THE ROCKSON IGELIGE COUNCILORSHIP MODEL: DEVELOPING ISOKO FROM THE GRASSROOT. I woke up worried about Isoko this morning. I said a brief prayer after which I tried to listened to my internal parliament; truly the session was rowdy. Let me try and put my tought together and I hope it will make sense. Firstly, the quest for good government is a divine request and if this is refused it is a sin against God. Politicians think God is not interested in politics and government. The truth is God is not interested in religion but in government. After the fall of man, he lost something. Dominion. Dominion over all the creatures. Dominion was vested only in man and not on the lions and tigers. No wonder there was no need for baptism and all the sacraments. Because God knew man has lost control and governance over the earth, he gave us is only son. In Isaiah the bible said and government shall be upon his shoulders... not religion. So Jesus can to establish a sound government that will be forever. That is what is expected of our governments today. Many of the ghettoes and bad infrastructure, the sufferings are all product of bad government. We must therefore correct this. Hon. Rockson Igelige was councillor in the early 2000. A graduate from the great University of Benin. We met in Delsu Oleh campus where while he was Speaker of the Isoko South Legislative Chamber he was a class ahead of me in the Faculty of Law. Rockson that time was a power broker in the Local Government and in school politics. I was not close to him but the man is a perfect gentleman when it comes to dressing. You can tell his choice of shirts, suspenders and pair shoe were a product of his dress sense. He carried this appearance of government and allordiaship inside him and when he step out of his official car his friends are always there to welcome him. He carried himself like a member of the DTHA and confortably took his space as a political leader in a school where the then Speaker Hon. Basil Ganagana and Hon. George Oyefia heldsway. There were several other serving Commissioners too. After calling him to the Nigerian Bar, he went abroad to read. Today he is now in the campaign team of GEJ. If God favour him I have no doubt in my mind that he might well become our next Minister of Youth or other appointive position. Now to the real issue. I am compeled to say that from the several councillorship candidates we have seen with the PDP form so far many do not have the Igelige benchmark. It is true the educational requirement is very easy to come by at that level but it is my opinion that the quest to build a better Isoko will begin from the entry level class into politics. We must get this very correct. I am making this observation because if the Chairmen must succeed they need a well articulated legislative partners. The type Isoko enjoyed in the Igelige days. Atleast by the special grace of God Mr. Emmanuel Egbabor and Sir. Itiako Constantine Ikpokpo will become Chairmen of the new Isoko. Both men are very intelligent and have vast knowledge base. Even though the Governor and the SSG have said there shall be a level playing ground in the next general election at the local level I have noticed with so much bewilderment that the reverse is the case. But let us impose the best on Isoko. Impose the best on us. I am therefore calling on all councillorship hopeful to do the needful. Go back to school as soon as you resume office or even now. The way we have called our State and Federal legislators to account is the way people will analyse you on social media. You will not be spared. Recalling a councillor is very easy. Equip your self and behave and carry yourself like a parliamentarian. I am not a university graduate will not be acceptable as an excuse. The National Open University of Nigeria is now in Emevor. All of you must upgrade with immediate effect. Isoko cannot continue to bear the cost of bad leadership occassioned by poor or inadequate human capital developmment on the part of those seeking to lead us. The Igelige benchmark is just what we can accept at the grassroot. Sorry if you feel bad but I actually mean well.
Posted on: Sat, 28 Jun 2014 06:31:06 +0000
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