Ika South: Redefining LG Administration Via Revolutionary Projects Delivery
By Yadnom Awu /Asaba
At his inauguration into office in July, 2024, the Chairman of Ika South Local Government of Delta State, Engr. Jerry Ehiwarior, unfolded his development agenda under which aegis; priority was to be accorded security, infrastructure and human capital development.
Ehiwarior, however, did not end there; he vowed to redefine public administration at the local government level, in line with the dictates of his novel approach, the desires of the constituents and the correlated elements of the MORE Agenda of the state government under the watch of Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori.
Now, roughly one Gregorian year into his current term of office, Ehiwarior has given vent to his intention,and the evidences and underlying proofs , like the footsteps of a giant elephant on wet soil, are palpably visible.
And this is how.
Short on the heels of his inauguration, Ehiwarior, driven by the critical import of his social contract with the people of the area and in line with his vow to redefine public administration at that tier of public administration, took up the construction of various projects across the local government area.
The projects include environmental and infrastructure development initiatives of which the plank comprise the historic Abude Street construction and asphalting, the Alihame Modern Market-, the inherited bridge across Orogodo River by Ediken and the Grocery Stores by Ediken Market.
Less than a year after he began work on them, some of the projects have been delivered for the benefit of the public and were recently commissioned by the state governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, represented by his deputy, Sir Monday Onyeme, FCA.
That was on Monday, May 19, 2025.
The Revolutionary Projects and their significance
In deference to his vow in that direction, Engr. Ehiwarior, to the shock of cynics, kept faith with his revolutionary spirit , and, on Monday May 19, Agbor, seat of the local government area, bubbled for a good cause: the youthful Chairman had delivered, fair and square, as he had promised.
On the plate were two remarkable projects for commissioning and the throng of appreciative locals and others at the venues depicted their heart- felt appreciation to a young man and his administration which had broken a tiresome jinx of the local government’s long association with failure, and ushered in the process, a veritable proof of a positive new beginning.
And so when Governor Oborevwori, represented by his deputy, Sir Monday Onyeme, arrived at the venue at Alihame, the throng rose in one loud simultaneous utter of proclamatory approval of both the project, the team behind it and the positive new dawn it represents.
Virtually the same scenario was replayed at Agbor at the commissioning of the 1.15kilometre long Abude Street Project constructed and asphalted by the local government.
Both projects are strategic and are intended to boost commerce, enhance economy and promote physical inter- connectivity.
Aside from these, they constitute the single biggest development projects ever undertaken by the local government.
While the market, meant to meet the growing needs of the host community of the University of Delta, Unidel, Agbor, stands as a timely magnificent testimony to vision and the missionary zeal behind its delivery in less than eight months, the Abude Street Project holds a record of its own: it is the first time in the history of the local government that it has tarred and delivered a street/ road since the onset of time.
And since roads are technically called conveyor belts of other indices of modern development, other development infrastructures are expected to be attracted to the area, sooner than later.
Of course, the element of cost, (in excess of N800million for both projects), is also an element of significance, and attests to the ability of the local government to mobilise and deploy such huge resource into them, especially at a time when the competition for the limited resources of the local government by the various sectors and interests is not easing.
A Governor ‘s Admission
By every objective
assessment, Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Oborevwori, is not loquacious; he does not talk to the dozen.
Much the same is true of his Chartered Accountant Deputy, Sir Onyeme, who measures his spoken words as if they cost a fortune, in funds, to utter.
However, at the great event at Agbor, an obviously elated governor could not hide his positive emotion.
Inter alia, he said, ” I am happy to be here to witness this heart- warming event..This is a great testimony …because prior to now, everybody thought the local governments do not work again…’
He stressed the need for local governments to focus on community development, which, he said, both projects represent.
Oborevwori added that the essence of the local government was to bring good governance to the grassroot.
Clearly, Oborevwori, at the event, may not have spoken much.
However, his few, carefully chosen uttered words speak volumes not only to the importance of the projects, but also, the capacity of the local government chairman and his team to key into the MORE Agenda of the state government.
That, by every stretch of good imagination ,is great.
Since a General( Governor, in this case )rarely offers public praise to his lieutenant ( local government chairman in this instance ), the action of Governor Oborevwori and its effects would linger for long, and further motivate positive action by the local government.
Luckily, Ehiwarior and his team are not letting down guard..
Strong on the heels of the utterance, Ehiwarior, like a hunter well primed for a shot at his game, latched on, saying..” we will do more. Trust me; Ika South Local Government will do more ”
And does anyone doubt the competence of a hunter who regularly hits the evasive eagle in flight?
Ehiwarior’ s assurance may have been elicited by the positive developments at the commissioning venues.
However, long before then, the chairman, by his initiatives, had laid out and put his potent hands to, several other projects that profile his novel personal approach to public service and his vow to positively redefine leadership at the local government level.
For example, the local government has graded earth roads across all wards in the local government area, completed work on the inherited multi- million naira bridge across Orogodo River, and is now constructing its access road for which it has made full payment; is upgrading and retrofitting the Primary Health Care Centre( PHC) at Oyoko, Abavo, and has built and operationalised Grocery stores at Ediken Street, Agbor.
Yet, that is not all.
Ehiwarior said his administration has completed work on both the Alifekede Modern Market which has a modern abattoir, a water borehole and functional modern conveniences, and the imposing 480- store capacity ultra – modern market in Ekuku- Agbor, on which work is virtually completed. It has also provided an electricity transformer each for the Central Hospital, Agbor, and Omumu/ Alizomor communities.
And what is more!
The administration is delivering these top- grade facilities , while simultaneously ensuring that all direct and indirect staff of the local government ( primary school teachers, for instance, ) get their entitlements as and what due.
Beyond Today
An English Proverb holds to the effect that the morning tells the day.
Another says that the early bird catches the worm.
Both wise cracks sit pretty at the heart of the leadership inclination and philosophy of Engr. Ehiwarior.
Deferring to the critical import of both proverbs above, he has woken early, and is well prepared for the responsibility inherent in his office .
By the timely delivery of such commissioned and other projects, Ehiwarior has demonstrated uncommon capacity, and his determination to take the local government area to a positive uncharted territory for the good of the people.
And the march towards that realization has only just started, with him at the head.
As it is said , once one begins to descend the valley, the river, the object of his search, is no longer far off.
That is the story of Ika South people, now led by the revolutionary youth by the name of Chairman…they have started a journey and began the descent of the valley, hence the river,the object of their earnest desire and symbol of their positive new beginning, is within full grasp.
To God be the glory.
.
