MY ACCOUNT OF STEWARDSHIP UPON THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF MY VERY CHALLENGING BUT PRODUCTIVE, FIRST TERM IN OFFICE AS THE EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN OF UDI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
On the 3rd day of March 2022, I was Sworn in as the Executive Chairman of Udi Local Government by the Former Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to serve my people at the grassroot level.
My words alone cannot convey the pleasure of the massive goodwill from all Udi people during the campaigns which manifested in, a landslide victory for my Vice Chairman and my humble self.
I am profoundly grateful to Ndi Udi for giving me the opportunity to serve them, which I have done in the best interest of Udi people and to best of my ability.
In Principle, the essence of Local Government is to bring government closer to the people.
In a hierarchy of three tiers of government namely Federal, State and Local Governments, the closest to the common man, should engender and sustain Local Development and Socio-Economic comfort at the basic level.
A reflection of the foregoing is what we endeavored to make our reality in Udi Local Government, under my watch as the Executive Chairman of Udi Local Government Area.
Within a period of two years in office as the Chief Steward of Udi Local
Government, my mission was for the good people of Udi to witness an impressive transformation of many parts of Udi Local Government.
Not only did we initiate a number of ongoing and completed projects, we also gave very effective attention to some long abandoned projects.
We made sure to exercise empathy in the Payments of years of Arrears in Wages while, paying a number of contractors for jobs done, many years before we came into office.
For me and my team, Government is a continuum with a life that spans through Regimes and Terms in office.
Articulated here below are, records of the intentionally, responsible and responsive strides of Hon Nze Philip Nnamdi Okoh, as I delivered on my promise to Ndi Udi.
1. Construction of 1.4 km road at Obinagu.
2. Grading of one rural road each, across the 11 Wards in Udi South and two rural roads each, across the 9 Wards in Udi North. Periodic grading of almost 30 rural roads throughout the 20 Wards of Udi Local Government Area, to ease the difficulty of movement.
3. Completion of a Standard High Court building in Udi Local Government Headquarters. An inherited Project which was initiated and raised to Lintel Level by Nze Stephen Agu in 1991. It was now completed under my watch 32 years later.
4 .Ongoing Construction of a 2500 Capacity Ultra Modern Civic Centre at Udi Local Government Headquarters, Udi, almost completed.
5. Procurement and Installation of a Transformer to return power to Udi Local Government Headquarters.
6. Procurement and Installation of a 35 KVA Transformer for the Security Outpost at Obinagu Ward, Udi Local Government Area.
7. Conversion of the Borehole at Udi Local Government Council Headquarters to a Solar Powered, to guarantee 24/7 availability of Water.
8. Procurement of 2 Toyota Hilux Vans, 1 Toyota Sienna and over 20 Motorcycles, for Security Agencies and men of the Neighbourhood Watch, in Udi Local Government.
9. Procurement of additional motorcycles to enhance Security Patrol operations in Affa, Egede and Akpakume Wards by men of Udi Neighbourhood Watch. Additional Motorcycles for both the Military and Police Personnel operating within Udi Local Government Area.
10. Procurement of Toyota Sienna for the Police Division at Ezi Nze,
Akpakwume/Nze Ward Udi Local Government Area.
11. Construction and Renovation of Security Outposts at Nachi, Obioma, Nvene and Affia Nmanya Obinagu.
12 . Construction of Neighborhood Watch Headquarters, at Affia mmanya Obinagu Ward, undertaking the security of the Road Safety Academy and Environs.
13. Periodic Clearing of Bushes in the flanks of major roads in Udi Local
Government, over500 meters on both sides, to deny abductors and
kidnappers hideouts along Udi Roads.
14. Payment of 10 years Arrears of Leave Allowance to the entire staff of Udi Local Government Area.
15 . Partnering with Access bank to provide POS Device for Udi Business Men and Women.
16 . Partnering with St Mary’s Pro Cathedral to train four Udi citizens for Mechanized Agro investment and awarding grants to the tune of #500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira, Only) to four persons respectively.
Two Persons from Udi North and the other two, from Udi South.
17 . I made sure to exercise the diligence of a Chief Servant through the payment of over 8,000,000.00 (Eight Million Naira, Only) in hospital bills for our security men who got attacked by the Military at Eke, Udi Local Government.
18. Prompt payment of Salaries and providing incentive for Udi men of
Neighborhood Watch,to boast their motivation.
19 . Procurement and Installation of a total 3 Nos 300kva Transformers for for High Tension lines in Okpatu Ward, one of which was installed in Amoka Community in Okpatu Ward.
20 . Creation of alternative access to Amokwe Ward to prevent the Udi Local Government Headquarters from being used as a thoroughfare.
21 . Removal of all unwanted structures within the Udi Local Government Council Headquarters, defacing the Government premises quality of Udi Local Government Council Headquarters.
22 . Fencing and reclaiming of the entire perimeter of Udi Local Government Headquarters to secure lives and properties and Ward off unnecessary trespass.
With gratitude to God, I will not conclude without recounting with utmost pleasure other successes God has blessed Udi with in the course of my two years in office as the Executive Chairman of Udi Local Government Area.
These include the emergence of the very first Udi born Senator of Enugu West Senatorial Zone Distinguished Senator Osita Ngwu Abia’ike’n’eti. While I am thankful to God for making this landmarking milestone achievable for Ndi Udi during my Term in office. One must Glorify God also that at this period in history, Nze Philip Nnamdi Okoh was the Local Government Chairman of the Distinguished Enugu West Senator, the Speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly, the Chief of Staff Enugu Government House and other members of Enugu State Executive Council.
I am grateful to my beloved Wife and family for the love and support I continue to enjoy from them, I appreciate the sacrifice.
I thank His Excellency my Amiable Governor Peter Ndubisi Mba for his very inspiring leadership, which really enabled me to achieve more. May God bless His Excellency with more Grace for excellence.
I want to thank you in a special way my worthy Vice Chairman, the indefatigable Leader of Udi Legislative Council and all the Ward Councillors, we were one peculiar elected Team. I am pleased by your cooperation and support without which, we would not have done well
I appreciate every Member of my Administration, the harmonious working relationship makes me ideally, address you as my team.
My team encompasses, Secretary to the Local Government, my Supervisors, SPAs, SSAs and all my Aids, I am happy to have made progress with you.
I also appreciate the Personnel of Udi Local Government Council at all levels, our meeting was indeed well made
In conclusion, I wish to say with utmost pleasure and fondness that our dear Udi Local Government Area under my watch became a promise for a new order, in an efficient governance driven delivery of the Dividends of Democracy.
Long live Udi Local Government Area!
Long live Enugu State!
I am confident that the best is yet to come.
Daalunu Umunnem.
Our Tomorrow is indeed here!
Hon Nze Philip Nnamdi Okoh
Immediate Past Executive Chairman of Udi Local Government Area.