Oshimili North Council Boss, Esewezie Exhibited Passion for Service Delivery to the People Says Media Chief, Emmanuel Bandoh

 

Oshimili North Council Boss, Esewezie Exhibited Passion for Service Delivery to the People Says Media Chief, Emmanuel Bandoh

 

Nigerian Journalist, Photographer, and Writer, Comrade Emmanuel Chiedu Bandoh is the Personal Assistant to Hon Innocent Ifeanyichukwu Esewezie, the Executive Chairman of the Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State. The Media Personality who hails from Onicha-Ugbo in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State is believed by many to have served his Boss diligently. In this interview with Media Personality, PEN MASTER (Emeka Esogbue), Bandoh speaks on his years of growing up, his career, the testimonies of Hon Esewezie, his Council Boss, now praised and respected for his laudable political delivery of developments and relationship with his constituency. Hon Innocent Esewezie for him, remains the beacon of hope and developmental anticipation of the people of Oshimili North Local Government whom he represents. Excerpts:

 

Pen Master: You have been instrumental to the media success of your Boss, Hon Innocent Esewezie and it feels so good to find you. Can our readers also meet you?

 

Bandoh: (Smiles) Thank you sir, Pen Master. My name is Comrade Emmanuel Chiedu Bandoh. I am a journalist by education and practice. I'm also a writer, a photographer, a content creator, and much more by God's grace. I'm from Delta, Onicha-Ugbo in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State specifically, but I grew up in Ibusa where I've been living since 1991. I'm currently the Personal Assistant to the Executive Chairman of Oshimili North Local Government Area on Media and ICT.

 

Pen Master: Comrade Emmanuel Bandoh, your introduction was really engaging with interest. How was growing up for you indeed?

 

Bandoh: Growing up firstly in Benin City - where I was born - and Ibusa where I grew up, I would say has molded me into what I am today. The challenges were enormous due to almost being raised by a mother singlehandedly because my dad was mostly absent. The separation of Benin-Delta (Bendel), and the coming of cybercafés amongst others were major events that had more impacts on our lives than we care to admit. In all, growing up in the conditions I did is the reason I am here today.

 

Pen Master: I must say that you have been ubiquitous in the media, exceptionally reporting the good political works of your Boss, Hon Innocent Esewezie, the Oshimili Council Chairman. What can you tell us about him? 

 

Bandoh: Hon. Chief Innocent Esewezie is a beacon of hope and glory for the people. People don't seem to understand the level of hard work he puts in every single day in order to bring the dividends of democracy back to the people. He has done so well beyond my expectations. As of today, there are projects littered all over the Local Government Area, projects that are being used and enjoyed by the people. He's charismatic, has good listening ears, and is remarkably committed to quality service delivery.

 

Pen Master: This is commendable but Comrade Bandoh, what attracted you to him to work with him? 

 

Bandoh: Thank you, Pen Master. Well, I would say it is his capacity and commitment to tasks. Having worked with him in the past through our now defunct online media Universal Reporter, I watched firsthand, his management of youths in a state function way back, he was clearly the only one who would give youths a chance to shine, that was a huge pull for me.

 

Pen Master: The tenure of the Council Chairman, like those of others, is gradually coming to an end. Bandoh, from you, our readers will like to know the testimonies of his developmental strides.

 

Bandoh: So far, Hon Chief Innocent Esewezie led administration in Oshimili North have touched all communities in the Local Government Area like the building of the Gate House, front porch and Executive complex within the Council Secretariat in Akwukwu-Igbo. This also includes the general facelift of the Secretariat and furnishings of legislative arm. The new Akwukwu-Igbo Community ultramodern town hall is 90% completed. There's the Ukala Water Project, Ugbolu Ultra Modern Market with over 400 open and closed shops, with abattoir and a motor park. In Illah you have the Illah Modern Market with about 150 open and closed shops. Transformers were procured and installed in parts of Okpanam. He built the Oshimili North Local Government Liaison Office, with the ultramodern Ezebuogoani Multipurpose Event Center, reconstructed the Oshimili North Local Government Model School, Idumuezeje Hall, Umuehea Hall, Agropack Empowerment, cash support and grant for over 500 people, bought massive medical equipment for distribution to health centres, 9 Days Free Medical Outreach in both Ibusa and Okpanam where major surgical successes where recorded. This includes over 400 eyeglasses distributed to patients free of charge, about 100 fibroid surgeries, Eye operation, lipoma, appendix, and hernia operations completed successfully without any casualty, plus 3 ceserian section for three childbirths. Like I tell people, these are just a few. 

 

Pen Master: Hmm! But Mr. Bandoh, does it look like he concentrated more efforts in Ibusa, his hometown as his critics allege?

 

Bandoh: (Surprised) No, the reason for my answer is because his projects cut across every community. Don't forget that Ibusa unlike most of the other communities has more federal and state wards, and things like that usually affect how government operates.

 

Pen Master:  ...okay. Thanks for the explanation but the youths of Okpanam, another community within the Oshimili North Local Government Area of the state have always taken to online forums to argue that their community has been left out by your Boss in his policies. Are they making sense?

 

Bandoh: Okpanam has benefited from the Government - both state and local - in fact the community is the most beneficiary amongst all other communities in the Local Government Area.  No one talks about that. Despite this, it remains one community after the Chairman's heart. Secondly, government is counted by wards, and Ugbolu according to Okpanam tradition is under Okpanam, and today, the biggest single market in the history of (possibly) Anioma is currently cited in Ugbolu. I'm more of the opinion that Okpanam would want more development, just like any other community would, so the clamour is expected. Nevertheless, the Chairman is working in tandem with the state. What this means is that he is doing well to spread development evenly to the different wards that have not felt government presence in the past. Okpanam has felt government presence and will continue to feel government presence from the Chairman.

 

Pen Master: Thank you for your response. Well, let us say a lot of people especially, the youth now look forward to him because of the belief that he has done creditably well. They now consider him a model of political development. Bandoh, Working closely with him, how was he able to achieve all of these with the three he held office?

 

Bandoh: As I noted previously, one of his biggest strengths is that he has a passion for service delivery, he's very bright and he has listening ears. The people of Oshimili North and Delta State should be rest assured that Hon. Chief Innocent Esewezie is someone who delivers on his assignments and he doesn't sleep on his laurels.

 

Pen Master: Let us to you. Is Comrade Emmanuel Chiedu Bandoh thinking of going into politics?

 

Bandoh: (Laughing) I'm already in politics. However, if what you mean is whether I would contest an election in mainstream politics, I would say no. I won't contest, in the foreseeable future. Although I understand that in life you can never say never, I'm not sure I'll want to contest, for now. I'm more focused on learning, going back to school, and taking it from there so, when the time comes I'll decide.

 

Pen Master: So, Comrade, any regret for you so far?

 

Bandoh: No, not at all. I am a contented fellow with nothing to regret.

 

Pen Master: Thank you for your time.

 

Bandoh: God bless you sir for the platform