By Iheanyi Enwerem
Deputy Governor of Imo State, Lady Dr. Chinyere Ekomaru has called on Village Heads in the state to work hand in glove with royal fathers of their communities to drive the developmental initiative of the 3R Shared Prosperity administration of the Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma.
Ekomaru made the assertion while receiving members of Mbaitoli Council of Village Heads in a courtesy visit,at her office, recently.
She said Uzodimma has enormous confidence in the rural government structure, the reason he recognizes the Town Unions, with the President Generals as the heads of administration and traditional rulers as the custodians of culture and tradition.
“Our Governor, Sen. Hope Uzodimma has done so much within a short time. Recently, named the Infrastructure Governor of the Year in Nigeria, following his sterling infrastructural revolution in Imo state.
“Every facility he has put in place is ours and for our benefits, so, as such, demands we protect the facilities with utmost passion.
“Our Governor, is poised to make Imo the economic hub of the South East and to achieve that, all hands must be on deck.
“Imo is safe today because of his spirited effort to defeat insecurity and protect Imolites. Thankfully, traditional rulers and village heads are no longer administrating their communities from the cities or diaspora but their different communities and villages.
The Governor means well for all Imo indigenes and residents, so keep supporting him and his 3-R administration in the state”, the Deputy Governor stated.
She however, appreciated the village heads for their concerted effort towards peace, development and protection of their communities, while reiterating they work harmoniously with the traditional rulers in the protection of their villages, by reporting suspicious elements to their Councilors, Local Government Chairmen or other relevant authorities for government’s immediate intervention.
Leader of the delegation and Chairman of Mbaitoli Council of Village Heads, Ichie Peter Oparadike praised the Deputy Governor for her exemplary loyalty to the governor, while expressing their gratitude to Governor Hope Uzodimma, who he described as “the Governor General of the South East”, for the choice of Mbaitoli daughter and wife as his Deputy.
He disclosed that Village Heads are traditional Chiefs, chosen by the village and confirmed by the traditional ruler, mostly from the most senior clan in the village. He added that the village heads work with the traditional rulers, in most cases serving as members of the Eze’s cabinet, describing it as a lifetime position.
Principal Secretary, Office of the Deputy Governor, Pastor Chris Akushie, Director of Administration and Finance, Dr. Linda Ogbu, Director of Finance, Mrs Kate Okorie and Director of Procurement, Mrs. Ogechi Uzoka, where at the visit.