ITORO COLUMBA: A ROUND PEG IN A ROUND HOLE
IKONO LOCAL GOVERNMENT, ITORO COLUMBA
By Ededet Nyong |
History is replete with numerous accomplished media professionals who hearkened to the call of their people to ditch their pens and microphones to storm the political arena. British wartime Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, United States of America former Vice President, Albert Al-Gore, among other high-profile world leaders fall into this esteemed category. Even the Republican Party nominee in the upcoming US Presidential elections, Donald Trump owns a wide range of media related outfits and businesses.
Nigeria also boasts of a fat list of journalists who have ventured into the murky waters of politics. The like of Chief Olusegun Osoba, former Governor of Ogun State, Senators Smart Adeyemi, Ayogu Eze and Chris Anyanwu all cut their professional teeth churning out news stories and reports in some of the leading national dallies while the late Dr. Clement Ebri, former Governor of Cross River State and the sensational Abike Dabari-Erewa who after serving two terms in the House of Representative is currently serving as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Diaspora Matters, started out as commanders of the tube and pen.
In Akwa Ibom state, the story is not different as a cross section of individuals have had the rare privilege of working in both divides. But perhaps like none other, the recent appointment of the thorough-bred broadcaster, journalist, accomplished media entrepreneur and stylish talk show host, Mr. Itoro Columba as Chairman, Ikono Local Government Caretaker Committee elicited rave reviews both within the media industry and the larger society.
This was understandable because for over a decade, Mr. Itoro Columba had set the agenda in the state through his professional calling as a broadcast journalist. Using his independent production, the Bridge TV Show and The Bridge On The Radio, the ace producer and presenter hosted not a few high net worth individuals on the shows. From successive State Chief Executives, Ministers of the Federal Republic from the state, numerous members of both the National and the State Assemblies, State Executive Council members to many other political office holders, the erstwhile Bridge Media Ltd boss drilled them on the democratic deliverables they had bequeathed to their kith and kin. And in his incisive probes and analytic opinions often portrayed him to his numerous fans and admirers as one with an incredible knowledge of the defects in the system and the right pathway out of the labyrinth. Hence, the appointment presented the media professional huge opportunity to not only jaw jaw but to walk the talk. And 100 days on after his appointment, the journalist turned politician has not disappointed his enormous fan base.
While his colleagues in other local government areas were busy trying to find their feet, the Ntippe Ibibio born professional in politics was already moving with the speed of light to deliver tangible democratic deliverables to his people. Upon assuming duties, the long cherished Christian virtues of the Caretaker Chairman played out as he hearkened to the biblical axiom, “cleanliness is next to Godliness” by making the entire Ikono Council Secretariat clean and habitable without waiting for any allocation to drop. The Caretaker Chairman engaged the services of skilled artisans to mow the thick bush which the council’s Secretariat had become. Also, public power supply has been restored to the Secretariat which had hitherto remained in darkness for over a year.
After years of advocacy behind the tube, the Ikono Council boss seized the moment provided by the appointment to add real value to the lives of the natives of the cradle of Ibibio civilization. His first target was to turn the vast oil palm reserves in the area into wealth. So he swiftly moved into the Afaha Ediene axis of the local government to re-activate a non-functional oil processing mill which had been neglected by successive administrations in the area and which had completely broken down for over eight years. The council repaired the broken down electricity generating set, replaced the worn-out equipment in the mill and reactivated the long neglected borehole water scheme. Today, the oil processing-mill is bubbling with life once again and the appreciative women of Afaha Ediene have not only been saved the laborous trouble of lack of handy water supply, their means of livelihood has been boosted.
After empowering the women, the Ikono Caretaker Chairman turned his attention to the traders in the area. He did not merely bemoan the deplorable conditions of a cross section of the local markets, he moved into one of them, the Edet Mbat market located in the two communities of Ikot Akpa Edet and Aka Ekpeme to re-construct twin blocks of open market sheds made up of a total of 24 stalls.
Only recently, when the Chairman of council visited the market to inaugurate the two newly reconstructed blocks, the natives of the communities could not contend their joy as they reeled out series of eulogies on their number one citizen. Infact, one of the Chiefs, Eteidung Isong Udoessien of Ikot Akpa Edet revealed that the day marked the first time the communities were benefitting from any government project of any kind for over 45 years.
Conscious of the critical role Internally Generated Revenue, IGR plays in the success or otherwise of any administration especially at a time like now, the Caretaker Chairman is thinking outside the box to improve the revenue base of the local government. The council is exploring a public private partnership, PPP model to build a world class motor park at Nung Udoe Itak. Already the Itak Clan Council under the leadership of Etebom Emmanuel Ekpeyak Udofia had donated the site of the old NIPOST office for the project and the council, working in concert with the state Ministry of Works and other private investors, is fine-tuning finishing touches for the smooth take-off of the project, which upon completion, will create jobs and wealth as well as boost the economic base of the community.
Aside from laying a solid framework for the economic rebirth of the Cradle of Ibibio civilization, the Ikono Council helmsman has also used every available forum to drum support for his boss and mentor, the State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel. In what has been described by many pundits and gaffers as both novel and noble, the Caretaker Chairman recently launched what he called “Ward Sit Out on Gov Udom Emmanuel”.
The idea is to afford him the opportunity to interact with his subjects in the eleven wards and maximally educate them on the daring achievements of the Governor even in the midst of economic recession. His argument is that whatever bill he picks in the course of such converges is on the Governor by default.
Speaking in one of the ward sit outs, hosted in Itak Ward II, the Caretaker Chairman reeled out the uncommon strides of the Governor that necessitated the sit out. He used the occasion to move a motion for the action-soaked Governor to remain in the Hilltop mansion till 2023. Suffice to say a thunderous “Ayes” greeted the popular motion.
In answer to the call by his Principal, Gov Udom Emmanuel on communities to donate land to government for mechanized agriculture in exchange for job and wealth creation, the Ikono Chairman recently led some of his cabinet members and officials of the State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources to the Palace of the Village Head of Edem Iyere, Ediene, Eteidung Okuku Udo Ben Akpan. The visit was so fruitful that in a matter of days, some senior officials of the Ministry and some private investors will be returning there to take delivery of tens of hectares of land for the said mechanized farming.
Mr. Itoro Columba has also demonstrated capacity to empower his people even in the midst of recession. At the moment, even with the dwindling fortunes of the Council, he has enlisted no less than 13 youths in his payroll even as he has maintained a robust relationship with the Party, elders, women and the enlarged youth population in the area.
The Publicity Secretary of ALGON in the state has also opened a new vista in synergy and constant effective communication with his subjects. For instance, he has become the first Chairman to not only attend an event at the only tertiary institution in the area, the College of Arts and Science, Nung Ukim but also play host to the management team of the College on a courtesy visit, where issues of mutual benefit were discussed.
The Ikono Council boss has also flung his doors open to other groups to see him and explore avenues of working together to better the lot of the people. Some of the groups that have so far visited include the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), the leadership of the Zonal office of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) led by the Zonal Director, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) in Ikono, the Market Traders Association, Ikono Chapter, among others.
The Columba-led administration has also consciously boosted the moral of Council workers. For the last two months for instance, staffers of Ikono Local Government Council have been the first to receive salaries in the state, thanks to the swift and timely disposition of the ace broadcaster/journalist to his duties of leveraging on the worker-friendly posture of his Principal, the Governor.
Another area the people of Ntippe Ibibio are smiling is from the angle of the First Lady of the local government, Mrs. Ekaette Itoro Columba. The wife of the council boss has through her warmth and hospitable disposition galvanized the women of the area into one united front. Only recently, the First Lady played host to the entire women of Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District who came to Ikono for their meeting under the aegis of the Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District Women’s Forum. Such a meeting would not have been possible if the women of the Ntippe Ibibio were not happy and united under the guidance of their First Lady.
This was prior to a Stakeholders Meeting she organized to brief the women of Ikono on the landmark achievements of the First Lady of Akwa Ibom State, Her Excellency, Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel who has defied the economic odds of the state and has through her Pet Project, FEYReP empowered many women, children, youths and the less privileged.
These pragmatic moves at putting the women of Ikono together and her general show of love, warmth and empathy to the women must have informed an Award of Excellence conferred on her recently by the Women of Etim Ekpo Local Government Area.
Indeed, the magical and record-breaking strides of the action-soaked Caretaker Committee Chairman of Ikono Local Government Council, Mr. Itoro Columba has given more credence to the 40 years cycle of change as is recorded in numerous portions of the Holy Bible. Like the Israelites waited for 40 years to arrive the promise land, the people of the Cradle of Ibibio Nation have endured a 40 year wait for a Council Chairman of Itak extraction and with the heart of gold. The excited people of Ikono have Governor Udom Emmanuel to thank for discovering this progressive young leader who is breaking the jinx of under-development in the area.
We salute the Caretaker Committee Chairman for using his wide network of contacts as well as his unparallel wits and intellect to reposition the Cradle of Ibibio nation for good.
Mr. Columba has undoubtedly proven that it is not how long but how well. If he could do this much only within three months and in the midst of dire financial stress, it is better imagined the transformation he will bring to Ikono given a longer period of service and improved financial inflow.
The ALGON spokesman has not only acquitted himself on the job, he has vindicated his boss the Governor who invested so much of trust and confidence in him, hence his appointment. Itoro is to Gov Udom what a good make of car is to world-acclaimed auto manufacturers, Toyota; “good thinking, good product”.
To God be all the glory.
By Ededet Nyong |
History is replete with numerous accomplished media professionals who hearkened to the call of their people to ditch their pens and microphones to storm the political arena. British wartime Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, United States of America former Vice President, Albert Al-Gore, among other high-profile world leaders fall into this esteemed category. Even the Republican Party nominee in the upcoming US Presidential elections, Donald Trump owns a wide range of media related outfits and businesses.
Nigeria also boasts of a fat list of journalists who have ventured into the murky waters of politics. The like of Chief Olusegun Osoba, former Governor of Ogun State, Senators Smart Adeyemi, Ayogu Eze and Chris Anyanwu all cut their professional teeth churning out news stories and reports in some of the leading national dallies while the late Dr. Clement Ebri, former Governor of Cross River State and the sensational Abike Dabari-Erewa who after serving two terms in the House of Representative is currently serving as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Diaspora Matters, started out as commanders of the tube and pen.
In Akwa Ibom state, the story is not different as a cross section of individuals have had the rare privilege of working in both divides. But perhaps like none other, the recent appointment of the thorough-bred broadcaster, journalist, accomplished media entrepreneur and stylish talk show host, Mr. Itoro Columba as Chairman, Ikono Local Government Caretaker Committee elicited rave reviews both within the media industry and the larger society.
This was understandable because for over a decade, Mr. Itoro Columba had set the agenda in the state through his professional calling as a broadcast journalist. Using his independent production, the Bridge TV Show and The Bridge On The Radio, the ace producer and presenter hosted not a few high net worth individuals on the shows. From successive State Chief Executives, Ministers of the Federal Republic from the state, numerous members of both the National and the State Assemblies, State Executive Council members to many other political office holders, the erstwhile Bridge Media Ltd boss drilled them on the democratic deliverables they had bequeathed to their kith and kin. And in his incisive probes and analytic opinions often portrayed him to his numerous fans and admirers as one with an incredible knowledge of the defects in the system and the right pathway out of the labyrinth. Hence, the appointment presented the media professional huge opportunity to not only jaw jaw but to walk the talk. And 100 days on after his appointment, the journalist turned politician has not disappointed his enormous fan base.
While his colleagues in other local government areas were busy trying to find their feet, the Ntippe Ibibio born professional in politics was already moving with the speed of light to deliver tangible democratic deliverables to his people. Upon assuming duties, the long cherished Christian virtues of the Caretaker Chairman played out as he hearkened to the biblical axiom, “cleanliness is next to Godliness” by making the entire Ikono Council Secretariat clean and habitable without waiting for any allocation to drop. The Caretaker Chairman engaged the services of skilled artisans to mow the thick bush which the council’s Secretariat had become. Also, public power supply has been restored to the Secretariat which had hitherto remained in darkness for over a year.
After years of advocacy behind the tube, the Ikono Council boss seized the moment provided by the appointment to add real value to the lives of the natives of the cradle of Ibibio civilization. His first target was to turn the vast oil palm reserves in the area into wealth. So he swiftly moved into the Afaha Ediene axis of the local government to re-activate a non-functional oil processing mill which had been neglected by successive administrations in the area and which had completely broken down for over eight years. The council repaired the broken down electricity generating set, replaced the worn-out equipment in the mill and reactivated the long neglected borehole water scheme. Today, the oil processing-mill is bubbling with life once again and the appreciative women of Afaha Ediene have not only been saved the laborous trouble of lack of handy water supply, their means of livelihood has been boosted.
After empowering the women, the Ikono Caretaker Chairman turned his attention to the traders in the area. He did not merely bemoan the deplorable conditions of a cross section of the local markets, he moved into one of them, the Edet Mbat market located in the two communities of Ikot Akpa Edet and Aka Ekpeme to re-construct twin blocks of open market sheds made up of a total of 24 stalls.
Only recently, when the Chairman of council visited the market to inaugurate the two newly reconstructed blocks, the natives of the communities could not contend their joy as they reeled out series of eulogies on their number one citizen. Infact, one of the Chiefs, Eteidung Isong Udoessien of Ikot Akpa Edet revealed that the day marked the first time the communities were benefitting from any government project of any kind for over 45 years.
Conscious of the critical role Internally Generated Revenue, IGR plays in the success or otherwise of any administration especially at a time like now, the Caretaker Chairman is thinking outside the box to improve the revenue base of the local government. The council is exploring a public private partnership, PPP model to build a world class motor park at Nung Udoe Itak. Already the Itak Clan Council under the leadership of Etebom Emmanuel Ekpeyak Udofia had donated the site of the old NIPOST office for the project and the council, working in concert with the state Ministry of Works and other private investors, is fine-tuning finishing touches for the smooth take-off of the project, which upon completion, will create jobs and wealth as well as boost the economic base of the community.
Aside from laying a solid framework for the economic rebirth of the Cradle of Ibibio civilization, the Ikono Council helmsman has also used every available forum to drum support for his boss and mentor, the State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel. In what has been described by many pundits and gaffers as both novel and noble, the Caretaker Chairman recently launched what he called “Ward Sit Out on Gov Udom Emmanuel”.
The idea is to afford him the opportunity to interact with his subjects in the eleven wards and maximally educate them on the daring achievements of the Governor even in the midst of economic recession. His argument is that whatever bill he picks in the course of such converges is on the Governor by default.
Speaking in one of the ward sit outs, hosted in Itak Ward II, the Caretaker Chairman reeled out the uncommon strides of the Governor that necessitated the sit out. He used the occasion to move a motion for the action-soaked Governor to remain in the Hilltop mansion till 2023. Suffice to say a thunderous “Ayes” greeted the popular motion.
In answer to the call by his Principal, Gov Udom Emmanuel on communities to donate land to government for mechanized agriculture in exchange for job and wealth creation, the Ikono Chairman recently led some of his cabinet members and officials of the State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources to the Palace of the Village Head of Edem Iyere, Ediene, Eteidung Okuku Udo Ben Akpan. The visit was so fruitful that in a matter of days, some senior officials of the Ministry and some private investors will be returning there to take delivery of tens of hectares of land for the said mechanized farming.
Mr. Itoro Columba has also demonstrated capacity to empower his people even in the midst of recession. At the moment, even with the dwindling fortunes of the Council, he has enlisted no less than 13 youths in his payroll even as he has maintained a robust relationship with the Party, elders, women and the enlarged youth population in the area.
The Publicity Secretary of ALGON in the state has also opened a new vista in synergy and constant effective communication with his subjects. For instance, he has become the first Chairman to not only attend an event at the only tertiary institution in the area, the College of Arts and Science, Nung Ukim but also play host to the management team of the College on a courtesy visit, where issues of mutual benefit were discussed.
The Ikono Council boss has also flung his doors open to other groups to see him and explore avenues of working together to better the lot of the people. Some of the groups that have so far visited include the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), the leadership of the Zonal office of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) led by the Zonal Director, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) in Ikono, the Market Traders Association, Ikono Chapter, among others.
The Columba-led administration has also consciously boosted the moral of Council workers. For the last two months for instance, staffers of Ikono Local Government Council have been the first to receive salaries in the state, thanks to the swift and timely disposition of the ace broadcaster/journalist to his duties of leveraging on the worker-friendly posture of his Principal, the Governor.
Another area the people of Ntippe Ibibio are smiling is from the angle of the First Lady of the local government, Mrs. Ekaette Itoro Columba. The wife of the council boss has through her warmth and hospitable disposition galvanized the women of the area into one united front. Only recently, the First Lady played host to the entire women of Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District who came to Ikono for their meeting under the aegis of the Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District Women’s Forum. Such a meeting would not have been possible if the women of the Ntippe Ibibio were not happy and united under the guidance of their First Lady.
This was prior to a Stakeholders Meeting she organized to brief the women of Ikono on the landmark achievements of the First Lady of Akwa Ibom State, Her Excellency, Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel who has defied the economic odds of the state and has through her Pet Project, FEYReP empowered many women, children, youths and the less privileged.
These pragmatic moves at putting the women of Ikono together and her general show of love, warmth and empathy to the women must have informed an Award of Excellence conferred on her recently by the Women of Etim Ekpo Local Government Area.
Indeed, the magical and record-breaking strides of the action-soaked Caretaker Committee Chairman of Ikono Local Government Council, Mr. Itoro Columba has given more credence to the 40 years cycle of change as is recorded in numerous portions of the Holy Bible. Like the Israelites waited for 40 years to arrive the promise land, the people of the Cradle of Ibibio Nation have endured a 40 year wait for a Council Chairman of Itak extraction and with the heart of gold. The excited people of Ikono have Governor Udom Emmanuel to thank for discovering this progressive young leader who is breaking the jinx of under-development in the area.
We salute the Caretaker Committee Chairman for using his wide network of contacts as well as his unparallel wits and intellect to reposition the Cradle of Ibibio nation for good.
Mr. Columba has undoubtedly proven that it is not how long but how well. If he could do this much only within three months and in the midst of dire financial stress, it is better imagined the transformation he will bring to Ikono given a longer period of service and improved financial inflow.
The ALGON spokesman has not only acquitted himself on the job, he has vindicated his boss the Governor who invested so much of trust and confidence in him, hence his appointment. Itoro is to Gov Udom what a good make of car is to world-acclaimed auto manufacturers, Toyota; “good thinking, good product”.
To God be all the glory.
Comments
Post a Comment