ITORO COLUMBA: The Unforgettable Image Behind Ikono LGA's New Identity

ITORO COLUMBA: The Unforgettable Image Behind Ikono LGA's New Identity

By Mberekkeobong Essien

Nature has satiated our dear country, Nigeria with a good number of godly enthroned leaders in the upper tiers of government.   However, there are only a few accomplished leaders at the grassroots who have harkened to the voice of their people to provide responsive leadership. These are leaders who understand political seats to be transient, knowing fully well that no matter how long or brief, someday somehow, they will step aside for another; hence the vision to ensure their kith and kin enjoy responsible governance and the land bequeathed with maximum renaissance. 

Ikono Local Government Area, is one such local government where the land is enjoying maximum renaissance and the natives enjoy the rare privilege of benefitting from this people-centered governance targeted at bringing home the dividends of democracy to them. The Unwanaadi coroner, Mr Itoro Columba who sits atop the local government has from assumption of office taken light to the area, akin to (the light has come) mantra he professes. Little wonder the 'grassrooters' will forever cherish and applaud his numerous developmental strides which have rebranded the face of the land, renewed agreements and reinvented the arts and science of Ikono politics and beyond.

Over the month, especially as his tenure winds down, the spotlight on his stellar achievements has permeated the conventional and online media space. Akwa Ibom people have come to terms with in the light of truth and grassroots development, that Columba's coming has brought to his kith and kin. 

Truly, he has justified the belief and mandate his people reposed on him almost three years ago. Today, I take you memory lane to some of these earth-shaking milestones the Council Chairman has birthed in the land reputed to be the cradle of ibibio civilization.

On assumption of office, the council helmsman hit the ground running with the speed of light, to deliver tangible democratic deliverables to his people. For instance, the christian virtues of the media entrepreneur turned politician shone through as he embarked on sanitizing and cleaning of the entire Ikono Council Secretariat aimed at making it an attractive site to behold as well as keying into "Cleanliness is next to Godliness" mantra.

Ikono Councillors' Chambers hitherto abandoned for rodents and caterpillars was next to attract the middas touch of the UnwanaAdi coroner. As I write, the arena has been completely renovated into a state-of-the-art facility fit for the enthronement of good laws for the people. At the last check, serenity has been restored, confidence regained while the councillors enjoy their proceedings in a pristine environment.                 
Regarded as the most audacious project in the council premises, the total reconstruction of the Ikono legislative complex after many years of total neglect by the Itoro Columba-led administration has given the Ikono lawmakers a befitting edifice. From the walls, installation of new panel doors and windows, knocking new roofing sheets, fitting new ceilings and lots more, even the worst critic will give kudos to Akparawa Columba for this godly vision.  Furthermore, the complex would advance and beautify the next legislative duties of the incoming lawmakers representing 12 wards in Ikono, as its fit enough for the freshers to begin their plenary.

 

Another thrust of his administration was on workers welfare, where the Chairman rightly moved to consolidate the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) with his unfettering love. The 'UnwanaAdi' maestro sagaciously placed a premium bond on job effectiveness, workaholism and proficiency on duty. 

His sterling affinity and affection for Ikono Chapter of NULGE is second to none in the annals of history. Ranging from regular workers-friendly interface, signing and payment of statutory entitlements to workers and donation of a 20-seater Hiace Bus which was handed over to the Head of Service, Otuekong Usoroh, in company of NULGE chairman, Prince Esin Obop by the wife of the state governor, Her Excellency, Mrs Martha Udom Emmanuel while on an official visit to the area. 

While on that visit, the State's First Lady on Wednesday, 11th December 2019, inaugurated life-touching projects embarked upon by the Itoro Columba-led administration.

The projects inaugurated included a purpose-built, well-furnished one bedroom apartment for Madam Arit Okon at Iton Odoro village, a reconstructed and furnished legislative complex at the Council's headquarters, a brand new 20-seater Toyota Haise bus to NULGE and presentation of starter packs to about 500 graduands of a 6-week training in 22 vocational  training dubbed 'Martha's Skilled Ambassadors'.

The Governor's wife who was received on arrival by the Chairman of Ikono, Akparawa (Hon.) Itoro Columba and wife Ekaette with other stakeholders, at the commissioning sites, expressed delight that the efforts of the Governor were being replicated at the grassroots by the Chairman of Ikono Local Government.

On the provision of clean water, the council boss stands tall among his peers. He attracted a total of 26 high-powered WASH assisted borehole water projects (2 for each ward), across the 11 wards and 16 Sanitation facilities with 5 compartments. This interventions have 9 meters high, 12,000 litres tank capacity comprising 1.5km linear reticulated facilities, conventional VIP toilets facilities, thus upgrading over 50 of the 149 villages in the area to UNICEF-certified Open Defecation-free (ODF), an attainment the Federal Government of Nigeria targets to accomplish in 2025. 

The journey to attracting many Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Projects was an arduous enterprise. The people centered council boss bidded for and won the process in a keenly contested and transpernt process. The WASH projects are counterpart-funded by UNICEF, European Union and Akwa Ibom State Government under Gov Udom Emmanuel. 

The following are the 26 benefitting communities in Ikono Local Government to include ETIP EDIENE; ETOK ITON; MBIABONG EKPENE OTON; UKPOM USUNGUBOM; NKWOT NUNG IMO; NUNG UDOE ITAK; IKOT AKPAN ODUNG; EKPENE EDIENE; MBIABONG UKAN IKOT NUNG; NUNG UKIM IKOT MKPE; NKWOT IKOT OBOK IDEM; AFAHA OBIO ENWANG; EDIENE ATAI; OSUK EDIENE; IBIAKU IKOT EDET; NKWOT IKOT AKPAISIAK; NUNG UKIM IKOT ETEFIA; AFAHA EDIENE; UKPOM IKOT AKPAKPAN; OKWE; NKWOT IKOT UMO; NDIYA IKOT AKPA EDOK; USUK OBIO EDIENE; NUNG UDOE ITAK; MBIABONG UKAN IKOT ETEFIA and ETIP EDIENE.

Again, to ensure accessible road network, the Columba-led administration likewise delved into what has come to be termed the Ikono roads revolution. So far he has executed the grading of numerous roads to include but not limited to the 7.5km Nung Udoe Itak-Urua Oil Road, 3.5km Nung Ukim-Itak Ikot Akpandem Road, 1.8km Ikot Utere Utim-Ikot Akpa Etok road, 1km Mbiohoku-Iton Road, 1.5km Iton-Asanting Road and 880m Asanting Nkwongo-Asanting Atan road. 

Others are the 2km Obo Market-Apostolic Church Road,  1.5km Mbiaboing Ikono Road, 2km Mbiabong Ukan-Ikat Etefia Edem Udo Road, 2km Usung Editaha-Mbiabong Ukan Junction- Itak Ikot Akap Road, 1.5km Nkwot Nko-Nung Ikan and 1.3km Ito

n Mmong Road. The roads' grading has also covered I.5km Ndiya Comprehensive Secondary School Road, Ikm Ikot Akpaden-Ikot Akpaedok Road, 500 metre Ikot Akpaidem-Ibok, among others. 

It should interest one to know, that the Council boss inherited huge debts incurred by the past administrations; rather than fret or apportion blames, the sought solutions. Today, the story of Ikono Local Government Council is totally different, as this trusted and forward-thinking Columba, who understands that government is a continuum, struck a deal with the banks and restructured the repayments schedule; and those debts were fully settled and council has regained its pride of place.

Again, as an emotional Council boss whose love for his kinsmen never wanes, Akparawa Columba appealed to the State Governor, Gov Udom Emmanuel and got a car which was donated to the former Ikono Transition Committee Chairperson, ObongAnwan Lovinah Umo Effah on behalf of the Akwa Ibom State Governor.

The cerebral media entrepreneur has overtime embarked on a number of towering  programmes that have transformed the landscape of Ikono and won for him and by extension Ntippe Ibibio an award as the LOGMA Best Local Government Chairman in Youth and Women Empowerment in Nigeria. Equally, he holds the record as an outstanding Best Performing Chairman in Akwa Ibom, a position he has won back-to-back.

As Columba's adminstration winds down in a couple of days, the good people of Ikono will have the chairman eulogized for these uncountable imprints. To say the least, natives of the area who prayed God and clamoured for divine intervention in search for God-sent leadership and all those who overwhelmingly and unanimously supported People's Democratic Party's choice for Mr Itoro Columba, can now relax, hallow the name of Almighty God, that he (Chairman) has not let them down.

In the words of the Council Chairman, "I started on a very smooth footing and I'm finishing my tenure on a very successful note by the special grace of God; and in the course of my adventure in politics, I have taken good stock while in office. The story of my political journey will never be complete without a prominent mention of His Excellency the state Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel. What I am politically and what I'll ever be, I owe them all to Gov Emmanuel. I have learnt a lot from him, especially his dexterity in managing the economy of the State in these dire times. "

Being a go-getter per excellence, Hon. Itoro Columba has no hiding place. As he steps aside after repositioning his local government, we wish him the very best in his earthly sojourn. He deserves a soothing rest for the future holds more in it's bowels for him.

To God Be The Glory!