Honourable Terna Kester-Kyenge is the Senior Special Adviser to the government of Benue state on Special Duties. He is contesting for the Chairmanship of Logo Local Government under the Peoples Democratic Party {PDP}.
In this interview with ABIODUN OLUWAROTIMI, the PDP's candidate speaks on his blueprint and the challenges that are being faced by the third tier of government in Nigeria, among other issues. Excerpts:
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Why has Local Government not lived up to its expectations?
I quite agree with you to an extent that it has not lived up to the expectations of the founding fathers, and it has under achieved in the area of fast tracking development in the local level. In order for LG to bring visible developments to the grassroots, there is the need for the LG’s to have strong economic base, and the participation of not only the elected LG officials but everyone in the community.?The expediency for the creation of local government in Nigeria stems from the need to facilitate development at the grassroots. The importance of local government is a function of its ability to generate sense of belongingness, safety and satisfaction among its populace. These benchmarks are lacking in most LG, and not forgetting the fact that Local Government is faced with many difficulties.?
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What are the Causes of these seemingly Conspicuous Weaknesses?
Lack of visionary leadership at the Local Government level is one of the banes of the LG. Most of the leaders are ill prepared for the task at hand.?Without a proper blueprint and vision they lack the skills required to tackle the challenges of service delivery and mobilisation of human and material resources required for effective functioning and meaningful developments to their areas. The problems of the LG are multifarious in nature, one other aspect that I intend to look into if elected is the orientation of the people; most people do not know the reasons why the LG were created. Some regard it as avenues for sharing the national cake, as a result underdevelopments continue to wage as people are either ignorant of or indifferent to the reasons for which they were created. The grassroots need to be enlightened when it comes to voting in their leaders. When you vote leaders with vision, integrity and quality there is bound to be dividends.?
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Sir, can we know what informed your decision to contest under PDP to be Chairman of Logo Local Government?
Yes, i want to head the local government in order to effect positive changes. I want to use his political experience to run the affairs of the local council as stated in my blueprint. I want to make an elaborate change in the politics of Nigeria and my area, Logo Local Government. That's why I chose to contest for chairmanship. For our people to enjoy the dividends of democracy, politics at the local grassroots level needs quality leaders, quality representation and the genuine will to serve.My?ambition to contest the election was borne out of my sincere desire to apply myself and my wealth of experience to the development of the local government.?The local government, which is the third tier of government, is the closest to the people, but, ironically, it is the least developed, and it is my challenge to go back to the grassroots, work with the people and work out the way to take care of their needs and challenges and see how we can transform the local system and the local government to make it a better place. I want to transform Logo Local Council, I want to make a difference in governance, throughout the area, residents share unanimity of opinion: that they desire a change. If am elected, I am coming in with a clear vision of what I intend to do, I have identified certain areas of human and economic growth that have been neglected or need to be overhauled. Primary health care, Sanitation, Portable drinking water and Education are immediate focus.
Let us talk more on the primary health care. How important is this in your blueprint?
Thanks. This area is very important.We need to bring health care to the doorsteps of the people.?Primary health care need to be overhauled and taken to the next stage, I will give primary health care an unlimited priority, I have come to realize that it is only when the human resources are healthy that the people can harness the materials we have and work with the right attitude. Part of the United Nations Millennium Development Goal is to achieve Universal Primary Education, more specifically, to ensure that by 2015, Children are able to complete qualitative primary education.?Logo LG will not be left out; we want to ensure that if elected our children can compete with their peers across Nigeria and beyond. I am going to introduce new approaches to long-term water planning, management and sanitation that incorporate principles of sustainability and equity. There is plan of access to basic amount of water necessary to maintain human health and to sustain ecosystems, basic protections for the renewability of water resources.