Like Alex Otti is to Abia State, Chijioke Nwankwo is to Bende Local Government Area

After close interaction, on-the-spot assessment, and strategic review of the activities and achievements of Mayor Chijioke Nwankwo of Bende Local Government Area in Abia State, it is evident that Mayor Nwankwo mirrors Governor Alex Otti’s impact in Abia State within his jurisdiction in Bende.

After close interaction, on-the-spot assessment, and strategic review of the activities and achievements of Mayor Chijioke Nwankwo of Bende Local Government Area in Abia State, it is evident that Mayor Nwankwo mirrors Governor Alex Otti’s impact in Abia State within his jurisdiction in Bende.

Is it surprising? Not really. Mayor Nwankwo has been a dedicated follower of Governor Alex Chioma Otti from 2015 to 2023, culminating in the election victory. It is believed that during this period, Chijioke Nwankwo internalized Governor Otti’s principles and characteristics.

While Governor Otti focuses on developing Abia State, changing the mindset of Abians by initiating projects that seemed impossible over the past 24 years, and positioning Abia State as a noteworthy entity nationally and globally, Mayor Nwankwo is achieving similar feats in Bende Local Government Area. His efforts are being recognized as he writes his name in gold in Bende.

National chieftains from major political parties have praised Mayor Nwankwo. Chief Dr. Emeka Kalu, a PDP national chieftain, and Chief Uchenna Okogbuo, a national BoT member of APGA, both commended his efforts. Chief Kalu was impressed by the ongoing reconstruction at the Bende LGA Secretariat, while Chief Okogbuo described Mayor Nwankwo as an exceptional leader who has brought pride to Bende people.

Like Governor Otti, who is focused, determined, and committed to realizing his positive agenda for Abia State, Mayor Nwankwo has shown similar focus, determination, and commitment in transforming Bende Local Government Area. When he took office, the LGA resembled an abandoned site with dilapidated infrastructure and low morale among staff.

Upon our first visit to Bende LGA, Mayor Chijioke Nwankwo had already begun total rehabilitation, retrofitting, and even complete reconstruction of offices and workspaces. The LGA was a bustling construction site, and workers acknowledged that they had never seen such transformation before. They explained that the poor working environment before the reconstruction had killed productivity and passion for their work, but now they can see the emergence of a new Bende LGA.

During a recent visit, it was observed that the office rehabilitation and reconstruction projects had been completed, and Mayor Chijioke had embarked on new initiatives to further enhance the LGA headquarters. For over a decade, no Executive Chairman or Transition Chairman had achieved what the current Mayor has accomplished in such a short period.

Currently, Mayor Nwankwo is overseeing numerous intervention projects throughout Bende LGA. These projects address critical needs and have garnered appreciation from the community. The collapsed Ntalakwu-Itumbauzo bridge, which hindered movement, is now 80% complete. The Elu-Akanu bridge, crucial for accessing farmlands, and another critical culvert/bridge at Okai Item are also nearing completion. Given that Bende LGA is agrarian, these projects are essential for boosting food production and attracting agricultural investors.

In Igbere, Mayor Nwankwo initiated a 1.5km drainage project on the Onu-Ibina Igbere road to prevent flooding. A new solar-powered water borehole is nearly completed in Okoko Item to address water scarcity, while another borehole is almost ready at Four O’clock Market in Uzuakoli to support traders and the community. Additionally, the customary court in Ndiwo Itumbauzo is undergoing renovations after being neglected for two decades.

Bende community is also benefiting from Mayor’s leadership, with renovations and rehabilitations of the Motor Park underway to reduce road-side parking and traffic congestion. Like Governor Otti, Mayor Nwankwo prioritizes security, evident from the rebuilding of the Central Police Station in Bende town, destroyed a few years ago, which will bolster local security.

Ongoing palliative work at Onuinyang-Ukpom road and the upcoming renovation of the massive warehouse/store in Bende council headquarters, abandoned for decades, are further testaments to Mayor Nwankwo’s commitment. If past leaders had taken leadership as seriously as this, Bende LGA would have been one of the best in the nation by now.

To crown it all, just as Governor Alex Otti is committed to ensuring that the people and residents of Abia State are well-informed about his achievements and plans through monthly media interactions, Mayor Chijioke Nwankwo is following the same path. He regularly engages with the media to keep the people of Bende well-informed about the milestones already achieved in Bende LGA.

Indeed, Governor Otti chose the right person for Bende LGA.

For more details of the media tour, exclusive video will be dropping soon.

Written By Emenike Iroegbu – The Publisher All Facts Newspaper ( www.afnews.ng )