We are currently in Ikom with the Governor of Cross River State and the incoming senator of CRS central, Hon Oden Ewa for the Ikom New Yam Festival.
Last week, we were in the northern part of Cross River State, and at almost every local government visited by the Governor, there were meaningful pronouncements in cash, projects and other interventions aimed at the people.
But when it comes to Biase, it appears our leaders have a completely different definition of governance yet they fan themselves as HEROS
Our leaders seem more interested in putting their faces on banners and billboards and reminding everyone that they are “leaders,” instead of showing the people what it means to lead
In Biase, the Council Chairman appears more interested in spending over ₦25 million on cars and motorcycles for APC wards and chapters executives, forgetting that he is no longer an APC chapter chairman but the Chairman of Biase Local Government Council.
Sir, the council belongs to everybody and not APC though I understand the only language you understand is party politics and not governance
APC members are constituents, but so are PDP members, ADC members, Labour Party supporters and, most importantly, the many people who don’t belong to any political party.
You can’t reduce and limit governance to a political party but when it’s time for elections you people want even a disabled person to come out
Unfortunately, our councillors have also become almost like Students’ Union executives with no visible impact, fresh ideas and almost no strategic energy capable of taking Biase to the next level.
And I don’t even want to talk about the jobless youths who jump from one politician to another in the name of one useless support group whereas young and informed people in other LGAs are demanding for good governance
The money being wasted on frivolities and partisan politics could be used to organize an event that would bring Biase people together
Imagine having a properly organised Biase Unified New Yam Festival, where every village and community participates, regardless of political affiliation.
That would be leadership, culture and unity.
Dear Chairman, it is time to wake up and stop treating council resources as though they are campaign funds for your party members.
You are no longer a chapter chairman. You are the Chairman of the Local Government Council, and your responsibility is to the entire people of Biase and not party officials that do not add any value to growth of Biase local government
From the day you were sworn in until this moment, what we have witnessed is politics upon politics and sadly, not even the intelligent or strategic kind.
What we see is politics driven by vendetta, vengeance, hatred and division.
Biase needs governance, not endless political battles.
Stop using council resources for political jokes when we have health centres that have collapsed and schools where children still lack basic facilities such as benches.
I pray every day for the day your tenure comes to an end so that you can leave our council for the people of Biase.
And whatever political plans you may have concerning handing over to your preferred friend in Umon South, the people will ultimately decide who leads them.
I had expected our councillors to show courage and initiative by passing the Biase Peace Festival into law as an annual event but unfortunately, they appear too afraid of the Chairman to exercise their legislative responsibility.
Dr. Emil Inyang introduced the Biase Peace Festival, with Mr. and Miss Biase as a component. Winners of the contest were rewarded with vehicles, creating an avenue for our people to celebrate, interact and unite beyond political party lines.
Sadly, successive administrations have failed to sustain and develop that important initiative.
That festival could have become one of Biase’s biggest cultural and unifying events, instead we continue to watch money go into partisan activities and political interests.
And for an administration whose major visible interest appears to be the construction of markets for revenue generation, perhaps the Chairman should simply be addressed as “Chairman of Markets.”
But the question the people continue to ask is:
What happens to the revenues generated from these markets?
Where are the corresponding projects?
Where are the healthcare improvements?
Where are the better schools?
Where is the development?
Biase does not need more political branding. Biase needs leadership.
We need leaders who understand that public office is a responsibility, not an opportunity to settle political scores.
We need councillors who can think independently.
We need youths who will demand accountability instead of becoming permanent members of political support groups.
And above all, we need a Biase where development comes before party politics.
EGWU DANIEL and i write from Ikom.
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