As Iteire Bags LOGMA 2021 Award At Abuja ~ Truth Reporters

By Ajiri-Oghene Oreh

Instituted exactly 20years ago, in 2000, the coveted Nigerian Local Government Chairmen Merit Award, LOGMA, is a celebration of excellence in grassroots governance. It is a celebration of Local Government Council Chairmen in the nation for their utter commitment towards efficient service delivery and high sense of accountability, probity, despite depleted financial resources. The Merit Award is not only significant but prestigious, as it confers on recipients a high level of prestige. This year's edition of the award series is the 20th and is to be chaired by the Director–General, Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr Osita Okechukwu. Out of the 774 local government Council Chairmen in the nation, the Executive Chairman of Isoko North Local Government Council, a first tenure Council Chairman in Delta State was nominated and enormously voted for to emerge as one of the winners of the esteemed award in the area of Rural Healthcare delivery.

Emerging as the candidate of the People's Democratic Party, PDP on December 28, 2020 at Ozoro, enjoying the enormous goodwill and support of the people of Isoko North Local Government Area, he was overwhelmingly elected on March 6 2021 at various units/wards, sworn-in on March 8, 2021 at Asaba by the Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, and assumed office as Council Chairman on March 11, at Ozoro, Hon Iteire first official assignment was the inauguration of the Isoko North Legislative Arm on March 15, 2021 with Rt Hon Udubra Francis as leader, Hon Obibi Efeoghogho as Deputy Leader and Hon Olori Fred as Majority Leader, amongst other principal officers. Soon, his fecund mind went to work, mapping out strategies of achieving his developmental agenda that would make life better for the people of Isoko North Local Government Area.

Top on his agenda, are, security, functional primary Education, effective primary Healthcare delivery, cleaner Environment for healthy living, and for business to thrive, Iteire hit the ground running, bringing to bear at the Isoko North Local Government Council, are purposeful and apparently palpable urgency. Expectedly, he started firstly, by holding meetings with management staff, receiving daily and weekly briefings from Heads of Departments and Local authorities of Education and Health. Next, were meetings with critical stakeholders who came on courtesy visits and who, personally also went on courtesy visits with a view of carrying everyone along in the scheme of things and forging progressive partnerships.

He brainstormed widely, and consulted seriously bright minds. Later, he embarked on inspections of some Primary Schools and Primary Healthcare Facilities, to know the problems been faced. Soon, sweet success stories started emerging, from improved workers' welfare packages and comfortable working environment, to rejuvenation especially of Education and Health programmes and initiatives that hitherto were in a state of comatose, to the boosting of the Local Government Area infrastructural profile through the construction of three blocks of classrooms, building of modern abattoirs, and soon, the commencement of the construction of lock-up shops at Oyede Kingdom.

With my appointment on April 6, as his Chief Press Secretary, listening to him daily, working closely with and for him as his spokesman in the last six months, I can confidently and passionately say the Executive Chairman of Isoko North Local Government Council, Hon Christian Iteire's political ideology is hinged on what the great thinker and politician, Chief Obafemi Awolowo called democratic socialism which is aimed at raising collectively the socio-economic status of the people. Yes, as his Chief Press Secretary, the lot to do his citation as he bags the Chairmen Merit Award at Abuja fell on me and below is a slightly revised version of the citation I sent to the organisers:

A gentleman per excellence and a symbol of the simplicity of true greatness, Hon Christian Othuke Iteire began his schooling at a time when it was difficult to do so during the years of the Nigerian Civil War of 1967-1970. A prodigious lad, he gave a brilliant academic account of himself at the famous Gwagwaruwa Primary School in Kano State between 1968 to 1974. The great quest for higher education and more academic laurels saw him nestling at the Kano Commission College for his WASCE and GCE (1974-1979), the Delta State University, Abraka for his Bachelor of Sciences degree in Accountancy (1995-2000) and Master of Business Administration (2005-2006). He bagged another Masters of Science degree in Business Administration from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).

A cerebral with an analytical mind, calm, and affable with a listening ear, compassionate and accommodating, genial, and always willing to help and assist, Iteire began a life-fulfilling career as Assistant Senior Wage Clerk (1981-1983) at the Ajaokuta Steel Plant of construction giant, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc. Diligent and dedicated, he was promoted to the position of Accounting Officer (1987-1993) at Julius Berger which handled the Construction of Nigeria Gas Company, Warri (1987-1989), Gusau Water Dam (1989-1990), the renovation of Katsina Airport and Town, (1990-1992), and building of the Shell Pipe Line, Warri (1992-1993). Iteire made a dazzling success as a meticulous accounting officer and soon, he was sought-after by many oil servicing firms including Bilifiger + Bilifiger Gas and Oil Service Nigeria which handled the Trans Ramos Shell Pipe Line (1993-2000), Warri, and Atlas Cove Jetty, Lagos (2000-2001). He held sway as accountant in the oil servicing firm from 1993-2001!

The Delta State University, Abraka made a brilliant accountant of Iteire and at the various companies he worked excellently, he acquired enormous administrative experience and managerial skills which reflected well in his future endeavors as an administrator and politician of note. Thus, inspite of his ardent passion and immense contribution to the private sector, Iteire inspired by the lofty idea of selfless service to humanity ventured into the murky waters of politics which he sees as a broader and a more viable platform for him to contribute to nation building since development is tied to politics. Yes, he soon became and represented an apostle of a new value system in Delta State politics. A refined politician, Iteire distinguished himself as a grassroot mobiliser!

In realization of his major roles in politics in the Isoko North local government area, and Delta State, he was appointed as a Member of the Delta State House of Assembly Commission at Asaba on the 26th of April, 2004, a position he held till 8th of December, 2005. He was reappointed for a four year term on the 26th of March, 2006 till the 19th of May, 2011. He distinguished himself as a member of the lawmaking Service Commission. By 2016, he was appointed for the third time as a member of the Delta State House of Assembly Commission and he was there till last year 2020. Culminatively, Iteire made national history and holds a national record of being longest Member of the Governing Board of a House of Assembly Service Commission in the nation, Nigeria!

Truly, Iteire's training and wealth of experience as an accountant and administrator in the private sector, reflected in his working in sync with the various Commission's Governing Board Chairmen and members in repositioning and enhancing of the commission for efficient public service delivery. It would be on record that, it was during the time he served as a Member of the Commission that the intellectual ritual of Distinguished Annual Lecture of the Delta State Legislature was inaugurated, on July 5, 2005!

In 2021, he campaigned widely, contested and won overwhelmingly the prestigious office of the Executive Chairman, Isoko North Local Government Council, where he is currently providing purposeful administration that are impactful and enduring. Since his assumption of office as Council Chairman in Isoko North, there have been remarkable changes in nearly all sectors and wards in the local government area and the grassroot people are beginning to feel a renewed vigour and a sense of belonging owing to his deliberate embarking of programmes of restoration and rehabilitation. Apart of revitalizing the education and the Primary Healthcare for efficient public delivery to the people, acutely aware of human capital development and socio-economic empowerment, he has rightly conceived of the idea of skills acquisition programme for youths in the local government with a promise to give out starter packs to be self reliant and contribute to the economy of Isoko North Local Government Area! His administration has taken measures in tackling the great issue of insecurity which has saw to the reduction of crimes and the increased in economic activities especially in Ozoro. At present, local government workers have cause to smile with good welfare package and conducive and secured working environment, just recently, the people of Ogewho-Iyede have been rejoicing seeing the commencement of the construction of the three blocks of classrooms.

In truth, the name Iteire is a recurring name in conferences, symposia across the continent of Africa. A member and patron of many professional and socio-political bodies including the Jonathan Sambo Success Movement, Iteire has attended many conferences, symposia, and professional courses at the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria at Badagry in 2018,  and innumerable State House o Assembly Service Commission Conferences he has attended in different states of the federation and Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.

Iteire' passion for selfless and excellent service has not gone unnoticed and unrewarded. Never anticipated, awards and laurels have come his way for his immense contribution, especially to nation building. Among which are the Rivers State House of Assembly Service Commission's Award for Participation bestowed on him on the 13th of April, 2018, Certificate of Attendance at the 2nd National and State Assembly Service Commission in February, 2007 at Akwa Ibom and Certificate of Participation at A-Five Day Workshop for Chairmen and Members of State Houses of Assembly Service Commission in Nigeria in September, 2019 at Abuja. Others include Certificate in Recognition given to him by the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature in June 2007 Bhisho, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

A passionate lover and supporter of sports, Hon Christian Iteire once played football, table tennis, badminton and the game of Scrabble. Itiere's active participation and unending support in sports development in Delta State, nay, Nigeria, has earned him many laurels, accolades including the Certificate of Participation in July, 2016 by the Delta State Badminton Association at the 3rd Felix Awala Tangbe Veteran Closed Badminton Championship.

Iteire, a devout Christian and a Deacon of Eagles Assembly Church at Asaba, the Delta State Capital Territory, is a satisfied family man who is happily married to the love of his life, Mrs Gloria Imarhia of the Iredia family of Edo State. Their union is blissful as it is blessed with beautiful and bright children; three girls and two boys who are doing well in their respective fields of endeavours.

In truth, Iteire's mission in life is to positively impact lives, strongly believing in the possibility for all humanity to be happy and be fulfilled. To him, everything good will come only when there is an ideal purposeful leadership. It is the banner of renewal, hope and everything good that the Executive Chairman of Isoko North Local Government Council, Hon Deacon Christian Othuke Iteire is hoisting. To invoke the words of the novelist and scholar, Professor Chinua Achebe on Nigerian literatures, it is morning yet on creation day, so shall it be for Hon Christian Iteire as he bags the LOGMA 2021 Award at Abuja, the nation's Federal Capital Territory! CONGRATULATIONS, SIR!!!

*Oreh is the Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman of Isoko North Local Government Council