Proudly Assiga

INTERVIEW FROM COMPASS NEWS PAPER:

Godwin Igile from Asiga in Cross River State has his sights on the chairmanship seat of Yakurr Local Government Area presently occupied by Mr. Ubi Itam Etta. In this interview with Nicholas Kalu, Igile,

who intends to run on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which the incumbent chairman also belongs to, speaks on why he wants to lead his people at the grassroots, his programmes, among other issues.

Why are you going for the chairmanship of your local government?

I have the basic educational skills and competency to manage the local government as a chairman and a large part of my life has been spent managing resources, men, material, money and operations. I want to transfer all that to the management and administration of my local government. Principally, to ensure lasting peace so as to allow for the lofty programmes of PDP and the governor’s projects to be properly executed for the benefit of the people. I don’t want to be chairman to make money. I want to bring peace and establish a system to ensure that there is no corruption. Corruption would be minimized to the barest minimum, and public funds used effectively to meet the objectives of the state government. We will reduce waste in all ramification and bring to all the peasants.

You seem so confident you would occupy the seat even when there is an incumbent who may want to return?

I acknowledge past chairmen and their contributions, but Asiga has had the least representation in both the state and local government administration. That is why I know that the PDP will choose me as the chairmanship for the local government and I am going to win the election.

Yakurr is homogenous. The fact that we have constituency I and II is for simple administrative purposes. I belong to constituency II, and I where Ugep Urban falls has had more percentage of the council chairmanship so far.

What if the PDP cabal decides to pick someone else?

We don’t operate a cabal in Yakurr politics. I am convinced that the leadership of PDP in Yakurr will give me the ticket because I am neutral. I don’t talk of people, but issues. I will perform and bring peace to our people so that the tourism potentials of Yakurr to be properly exploited for the benefit of all. We need peace in that area and I am the unifying factor. I know I have the respect of my people.

We have electoral reforms nationally. For us in PDP, we are one family. We have a democratic procedure for electing the flagbearer in any election. We don’t have any problem. I can assure that after the primaries I would emerge the candidate of the party.

What programmes do you have in mind for your people?

There is a major objective I have and that is establishing a State Polytechnic in Yakurr local government area. There is available land already. I know the Yakurr will fall behind me and my team for the state polytechnic to be established.

Yakurr has all the population and feeder population from Abi, Biase, Obubra and even neighbouring Ebonyi State. Besides there is sufficient manpower to teach management sciences, engineering and environmental science. We will pursue the project through a public private partnership arrangement. We will all contribute morally, financially and otherwise and I am sure we will also get support from the state and local governments. Since the Calabar Polytechnic was converted to a campus of the Cross River University of Technology, the state has been in dire need of a polytechnic.

With a good proposal and justification note, the governor of Cross River State will appreciate the polytechnic to be sighted in the land between Ugep and Ekori.

Also, I want to ensure that government’s programmes are well implemented at the grassroots level. I will ensure that the FADAMA III project for high agricultural productivity is well implemented according to instruments establishing that concept.

We will target bringing bursaries for our tertiary students. We will assist farmers to increase cassava production. We will key into the Roll back malaria to eliminate malaria.

You don’t seem to be a grassroots person. How do you intend to win the people to your side especially at this level of grassroots politics?

That impression is incorrect. I am a grassroots person. That is why the people want me. Everybody who knows me, knows I am a grassroots person. I have lots of concern for students in my area and have helped those I can. I funded the electrification of an entire area in Asiga and I spent over N1.6 million on that project. I have also funded a women organisation in my community for their wellbeing. From time to time, I visit village heads in my locality and I contribute significantly to community development. I am a member of many organisation in my community. These are indications of a grassroots person.