The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo has noted that the Governor Douye Diri led administration has taken local government administration seriously.
He also said that the state government has recalibrated the duties and roles of the local government in the state.
The deputy governor stated this after casting his vote on Saturday at Ofoni community in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa.
He noted, ”that local government should not be a pay point, it must not be a POS, it is not a point of payment of service. Local governments are supposed to be the first unit of development and that is what we are doing now.
”Even our Rural Development Agencies (RDA)which are functioning, you are aware they are awarding contract because we want them to be very effective.’:
Ewhrudjakpo also underscored the importance of local government, noted that they are very closer to the people and they understood the developmental challenges of the people which they will address.
”This is very important to us and that is why we are doing everything possible, turning every stone to make sure that elections hold today, ” he added.
Ewhrudjakpo however regretted that the local government election in Bayelsa State witnessed late arrival of officials of the Bayelsa State Independent Electoral Commission (BYSIEC) and election materials in some polling units.
Ewrudjakpo, who cast his vote on Saturday at the Community Primary School Ofoni, by 10:36am, said that the late arrival of election materials was the only criticism he had for BYSIEC, adding that elections in Nigeria must improve in terms of the fairness and credibility as well as the equalities of election.
”The only criticism is that the materials are arriving a little bit late and that is the only criticism I have for BYSIEC as far as these issues are concerned.
“I believe they will learn their ropes. It is a gradual process, it is a new curve they are going into and I believe they will improve on it, ” he said.
BYSIEC had announced that materials and officials were expected to arrive at their centres/ polling units on time, but the situation was different in places like Ofoni community in Sagbama local government area of the state where the materials arrived by 9am and casting of vote commenced by 10:30am.
On the turn out of the election, he said, “You can see that the community have just gathered, the materials have just arrived.
”The turnout will be massive, the materials have just arrived. It is a local election and politics is more local. Emotions and sentiment are high than the governorship election.
”Let them come out enmass and support their councilors and the chairmanship candidate.
“But for sure, you know that Ofoni is PDP and the whole of Sagbama is PDP. You are also aware that in the last governorship election, it is only in Sagbama that APC did not get up to 25 per cent.
”So we don’t expect anything different from that. The voting will be going on, I just casted my vote, the process is going on fairly, squarely and transparently.
“PDP is winning all the eight seats and we are sure of winning at least hundred and three councilorship votes. We may give one or two to other parties depending on what the strength of the other people are. But in Ofoni, it is a no go area for other party.”
