Female Journalist Emerges Local Government Chairman

History was made recently in Anambra State as for the first time since the creation of Anambra State, a female journalist was appointed the transition committee chairman of Orumba North Local Government Area, Anambra South Senatorial Zone, Anambra State, Nairanaijanews reports.


The new female chairman, Mrs Ifeyinwa Obinabo was, before her appointment, a broadcaster in the programmes department of the Anambra Broadcasting Service, Onitsha; Chairman of Radio, Television and Arts Workers Union, RATTAWU, Onitsha Chapter and the Special Assistant to Governor Willie Obiano on Agriculture.

In her acceptance speech, Hon Ifeyinwa Obinabo said that the appointment was a fulfillment of her long held dream to serve the people at the grassroots level.

Obinabo, while praying for the cooperation of the staff and people of the local government, appreciated the agricultural resources the local government is blessed with and affirmed her resolve to “go extra miles in ensuring that the local government’s full agricultural potential and fully explored.” She also promised to continue from where her predecessor stopped.

Hon Chief Emeka Aforka, the outgoing chairman of the local government, earlier, while officially handing over to the new chairman, appreciated Chief Willie Obiano “for his courage and wisdom” in appointing her as the local government chairman.

Aforka, who is also contesting to represent Orumba North Constituency at the State House of Assembly, recounted some of his achievements as a two-time local government chairman of the local government while blaming the economic crisis for his inability to complete some of the projects he flagged off.

He stated that the secret of his success has been total reliance on God and having a prayerful and supportive wife, Mrs Lilian Aforka, and his greatest achievement securing the confidence of the people of Orumba North.

On his part, the Head of Service, Mr Chike Obuekwe, while pledging to support the administration of the new chairman, enjoined her to tow the line of her predecessor by always carrying them along in her policy making process.

Chief Damian Okeke-Oghene, Anambra State president of Ohaneze Ndigbo applauded the outgoing chairman, Chief Aforka, for being “smart enough” to carry everybody along regardless of their differences in interest. He enjoined Hon Obinabo to borrow a leaf from her predecessor by keeping her doors open for the grassroots.

Okeke-Oghene, who is incidentally from Nanka, one of the communities in Orumba North, then charged the staff and people of Orumba North to give the newly installed chairman time to acclimatize with the local government area and the demands of her seat before making demands of her.

Priests and Pastors, traditional rulers of communities in Orumba North led by the Diji of Ufuma, HRH Igwe S. Chike Uchime; Chief Okwudili Ezenwankwo, leader of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA in Orumba North, APGA Orumba North local government deputy chairman, other APGA executives and faithful from the local government, the three DPOs of the Local Government Area, members of the Civil Defense Corps, Department of Security Services, Mrs Isabella Anyiam, the HPM and all the Heads of Departments in the Local Government Secretariat and other members of staff, people from Ifitedunu, where the chairman’s husband comes from and Ufuma where she originates from were among the people present to welcome the new Local Government Chairman.