It was a dream come through for Joel Victor Esq a rights advocate and immediate past National Legal Adviser of Centre for Basic Rights Protection And Accountability Campaign as he and Lady Uchechi Levi were successfully screened and cleared by Zenith Labour Party(ZLP) and Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission(RSIEC) to contest for Chairmanship and Deputy Chairmanship positions in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers in the forth coming Local Government elections scheduled to hold on October,5 2024.
In an interview with Journalists shortly after the screening, Mr Joel stated that his major focus is to improve the living conditions of the people of the LGA through people’s oriented programmes, job creation and purposeful leadership.
The Chairmanship hopeful said “I understand the plight of my people .If elected i will provide adequate incentives to the farmers and fishermen to enhance their business.
“Another key area I will look at is Youth Empowerment and job creation, As you know,we have some oil companies in our areas.I will liase with the oil companies to train the Youth majorly on oil and gas skills and other areas that can stand the test of time and make them marketable.
“Our women will also be empowered.We will create programmes that will train and make our women self reliant.
“On the area of security,Our Government will set up community Policing system that will be supervised and monitored by the Police and other relevant security agency in collaboration with the Council.We will also give all the security agencies in the LGA the required assistance and enabling environment for optimal performance. Without security no business will thrive.No investor will come and invest in the LGA.
“On Education,we will assist good number of indigent people to purchase JAMB forms each year, monthly payment of stipends to complement the effort of the State Government that are already paying for WAEC/NECO for our children in public schools.We will ensure sustainable students bursary payment system for those in higher institution.
“Our people have been lamenting the hardship they face in navigating through mbima to the East West road.We will liase with the state Government to see the possibility of linking a bridge between Odiereke-Ubie and Jonkrama to lessen the transportation burden of our people.
“Our Government will be having quarterly consultative meetings with wards across the LGAs to know their challenges and seek effective means of resolving it.
“We will also create an enabling environment for workers in the Council and ensure all their entitlements gets to them as at when due.
“I will Govern from the Council,to feel impulse of my people.I will not be a Chairman that will Govern from hotel rooms in PortHarcourt.
“Our Government will respect traditional institutions in the LGA and not influence the enthronement of Youth,CDC leadership but encourage transparent processes of elections to foster unity and harmony in various communities”.
The ZLP candidate stated that he is fully prepared to deliver the gains of democracy to his people while urging the electorates to vote for him