Hon. Prince Godwin Ogorugba is the current Chairman of the Isoko North Local Government Area in Delta State with his administration marking a sharp departure from the usual focus of local government chairmen whose stock in trade is to struggle with the payment of salaries of council workers and primary school teachers and nothing else to write home about.
Elected and sworn in July 15, 2024, Elder (Prince) Ogorugba swung into action by re-directing and re-shaping the political landscape in Isoko North and indeed Delta State with his inclusive leadership style which is accentuated by grassroot developments and alignments with the core values of accountability and transparency.
Elsewhere, I have advocated the need for justice, accountability without which there can be no sustainable development. I also strongly argued that, for us as citizens to attain so much, we must sought economic and infrastructural development and political leaders should not just be accountable but be held accountable in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities by the people or the electorates. Anything short of this will breed recklessness on the part of our political leaders which will in turn engender poverty and lack of meaningful development.
One of the key achievements of Prince Godwin Ogorugba’s administration is restoration of peace and security in communities across the Isoko North local government area. Prince Godwin Ogorugba’s administration is determined to maintain and sustain peace and the security of lives and properties, this he has done by resolving several sensitive community and land disputes that could have escalated into major conflicts and needless loss of lives and properties.
Prince Ogorugba believes strongly that, peace is the basic foundation for any meaningful development as such, the capacity chairman, as fondly called by all, has zero tolerance for all forms of violence and lawlessness.
In achieving the goal of providing security of lives and properties, the “capacity” chairman, has continued to work in close collaboration with the Nigerian police, traditional rulers, vigilante groups and the civil society organizations.
Little wonder, the relative and visible peace enjoyed in Isoko North Local Government Area. The administration of Prince Godwin Ogorugba is sparing no effort in curbing criminal activities in Isoko North, as one of the security measures undertaken by the performing chairman, is to religiously implement a ban on night movement of motorcycles popularly known as Okada and ensuring that anyone found engaging in criminal activities in the local government is charged and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
Prince (Hon) Godwin Ogorugba’s administration in infrastructural development is topnotch and unprecedented. His administration has undertaken numerous and countless construction and rehabilitation of dilapidated roads which hitherto have become death traps to road users.
It is pertinent to mention that a few of his administration’s intervention includes, the renewal and removation of the Isoko North Local Government Secretariat which is a testament of his penchant for excellence. As at today, the Isoko North local secretariat stands tall as one of the most befitting council secretariats not just in Delta State but Nigeria at large.
This is a good example of the saying that: “Charity begins at home”. Again, the rehabilitation of the Otor-Owhe-Owhelogbo Road, Ubugo street in Owhelogbo, the rehabilitation and asphalting of the police station road in Emevor, the rehabilitation of Otor-Iyede Road, Etevie road in Ozoro amongst other internal community roads in Isoko North is one of its kind in the history of Isoko North council administration.
This giant developmental strides of Hon. (Prince) Godwin Ogorugba’s local government administration have prompted progress unions in Isoko North like the Iyede Progressive Union in calling the capacity chairman as a ‘promise keeper’.
What is more, the Prince (Elder) Godwin Ogorugba’s led local government administration recognises the need for the economic development of the people. This has led him to undertake the construction of fifteen lock-up stalls and four toilets at the Ofagbe market, the renovation of sixty-five (65) and forty (40) open stores at the Otor-Owhe and Aradhe community markets respectively.
The Prince (Elder) Ogorugba’s Administration has also recognised the need for a functional educational system inspite of limited financial resources, the Hon. Ogorugba led administration built a block of three classrooms with modern facilities at Imo Primary School, Iyede. The administration has also provided free notebooks, school bags, sandals and writing materials distributed to pupils in all the 43 public primary schools within the local government area.
The Ogorugba led administration clearly understands the saying that, ‘Health is wealth’. This has motivated the Ogorugba’s led administration to engage in the construction of a primary healthcare center and nurses quarters at Oghara-Iyede. To further boost the health and nutrition of children in the local government, the Ogorugba’s led administration has provided free soya milk to children in the local government.
The Ogorugba’s administration has also be providing financial assistance to citizens of and indigenes of the local government with critical health conditions.
On youth empowerment, the Ogorugba’s led administration has provided digital skills training and re-training for over fifty (50) youths and appointed over one hundred (100) political aides and seventy (70) casual staff thereby creating jobs for the youths in the local government.
The Ogorugba’s led administration also understands and believes in the axiom that, ‘cleanliness is next to Godliness’, this strong belief has made the administration to regularly engage in clearing overgrown road shoulders, illegal dumpsites and drainage systems to prevent flooding and ensure a clean living environment within the Local Government Area.
What shall we say to these things, they are indeed marvelous and excellent in our sight. I call on all well-meaning citizens of Isoko North and Delta State at large to continue to support and pray for our capacity chairman so that God will continue to use him to bring about MORE meaningful development to Isoko North and Delta State at large in line with President Bola Tinubu and Delta State governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s RENEWED HOPE for MORE agenda in the coming year.
I wish you all A MORE prosperous New Year in advance.
Long live Elder (Prince) Ogorugba Godwin.
Long live Isoko North.
Long live Delta State.
ANTHONY AJOKPAOGHENE (ESQ)
Barrister & Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, an Author/Advocate of Peace, Development and Good Governance writes from Delta State University, Oleh Campus.
