WE WILL CARRY OUT AN UNPRECEDENTED EMPOWERMENT IN PORT HARCOURT – SAYS THE MAYOR OF PORT HARCOURT, HONOURABLE ICHEMATI
To announce some key appointments on Monday.
The Caretaker Committee Chairman of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area (Mayor of Port Harcourt) Honourable Ezebunwo Ichemati has said his administration would carry out an unprecedented empowerment programme in Port Harcourt.
Speaking during a visit to statesman and former Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, The Right Honourable Austin Adele Opara, at his residence in Port Harcourt, on Saturday evening, the Mayor said the empowerment programme would be in two weeks time.
“I am coming with my team to change the narrative. We have been given our charge, and it is empowerment. From now to two weeks time, God willing, we will carry out an empowerment that has never been carried out in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area. In all humility, I am ready to sacrifice my benefit of today for a greater tomorrow,” the Mayor said.
He informed the former Deputy Speaker of his decision to announce the appointments of some persons into key positions on Monday, saying he delayed to announce the appointments despite finalizing with the Apex of the Simplified Movement in Port Harcourt as a mark of honour and respect to him.
“I carefully delayed the announcement of some key appointments because of your absence, and now that you are here, though we have already resolved by the Apex led by the commissioner, and Honourable Sunny Wokekoro, I delayed the announcements until your arrival and my personal interaction with you. By Monday, some key positions will be announced,” the Mayor added.
He said Monday’s announcement of appointments would follow more announcements of appointments while urging those who are expectant, to continue to support whether or not it got to them, using himself as an example of the provision of such support since 2013 until it got to him now.
He thanked The Right Honourable Austin Adele Opara for his support and contributions towards seeing to his growth and achievement, while also thanking the Apex of the Simplified Movement in Port Harcourt for their love and care towards him and vowed never to take it for granted.
He told The Right Honourable Austin Opara to always correct, direct, and redirect him whenever the need arises, saying “the moment you start seeing yourself as a Lord where Kings rule, your are finished,” so for that reason he would forever remain humble.
In his response, The Right Honourable Opara welcomed and congratulated the Mayor and members of his team. He thanked the governor for the opportunity given to the Mayor and members of his team, while commending the leaders of the Simplified Movement for the backing given to them.
He advised the members of the Caretaker Committee to help the Mayor to carry other people along, to spread the empowerment, while calling on those carried along to own up that they have got something from the government.
He appealed to the people to help them succeed, because if they succeed at the Local Government level it means that the governor has succeeded.
He said the constituting of caretaker committees by His Excellency Siminalayi Fubara while setting in motion activities for LGA election was not an aberration, as every other government before him constituted caretaker committees when they couldn’t conduct LGA elections due to some circumstances, and described the elongation of the tenure of elected council chairmen as “strange”.
Earlier, The Right Honourable Opara called for a one minute of silence in honour of the departed politician and traditional ruler, Chief Azubuike Nmerukini, and asked God to grant his soul eternal rest.
The Mayor and members of his caretaker committee were accompanied during the visit by the leader and co-leader of the Simplified Movement in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Honourable Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Engineer Charles Amadi, and Honourable Sunny Wokekoro, respectively, among others.
