Ahead of the Enugu State local government elections slated for September 28, 2024, the Chairmanship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area, Barr. Chijioke Joseph Ezugwu has promised to transform the local government into a model local government if elected.
Ezugwu in his manifesto christened: Audacity of Vision, promised his people a better tomorrow. He promised to use the experiences he gathered serving the local government in different capacities including as PDP youth leader, counsellor, Liaison Officer to a former Enugu State Governor on Security Affairs in Uzo-Uwani Local Government, as well as two-term Supervisor in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Council, to bring the needed transformation to the local government.
The manifesto which is anchored on three pillars of effective security, Inclusive Rural Economic Development and Sustainable Well-being, detailed the immediate actions his government will take if elected into power.
On security, the PDP candidate promised that he will open up access to farms, Strengthen community security architecture, initiate community peace building and empower youths and women.
According to the manifesto, “Within the first 60 days of our assumption of office, we will expand the Community Security Force: Collaborate with the Nigeria Police College, Oji, to train additional special constabulary officers and deploy them throughout the communities.
“We will Establish Community Farm Protection Squads: Create dedicated squads to safeguard agricultural areas, protecting farmers and their livelihoods.
“We will enhance intelligence gathering by partnering with security agencies, including the DSS, to establish specialized community intelligence units. Recruit and train selected members of neighbourhood watch to gather open-source intelligence that will support the efforts of security agents.
“We will also invest in technology by procuring essential technologies to enhance security operations in the communities, such as surveillance equipment and communication systems.
“Additionally, we will reform our community security architecture by conducting a thorough review of the existing security architecture, including vetting and screening of Neighbourhood Watch members and Forest Guards. We will review the operation of the community security architecture to ensure its effectiveness and accountability.
“Finally, we will establish security command and control centers in Ukpata, Nimbo, Adani, and Nkpologu to facilitate effective coordination of security operations and responses.”
To ensure sustainable peace in various communities that make up the local government, the PDP chairmanship hopeful promised that within 30 days of assuming office, he will initiate open dialogue with livestock farmers,
including Fulani herdsmen, to discuss their activities and their impact on the people’s agricultural lands. This engagement is to establish a mutually agreed-upon Statement of Understanding (SOU).
He said he will also engage with communities across the local government to address inter- and intra-communal conflicts, fostering understanding and cooperation.
He will establish Peace and Reconciliation Committee, a non-partisan committee dedicated to promoting peace, reconciliation, and conflict resolution. “We will also codify the outcomes of the engagement into a Local Government Bylaw that outlines clear sanctions and incentives to ensure compliance and maintain peace,” he said.
For youth and women empowerment, the manifesto states that within the first 90 days in office he will create a comprehensive and sustainable youth empowerment programme that provides opportunities for personal and professional growth, establish a Revolving Loan Fund to support aspiring youth and women in acquiring vocational skills and starting their own businesses, establish a well-equipped vocational training center with strong linkages to Enugu State Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and SMEDAN to provide relevant skills and job opportunities and mainstream the participation of youth and women in governance programmes and interventions to ensure their voices are heard and their needs are addressed.
The second pillar which focuses on inclusive rural economic development will be anchored on harnessing the agricultural potential of the local government. According to the candidate, “Agriculture remains our pride and occupation, and we cannot achieve our vision without it.” To achieve this dream of economic transformation of the local government, the manifesto says the candidate will adopt a five-pronged approach including, development of rural roads, water supply, and electrification. “Within 30 days of assuming office, we will conduct community needs assessments to identify infrastructural gaps and develop a comprehensive development framework. In the first 180 days, we will implement at least one infrastructure project in each political ward based on these assessments,” the manifesto said.
It said the second approach is preparation of farmland for farmers. “We will develop a partnership framework with communities that have ancestral inheritance of farmlands. This partnership will involve releasing farmlands for preparation and leasing them to interested farmers. Each lease will be for a farming season (subject to renewal), ensuring mutual benefit and preventing unnecessary tensions related to land grabbing.
“Within the first 180 days, we will prepare at least 200 hectares of farmland, starting from areas near riverbanks, for two-season farming. This initiative will involve procuring and deploying small irrigation facilities, providing mechanized farming equipment, and creating over 50,000 youth jobs.”
“In the first 180 days, we will review and revitalize existing cooperative societies and encourage the formation of new ones. This will strengthen cooperatives and align their operations with state and national agricultural initiatives, particularly in accessing quality agricultural inputs and resources.
“We will develop a synergy with the State Ministry of Agriculture to train at least 50 extension service providers and deploy them across political wards within 365 days.
“We will develop a framework and local policy for revitalizing Uzo-Uwani farm settlements. The settlements will include agro allied industries, livestock and fisheries facilities, and produce markets. This will be a catalyst for transforming our villages into suburban communities and create over 100,000 jobs.”
The third pillar which involves ensuring a sustainable well-being for the people of Uzo-Uwani will be achieved by privatizing education and health.
Barr. Ezugwu in the manifesto said his government will build upon the state government’s smart education initiative, by providing computers, printers, and educational software to foster a modern learning environment in all the primary schools in the local government.
“Train and retrain education officers to ensure effective supervision and alignment with the smart education curriculum, introduce vocational education/training in the primary schools, renovate existing schools and construct new classrooms in rural areas to create conducive learning spaces, establish scholarships for high-achieving pupils to encourage competition and reward hard work, promote physical health and teamwork through renewed sports competitions and continue to support the youths in tertiary institutions with bursaries.
“On health, within the first 60 days, we will conduct a comprehensive audit of local health facilities to identify gaps. This audit will inform the development of an Uzo-Uwani Local Government Health Policy within 180 days.
“We shall also focus on combating malnutrition and undernourishment, through extensive community awareness campaigns promoting healthy eating habits at home and school. We will prioritize environmental health by reintroducing health and sanitary inspectors throughout our communities.
“We also recognize the invaluable contributions of our elders, and will develop a comprehensive policy for the care of the elders within 180 days of this administration, to ensure they receive adequate care and support in their later years,” the manifesto said.
The manifesto also has something for sports development promising that the new government will convene a summit
of communities and stakeholders to develop a template for an annual sporting competition.
The manifesto also has an implementation strategy to ensure effective implementation of all the promises contained in it.
Key to the implementation strategy according to the manifesto is that it will establish a robust and sophisticated secretariat, prioritize competence over politics in selecting personnel for the administration and to insulate implementation from political interference, there will be a Project Bureau that will coordinate project implementation, develop implementation plans, mobilize resources, facilitate partnerships, and develop key measurable performance indicators.
According to the PDP candidate in the manifesto, “Our key measurable performance indicators will be aligned with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to ensure global relevance and attract international partners.
“We will implement an integrated financing mechanism, including revitalizing local markets and leveraging security improvements to increase local revenue. To enhance cost-efficiency, we will prioritize performance-based engagement and reduce unnecessary political appointments. This will free up resources for people-oriented projects and help curb corruption.
“Community participation will be essential for monitoring and evaluation. We will also seek strategic partnerships to leverage external resources and expertise. Through the Project Bureau, we will collaborate with relevant government agencies and private sectors to create synergies and attract targeted interventions.”