From Priscilla Ediare, Ado Ekiti
In recognition of his efforts in various areas including ensuring adequate security of lives and property and boosting the education of children, the Chairman, Ajoni Local Council Development Area of Ekiti State, Prince Michael Ogungbemi, has received triple awards from three different reputable organisations in Nigeria as the Best Local Government Administrator of the year.
The organisations which include the Ekiti State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Correspondents’ Chapel, the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), as well as a Lagos-based body under the auspices of Evergreen Media Consult, said that the chairman had exhibited the qualities of a good leader and used his connections far and near to impact lives positively, urging politicians and those in leadership positions to emulate him so that people in the state and Nigerians at large will know what good governance means as well as enjoy the dividends of democracy.
Presenting the awards to the Chairman at the Council’s headquarters in Ayedun Ekiti, on Wednesday, the state’s Chairman, NUJ, Correspondents’ Chapel, Mr Raphael Ogbonnaiye, said the council boss’ initiatives in providing adequate security had yielded fruitful results and created enabling environment for businesses to thrive.
The media practitioners specifically lauded Ogungbemi’s initiative in putting in place a local security network codenamed Operation EBBORAC that had helped in checkmating recurrent cases of kidnappings, killings and cattle rustling in the council.
Also, the Ekiti State Chairman, Police Community Relations Committee( PCRC) Ekiti State Command, Pastor Sunday Makinde and President, Evergreen Media Consults Lagos State, Mr Charles Abere, noted that Ogungbemi also performed creditably well in the areas of governance, education and provision of social amenities for the citizens.
In appreciation, Ogungbemi expressed happiness over how his actions and plans tailored toward taming the rampaging bandits and kidnappers as well as boosting the education of children, are attracting local and international recognition.
Ogungbemi said the fact that his actions and policies are having positive impacts on the populace necessitated the awards of the Best Local Government Administrator of the Year bestowed on him by the three different reputable organisations in the country.
He expressed readiness to continually wage relentless war against kidnappers, bandits and cattle rustlers that are holding the council by the jugular and disrupting economic activities.
The council boss hinted that he was already in partnership with international organisations for the actualisation of his vision to make every child of school age in the council enjoy unfettered access to education to reduce the malaise of school dropouts in Ekiti.