects as well as waging war against all forms of criminality in the area.
Without mincing words, the solace of any disciplined worker in society is the consciousness of one’s self respect. Although one’s self respect emanates from several factors.
As a leader, there is no gainsaying that the perfect man rules forever, but the people crave and yearn for a good leadership whose shining legacies is the source of pride to the generality.
Indeed, Udi has virtually proved himself as a true leader committed to serve the people of Abua/Odual and beyond as well as organising programmes for the wellbeing of the people especially by harnessing resources to execute activities that touch on individual lives, such as Health, socio-political advancement, economic empowerment, Education, legal rights, peace and conflict resolution and family issues.
Udi’s simplicity of life, despite his affluent background is note worthy in many respects. Virtually, the people of Abua/Odual have observed with keen interest that the present administration under the able and dynamic leadership of Mr. Udi Odum has not only brought a relative peaceful atmosphere to Abua land where the people can now sleep with their eyes closed and freely walk in all the streets and towns of Abua Central and communities in Abua kingdom both day and night without being harassed or intimidated, but he has also proved himself as the best performing Local Government Chairman in the State.
In practical terms, Mr. Udi believes that the concept of leadership is indeed the act of guiding, motivating and empowering people to achieve individual or group goals.
In realisation of this fact, Mr. Udi Odum apart from working in tandem with the security agents as well as empowering the youths economically, he is also committed to paying WASC registration fees of over three hundred candidates as well as the provision of over five thousand free exercise books to primary schools pupils in the area.
More importantly, within hundred days in office Udi was chosen among the seven best performing Local Government Chairmen in the State and was virtually crowned with a meritorious award of outstanding performance by an NGO: The Niger Delta Assessment Movement.
Above all, the presentation ceremony which took place at presidential Hotel on 6th November, 2008 attracted distinguished personalities including a US based business tycoon.
Interestingly, these notable personalities were seen in their colourful attire as they were overwhelmed with joy and happiness at the venue of the award.
Happily, Udi has not only proved himself as undefiled, unpolluted and undeterred in his style of leadership and good governance, but he has also created a remarkable and superlative track records of accomplishments of performance within the period under review.
In the light of the above, Udi is apparently synonymous to peace and community development and alphabetically Udi connotes three significant words. That is to say U stands for undisputable, D signifies development, while I simply means Integrity.
Ostensibly, with this significant revelation of Udi coupled with rapid development in the area, the people of Abua Odual are now basking in the euphoria of a worthy and a proud son in the person of Mr. Udi Odum whose leadership potential is second to none.
On Assumption of office on Friday 25th April, 2008 Mr. Udi has been honoured by notable groups in Abua/Odual Local Government Area in appreciation of his landmark achievements.
Prominent among these groups are, the Abua Progressive Forum, Okana Students Forum in conjunction with the Okana Community, among others.
Without mincing “words, the honour done on Udi is a practical demonstration of rewarding hard work and commitment to duty, which everyone who is professing to become a leader should aim at possessing.
A former cashier in Abua/Odual Local Government Council who is presently the internal auditor of Bonny Local Government, Mr. Madighi Dickson chronicled the rising political profile of Udi as saying: I know Udi as a man who will never disappoint the people of Abua/Odual because he has been tried, tested, entrusted and found worthy in view of his past records especially when he was the caretaker committee Chairman of Abua/Odual Local Government in 2003.
On a very serious note; the recent award on the Abua/Odual Chairman, Mr. Udi Odum is not a miracle, but rather it shows high ideal, sacrifice and absolute determination to render quality service to the people devoid of self aggrandisement and personal gains.
Definitely, with the spirit of positive change dangling around Udi, it is hoped that he is going to win again this year’s award by the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency.
Obviously, an indigene of Abua who left Abua for some years returned home recently and was quite amazed with the arresting changes in the Local Government headquarters.
The people of Abua/Odual have started pouring scintillating comments and praises on Odum’s performances
In most of these comments they say Udi’s projects will definitely speak for his second term in office.
Happily, on Saturday 13th December, 2008 the Abua/Odual Chairman Mr. Udi Odum was again honoured with another prestigious award of Excellence in Local Governance.
To win the award, Udi was adjudged by the Rivers State sustainable development Agency to Excel among other Local Government Chairmen in the State and won prices especially in the area of primary Health Care services, information technology centre (ITC) and infrastructural sustainable projects.
At this juncture, the grand award of thirty million naira cheque including a brand new Pajero Jeep was presented to the Abua/Odual Chairman Mr. Udi Odum as the best performing Local Government Area Chairman in the state in 2008.
In view of the scintillating and superlative nature of the RSSDA programme, the Director, Rivers State sustainable development Agency, Mr. Bolaji Ogunseye described the award night as important, because it was aimed at recognising Excellence in Local Governance initiative.
Ostensibly, Ogunseye noted that the award would enable those honoured to do more, while others would be beating their chest.
The award night which took place at the Rivers State House of Assembly auditorium attracted the presence of Obed Mlaba, Mayor of Durban, Republic of South Africa, the Director of the Rivers State sustainable development Agency, Former Deputy Governor, Sir Gabriel Toby, top Government functionaries, Captain of industries, Local Government Chairmen, among others.
Of course, the ceremony was greeted with pomp and Peagantry Culminating to Drama presentations and other colourful events.
At this juncture, Governor Chubuike Rotimi Amacehi should be commended for promoting the rich cultural heritage of the Rivers people and his logistics support to ensure the success of the award night in honour of the best Local Government Chairman in the State.
The award night which was organised by the Rivers State sustainable Development Agency ‘tagged’ Excellence in Local Governance Initiative will not only enhance effective administration in the Local Government System, but it will also spur Local Government Chairmen to greater productivity.
History, which offers a reflection of past events could better illustrate the uniqueness and aesthetic nature of the award night, being first of its kind in the history of Rivers State.
In-fact, the Abua/Odual Chairman, Mr. Udi Odum has not only made history, but he has demonstrated hard work and Excellence in leadership.
“it is true to say that the infiltration of the rightists persons in the helm of affairs could be noticeable judging from the level of their performances and not by mere imagination which rather brings some fairy tales to riddle the minds”.
One is very analytical to figure out that Udi was visibly overwhelmed by the honour done him.
“One basic, but fundamental philosophy in human existence, which permeates all religions, is expressed in the concept that the whole world is a mirror which reflects back unto you that which you put forward unto it”.
That is to say the activities of Local Government Chairmen and other public office holders, are like a mirror which reflects back unto you and the society at large. “One can only be remembered while in office when you left your developmental foot prints on the sands of time.
An economist of the World Bank, Joseph Stiglitz views development as “a transformation of society, a movement from traditional relations, traditional ways of thinking, traditional methods of production, to more modem ways”.
In other words, development should, then, be viewed as a multidimensional process involving major changes in social structures, popular attitudes and a national condition of life from unsatisfactory to satisfactory.
In the actual sense, satisfactory means materially well to do and spiritually happy or content with what one or country has got.
Basically, the need to give adequate publicity to the activities of Local Government Chairmen in the state particularly the Abua/Odual Chairman Mr. Udi Odum can not be overstressed.
This is true because information is the key to success. “And if you are not informed, you are deformed, and if you are informed, you are transformed”.
Therefore, it will interest you to know that the Abua/Odual Chairman, Mr. Udi Odum has embarked on a number of people oriented projects in all the seven distinct clans of the Local Government Area.
The projects under reference include, Akeodi Oyaghiri information Technology and Communication Centre, Interlocking of one kilometre Road from Abua Roundabout to Emilaghan Community, Interlocking of Council Secretariat, Construction of 18 Units of 8 Market Stalls, Rehabilitation of one kilometre Road from Okana Junction to Ogbema Community, construction of Okana Town Hall.
Others include, Construction of Emelogo Town Hall, construction of Anyu Town Hall and construction of two bedroom Headmasters Quarters at Okolomade, all in the Odual axis.
On Health Care delivery, the Abua/Odual Chairman, Mr. Udi Odum has not only given special attention to the Health needs of the people, but he has also embarked on the provision of free drugs as well as equipping the primary Health Centres in Otapha, Ayama, Arukwo, including the construction of new health Centres at Iyak and Ogbema Communities.
On transportation, Mr. Udi Odum has declared a state of emergency in the transport sector in the area by procuring 15 brand new Toyota buses and Two (2) 75 Horse power engine boats to tackle the transportation needs of the people.
Little wonder, Mr. Udi Odum was declared the best performing Local Government Chairman in 2008. This is in view of his unprecedented achievements in all strata of human and material development.
To this end, all hands must be on desk to support Mr. Udi Odum to enable him actualise his lofty dreams for the people of Abua/Odual Local Government Area.
To God be the glory.