How the LG caretaker committees put smile on faces of rural dwellers,
by Jude Ede
January 3, 2008
Last August, Governor Sullivan Chime inaugurated Caretaker Committees to run affairs of the 17 local government councils in the State. While inaugurating the Committees, the Governor sounded a note of warning. He cautioned the chairmen and members of the committees to distance themselves from any acts or conduct likely to jeopardize the smooth realization of his 4-point economic agenda for the State, urging them to ensure that peace and harmony reigned supreme in their respective council areas. Above all, the council officials were directed not embark on any project that would not be completed within their tenure.
Ordinarily, one may wonder what kind of magic the caretaker committees were expected to perform in less than four months, which is hardly enough to settle down and map out programmes, let alone delivering tangible projects. However, investigations by a crack team from the office of Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor in Communications, Hon. Jude Edeh, which embarked on grassroots communication in the 17 local government areas, indicated that such perception was wrong.
Indeed in all the local government areas visited by the team, achievements recorded by the caretaker committees within barely four months of inception were very tremendous. From Enugu East to Awgu, Aninri, Udi, Ezeagu, Oji-River, Igboeze North, Igboeze South, Udenu, Nsukka and Nkanu West local government areas, the rural dwellers were jumping up in excitement, following visible infrastructural development witnessed since the inception of Sullivan Chime administration and the caretaker committees. Rural dwellers who could not hold back their emotions on the change of events, chorused that they never had it so good. Aggressive road network development, transformer distribution to communities without light, resuscitation of abandoned boreholes and construction of new ones, refurbishing of dilapidated schools and erection of new ones, among others, everywhere preoccupied caretaker committees.
The committees are also paid attention to youth empowerment, establishment of skill acquisition centers for jobless youths, building of police posts to enhance security of lives and property, harmonizing the royal institutions, and, above all, improving the welfare of council staff. Besides, health and agricultural sectors as well as reconstruction of collapsed bridges which hitherto severed effective communications among neighbouring communities were not left out, with one of the caretaker chairmen Hon. Innocent Eze of Udenu council area describing the new trend as "a departure from the status quo."
 In Agwu, the caretaker committee chairman, Mr. Patrick Uba, regretted that rural dwellers saw hell in the past years, pointing out that their unpleasant experience was at odds with the very idea behind the creation of local government administration in the country.
The Chairman, Enugu East Council, Mr. Godwin Ike Ochu, had this to say, "I am one of those who believe that success can be achieved within whatever time, once there is determination, focus, sincerity of purpose and above all, an enabling environment."
Also, the council chairmen from Ezeagu and Oji-River, Mrs. lfy Ozoani and Lady Joy Odike, respectively, said they were able to provide transformers, rehabilitate link roads, and revive or construct new boreholes for their constituents because of support they received from Governor Chime.
The success story was same with Nkanu East, Nsukka, Igboeze North and South, Aninri, Enugu North and South, and others, where there where aggressive work was going on
The rural dwellers were also full of appreciation to Governor Chime for setting the inaugurating a new order of service-oriented councils. In his reaction, a frontline royal father and Igwe of Obeleagu-Umana, HRH Igwe Patrick Ifo said the past years was a complete failure as far as local government administration was concerned in Enugu State.
Another traditional ruler from Oji-River, Igwe Apostle Ginger Ibeneme lacked words to describe the spate of developmental change sweeping across Enugu State in general, and the rural areas in particular. According to Ibeneme, "this has never happened in recent time. I think God has intervened in the affairs of Enugu State."
Perhaps, one of the most exited royal fathers concerning the present revolutionary trend in Enugu State was Igwe Spencer Ugwoke the traditional ruler of Obimo. Igwe Spencer Ugwoke described Governor Chime as not only God-sent, but one who has come to wipe tears of agony from the faces of traumatized people of Enugu State. "For the past years, the people of Nsukka, especially rural dwellers, knew nothing about democracy dividends. There was no road, light, water, health care delivery and so on. But today, everything has changed”, he said.