A Review of Ikani Okolo’s Achievements as Dekina LG Chair 2008-2011

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By Comrade Peter Ugbedeojo Nelson.

Dekina was created in 1976 and Hon Ikani Benjamin Okolo came in 2008. He came in as the number 30 after 32 years.

Dekina Local Government Council was the luckiest local government in Kogi state, if not in the entire country, during Hon Ikani Benjamin okolo political era as the local Government chairman. While there was wide-spread out-cry that local government managers were performing below expectation in the country, the people of Dekina were jubilating as they reap dividends of democracy from a selfless leader. Even, Kogi State House of Assembly declared Hon. Benjamin Okolo as the best performing chairman in the state. The Igala people of Kogi State were happy with developments at Anyigba, the social centre of Igala land. While Kogi State government rehabilitates Anyigba township roads, Dekina Local Government Chairman, Hon Benjamin Ikani Okolo, gives facelift to the entire Anyigba town with numerous projects. Anyigba was no longer a dirty town.

Now let take a look at his achievements when he was a chairman of Dekina local Government.

Hon. Benjamin Ikani Okolo, was one time recipient of NUJ Graphic Chapel award of excellence.

He came into office in August, 2008. Upon assumption, he did not inherit any uncompleted project. On records, there was no single project conceived in the last three years preceding before his time. What he inherited was a cash liability of N66, 746,981.60. He also inherited a secretariat complex which also accommodated the chairman, vice chairman, secretary of council and other senior administrative staff. It was so dilapidated that it carried perforated zinc and broken windows that he had to be beaten by rain three days after assumption of office.

From the fundamental, since inception, he did not owe staff salary and allowances till he left office, He was able to pay N34, 675,981.59 out of the arrears he inherited.

Physical project ; he  built a storey building of six offices, conference hall and as office accommodation for the chairman. The secretariat was rehabilitated whole and entire. He also built an ultra modern legislative chamber with six offices for the use of the legislature.

Hon Benjamin Ikani Okolo also built one storey building of 8 rooms as official residence of the chairman. Also a 4 bed room bungalow for the vice chairman has was built. He also built 12 units of 3 bed room bungalow for the councilors. He  built 5 units of 2 bed room semi-detached for the heads of departments. The head of council administration and treasurer were not living in Dekina before he came; he put a befitting accommodation for them before he left.

He built four blocks of classroom in the following villages. Iji-Anyigba, Olofu, Abocho, Oko-oda, Odu-okpakili ogane, Okokoli Dekina, Ogene Egume, Odu ofugo, Oganenigu, Udanebiomi, Ogbobutu, Ajiolo aj’Akwu Awulu, Odu ofugo-ogane, Odu Akpakili ate , Okura-Lafia. These are 15 villages.

He also built Primary Health Centres (PHC) with 8 beds each in the following villages. Agada, Ogbabede, Etutekpe, Ogene-Igbobe, Emewe Efopa, Olowa etiaja, Agala-ate, Odu ofadu and Ajiolo aj’Ikpome. These are 8 villages.

Being abreast with the plights of the grass root, He  also built cottage hospitals in the three districts of Dekina. His intention for this was to have a place where qualified medical doctors, pharmacists and a lab technician will attend to severe cases that can not be handled at the PHC and it was achieved. It carries 15 beds each and accommodation for these personnel. For the records, He procured state of the art ultra sound machines and scanning machines also. All these was inspected.

He also provided electricity for the following communities. Anyigba to Agala ate with 300 kva transformer, 4.8 km. Abadigba to Ojikpadala aj’Achaba with 200 kva.5.3km. Anyigba to Agala okpakpala with 100 kva2.3km. Abuja area in Anyinba to Oko Ogbe with 200kva2.2km. Ogene-Egume to Acharu with 300kva6.9km. Acharu to Ogbogodo-Lokoja with 200kva3.6km. Agbeji aj’Ikagbo to Ojuwo with 300kva3.4km. Agbenema to Ojofu with 300kva3.3km. Anyigba, Oganeaji, Olofu, Ajagwumu, Ajiolo-akabe, Ajiolo aj’Ikpome, Ajiolo ojaji, Ogbaloto, Olub’ojo, Omadene, Ajenejo, Ajakagwu, Ogboniya and Dekina town. This project carried 5 transformers one of which is 200kva and the rest 300kva 31km. Ajiolo ojiaji, Ajiolo Ofe-alemu, Okakwu, Okowowolo, Ajekelega and Abocho town. It carries 5 transformers one of which is 300 kva and the rest are 200 kva 14.8km. Ofeaya community from Diagnostic hospital junction with 200 kva 2 km.

The following was awarded and was 100%percent completed. University village, behind high court, with 200 kva 2.3km. Lona filling station to NTA station Anyigba with 100 kva 2.8 km. Second phase of the university from Asta quarters with 200 kva3.3km. Iyale junction, Etikpolo, Okabo, Agbeji-Ologba, Ologba town, Etutekpe town, Ikpakpala town and Iyale town. It carries 6 transformer 3 are 300 kva and the rest are 200kva, 32 km. He surface dressed Anyigba Motor Park and He  built 96 lock up shops inside the park.

He also built 200 units of open market stores in Abocho, 100 units in Iyale, 100 units in Egume and 100 units in Okura. He also drilled 2 motorized bore holes in Emewe ofopa and up hill Dekina. Considering the cost of drilling a motorized one juxtaposed with the desire of government under his leadership in relation with the demand of our people for water, He decided that the hand drilling option be embraced. His Government approved 30 and 16 was awarded in the first phase and the remaining 14 was also awarded in the second phase.

He procured earth moving machines such as Bulldozer, Grader, Pay loader and a ten tire tipper. With these you can only imagine what He achieved on our feeder roads. You can ask the good people of Ogane-Enugu who had no road in a long time until His assumption of office. Testimonies abound. He constructed a pond that can carry 10,000 fingerlings.

The traditional rulers also benefited from his leadership: the two first class chiefs with Prado jeep, the two second class chiefs with Toyota Avensis while the seven third class chiefs have Hyundai Accent. His empowerment program was the best in the whole state.

As a matter of fact, what developed countries of the world showcase today are results of conscious planning and permanent commitment to development strategies and options combined with unwavering zeal for implementation of such strategies therein.


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