Civil Wars In LGA …The Etche Council Exception

Hon Reginald Ukwuoma And Hon Annette Onyesoh

A key essence for the clamour for autonomy for Local
Governments (LGs) in Nigeria is to bring rapid development nearer to the
people. Through such self-independence, it is often argued, accruals to the
third tier of government would be free from the familiar at source deductions
and also, not be tied to the whims of any other tier.

The thinking is that with such autonomy, operators of the
local government councils would have at their disposal sufficient funds to
address the fluctuating fortunes of the rural poor. By law, the running of the
LG council as its Chief Security Officer and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is a
Chairman who must earn majority of votes cast in a given election.

However, to be elected, such chairmanship aspirant or candidate
must have a running mate, who, upon victory becomes the Vice Chairman. The word
MATE according to the Collins’ Website dictionary, as applicable to this
discourse, is, ‘someone’s friend, of about the same age bracket’ therefore,
when you say running-mate, you mean
equal partners, each complementing the other. But that, in Nigerian
politics, especially at the local government level ends with electoral victory,
when one becomes Executive Chairman and the other Vice Chairman, not Executive
Vice Chairman.

Here, in Rivers State, the drastic post-election change in
relations between local government council chairmen and their deputies goes
beyond the difference between pre and post election behaviour, it has
degenerated to an unholy matrimony with each at the other’s throat most of the
time. That scenario at once, truncates the very essence of bringing rapid
development nearer to the rural poor as the supposed operators of the system
spend productive time fighting and planning one another’s fall, than do the
people’s work.

Curiously, until Rivers State Governor Chibuike Rotimi
Amaechi recently announced the suspension from office, both the Executive
Chairman and Vice of Okrika Local Government Council, Barrister Tamuno William
and Mr. Inbiremieye Sunday respectively, not many appreciated the level of
intrigues, bad blood, acrimony, in-fighting and indeed mutual suspicion that
reigned supreme in the relations between the two most senior operators of that
council.

Instead, it was in an interview with the Deputy Mayor of
Port Harcourt City Local Government Council and Chairman of the Rivers Vice
Chairmen’s Forum, Mrs Nancy Stephen Ijaapo, early this month that it became
most profoundly clear that the Okrika example is not an isolated case but
indeed a norm among nearly all the 23 councils, except Etche, Oyigbo, Port
Harcourt and Ogu/Bolo local government area councils.

Mrs Ijaapo listed greed, high-handedness, primordial
loyalties to external godfathers, insensitivity, selfishness, lawlessness,
corrupt tendencies and indeed lack of the fear of God on the part of most
council chairmen as reason for the near frequent quarrels between chairmen and
their deputies.

On the other hand, she blamed some Vice Chairmen for being
over-ambitious, insatiable, disloyal, greedy, ungrateful, egoistic and often
lacking in creativity.

For these, not only is one perpetually suspicious of the
other, each at every opportunity plots the other’s fall. And that makes
team-spirit, mutual respect, meaningful service and rural development, a
pipe-dream. So, how can these be avoided? Why the endless wars? Who is to
blame? What indeed are the causes for the cold wars? When will they end or at
least abate?

Is it true that loyalty of the two principal officers to
different political godfathers, is a main reason? Chairman of Etche Local
Government Council, Barrister Reginald Ukwuoma says ‘not exactly,’ that it
depends on the individuals to draw the line between service to the people
grounded in co-operation, mutual respect and fear of God as opposed to
meaningless display of egotism to suit the whims of external sponsors in the
name of obeying a godfather.

For instance, Barrister Ukwuoma and his eventual Vice
Chairman, Mrs Sonye Annette Onyesoh were never, prior to the campaigns ‘mates’
and never belonged to same political camp nor shared same political godfather.
But the duo have functioned as Siamen twin, united in purpose, driven by same
desire for quality service and indeed spurred by a rare measure of mutual
respect and fear of God.

With such co-operation, the ordinary Etche man, woman and
the youth enjoy quality service that can be seen. Such works have also earned
the Etche Council countless recognition, national acclaim and performance
awards, some of which are over-all best performing local government council in
Nigeria, awarded in Abuja penultimate Thursday and the Best Perfuming LGA in
the Niger Delta states won last year.

What is the secret of that cordiality now translated into
positive developmental results? What should other local government councils do
to avoid the now familiar bickerings, disharmony and indeed cold wars with
their deputies? Barrister Ukwuoma listed what can be described as the 12 Basic
steps to a harmonious, Chairman and Vice Chairman relationship.

Fear of God.

Chairmen must, at all
times, appreciate the fact that they are not the best, most educated, most
popular or most intelligent. But that their elevation to such offices was an
act of God and therefore must be performed with equal fear of and reverence to
the Most High. They must also realise that the same God who approved their
elevation can also dethrone them.

This, according to the Etche Council Chairman, Barrister
Ukwuoma is the first and most important starting point.

It is like seeking first, the Kingdom of God and all other
things will be added.

Obedience to Laws

The law of local government Administration must be obeyed.
For instance, the law states clearly that the Vice Chairman must be made a
supervisor, with a distinctive potfolio. Unfortunately, Barr, Ukwuoma, said
there are local government council chairmen in Rivers State who have refused to
appoint their vice chairmen into any supervisory positions. That, he insists,
amounts to greed and mark of insensitivity to their deputies.

The Etche Vice is
in-charge of the Health Potfolio.

Frequent Informal and formal Communication.

To truly work as a team, both chairman and his vice must
avoid even a minute’s gap in communication. It was the belief in the power of
communication that informed Barrister Ukwuoma’s maiden meeting with his Vice,
and indeed the first assignment he ever undertook in office. It was in that
first ever informal meeting that both, not merely fashioned the operational
blue-print grounded in mutual respect but also laid the foundation for lasting
friendship between both their immediate families. Including their children.

Regular delegation of powers.

The Chairman must not turn his office into the one and only
clearing house for all council needs. He must frequently delegate powers and
assign roles to enable stakeholders appreciate his level of trust and faith in
his vice. Such boosts the confidence of sub-ordinates and inspires hardwork and
loyality.

Avoidance of rumours

The Council Chairman must rise high above insecurity and
petty rumours. He or she must realise that in the political environment Nigeria
finds herself, many thrive on rumours to destroy existing partnership and
stroll to the corridors of power. If a council chairman is known for
zero-tolerance to rumours, his relationship with his vice and indeed others
will endure all challenges.

Emphasise more on positive traits than the negative.

A Chairman that sees nothing good in his deputy cannot
succeed. Kind words like, ‘Thank you, that work was splendid, I know I can
always count on you, ‘Great effort, keep it up’, ‘what can I ever do without
you’ and encouraging comments like you had a great deal done, good work’, ‘your
progress is magical, am proud of you’ and ‘God, bless you and family for this
service’ can challenge even the most useless of deputies and inspire greater
commitment.

Avoiding External Influence.

Chairmen, should be men enough to tell their godfathers,
‘sorry sir, this will negatively impact the council, why don’t we try this,’
when pressures that could affect relations with their deputies crop up.

Appreciating the fact that the position is first and
foremost for service to people and God and not a personal enterprise.

If a council chairman realises this, he will think always of
life beyond office and seek lasting friendships instead of endless enmity.

Avoidance of Greed
and selfishness

A Chairman must be sensitive to the needs, hopes and fears
of his vice and show real empathy. A self-seeking, self-opinionated and
dogmatic chairman cannot make a successful leader and servant of the people.
Therefore, he must be a good listener if he must understand the fears of
others.

Demonstrate true leadership.

Some council Chairmen view the academic status of their
deputies as hindrance, forgetting that the minimum requirement for occupying
such office is first school leaving certificate. In such cases, the chairman
should be willing to teach, direct and encourage his deputy to cope with modern
challenges, of his office.

Protect the Vice
against other council hawks.

The Council chairman must at all times be ready to protect
his vice against antics of other council officials who may attempt to create
animosity between them in pretention to
show extra support for the chairman’s personal cause. In such instance,
the principal should insist on the presence of his vice and see the truth in
the intended discourse.

Be open and
transparent.

Unnecessary secrecy on the part of elected Council Chairmen
often create avoidable suspension. Therefore, the chairmen must be open and
transparent so that in his absence, the vice could be properly armed to address
issues competently.

According to Barrister Ukwuoma, adherence to these
guidelines account for the amiable working relationship between himself and his
vice and a good reason for the modest successes the Etche LG Council has
recorded.

My agony is that rather than be the norm among all 23 local
government councils, the Etche Council’s success story is today an
abbreviation. A pleasant exception though.

Methinks other LG chairmen and their deputies need a lesson
or two from the duo of chairman and vice in Etche Council.

Soye Wilson Jamabo