· Wants anti-graft agencies to intervene
By Chancel Bomadi Sunday
Chief Julius Takeme is the Chairman of Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State. Previously, he held the position of Transition Chairman for the council area and is a native of Obotebe community in the riverine council area. In this interview, Takeme reveals that his administration has made significant strides in enhancing infrastructural development and preserving the essential peace and stability in the oil-rich council area, among other matters. Excerpts:
You have led Burutu for over two years; could you share the initiatives you have implemented for the benefit of the council area?
We have made remarkable strides in infrastructural development, alongside promoting peace and security across various communities in the local government area. By God’s grace, the council has embarked on numerous infrastructural projects at the council headquarters and in various communities. Currently, there are ongoing projects such as the new Council Secretariat Complex, which includes the chairman’s office duplex, administrative blocks, chairman’s lodge, a 4,000-capacity conference hall, chapel, vice chairman’s office and other facilities. We are also constructing a new Legislative Chamber, a VIP Lodge, and other ongoing projects in Burutu. Furthermore, over two thousand women are employed to maintain cleanliness in Burutu, the council headquarters. In terms of healthcare, we have renovated the Primary Healthcare Centres in various communities within the council area, ensuring they are equipped to provide quality healthcare services to the people living in the creek. In discussing the maintenance of peace and security within the council area, particularly in multinational host communities, we have performed commendably. The council has intervened and resolved disputes concerning community leadership struggles among aspirants in various creek communities. We have addressed and settled intra-communal leadership conflicts in Tuomo, Ojobo, Enekorogha, Okpokunou, Ayakoromo, and other communities. I assure you that we are committed to excelling in human capital empowerment by actively engaging the young people in meaningful activities. Furthermore, we have launched free medical outreach programmes for our people, offering treatment for a variety of illnesses and diseases. We will continue to work for the people of Burutu local government area. You might be interested to learn that I provided the needed funding for Ms Timipame-ere Akiayefa, an indigene of Torugbene community, who represented Nigeria to the Commonwealth Games in Singapore, and who won a gold medal in the swimming competitions. I believe we can do much more for people in delivering the democracy dividends as part of the vision of our hardworking governor’s Renewed Hope for MORE Agenda.
There are allegations from some individuals on social media, claiming to be former chairmanship aspirants in the state. They assert that you owe them and have not undertaken any significant projects to justify the 23.7 billion naira federal allocation to the council since you assumed office. How do you respond to these allegations?
As a journalist, I’m sure you have visited Burutu and observed our efforts and achievements, as I previously mentioned, including the jobs we have completed and commissioned, as well as the ongoing projects. The essence of leadership lies in the judicious application of resources to improve the lives of the people, which is the hallmark of good governance. When we assumed office, I promised the people of Burutu that I would provide people-oriented services, and that is precisely what we are doing in Burutu local government area. We are transforming Burutu through human capital development and the delivery of infrastructural advancements. Currently, all our ongoing projects are significant landmarks, as I mentioned earlier. You will also agree with me on the challenges posed by the terrain, where it requires approximately four times the effort needed to construct any structure in the cities—considering transportation, logistics, loading and unloading of building materials and equipment, and so forth. Regarding the allegation of misappropriation in which it is claimed that someone has mismanaged approximately 24 billion naira over twenty-four months, as we approach our 24-month tenure, it implies that one billion naira is allocated to Burutu local government area monthly, which is both fallacious and absurd. I am uncertain of the sources from which the person making this claim derived this information. In terms of accountability, I regularly present myself before the Burutu Legislative Assembly to report my activities to the councillors. Those making these allegations identify themselves as former aspirants and are all aware of the processes that led to the selection of candidates for the former ruling party in the state at that time. It was the party’s internal democratic procedure, involving a form of mock primaries, which is well-known to all of us. It is important to note that none of them purchased nomination forms prior to my selection as a candidate, as the party had decided not to sell forms. Following the local government elections, where the party triumphed across the state, it became imperative for me to include everyone in the decision-making process to foster unity within the party in the council area. A wise politician must always embrace this principle to ensure cohesion. Consequently, under my leadership, Burutu remains united, with no factions within the ruling APC in Burutu local government area. In their initial social media post, the so-called former aspirants under an association alleged that I am indebted to them, alluding to my generous decision to include them in the provision of financial support and assistance to them. Imagine, one guy called me on phone and threatened that I had not known him yet, that he had the EFCC and ICPC connections. He said if I refused to yield to their financial demands, he would ask the anti-graft agencies to come after me. He also promised to blackmail me before the governor. Really? I asked. Shortly after the threat, the posts emerged on social media. Now, I have decided that enough is enough. How can someone claim to have Federal Government agencies in his pockets and be using them to do his biddings? How! It is clear that this is their modus operandi, as they have not rendered any service or job to me or to Burutu local government council. They have also made it clear that they are fraternizing with the opposition PDP.
I wish to use this medium to urge the EFCC and ICPC to investigate these so-called former aspirants who are blackmailing me and misinforming the public about the administration of Burutu local government council. I believe this is one method used to extort money from a coerced public office holder.
How do you evaluate Gov Oborevwori’s performance in terms service delivery to Deltans?
Marvelous! Gov Sheriff Oborevwori has justified the confidence Deltans have placed in him. Observing the ongoing developmental strides in the state, one can attest to the fact that the governor has exceeded the people’s expectations in just his first term in office. If he were focusing on a single sector in his developmental efforts, critics might have claimed that he was only concentrating on infrastructure, such as the construction of bridges and road networks. However, this is not the case. He has performed exceptionally well across various sectors, particularly in healthcare facilities, human empowerment schemes, civil servants’ welfare, economic development and more. Recently, the governor’s wife, Deaconess Mrs. Tobore Oborevwori, initiated a free healthcare outreach in Burutu local government area through her charity organization, You Matter Foundation. Humanitarian services were offered to the vulnerable and individuals with special needs in Kiagbodo. This initiative is a welcome development for Deltans, as the foundation is expanding its outreach programmes to the various federal constituencies across the state. It is all part of the effort of our able governor to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people. The Ayakoromo Bridge project is now receiving the necessary attention from the government, and I believe that between now and early next year, the project will be commissioned. Once commissioned, this project will open up the oil-rich riverine area of the state to investors. Indeed, all the initiatives the governor has undertaken in the riverine part of the state, particularly in Burutu local government area, are remarkable and transformative. Some of these projects include the already commissioned Ogulagha—Odimodi road, Egodor—Ogboingbene road (Phase 2), Technical College at Kiagbodo, Torugbene-Ojobo road, and various internal roads within communities in the creeks. Gov Oborevwori stands out for his distinctive approach to project initiation and execution across the state. However, like Oliver Twist, we wish to make a special appeal to our industrious governor to initiate the construction of a road connecting Old Burutu town, the headquarters of the oil-rich local government area of Delta State. I am confident that the name associated with the commencement of this road will be remembered for a millennium. I humbly urge our dynamic governor and leader to prioritize this project upon reelection for a second term. A survey plan already exists, indicating that Burutu can be more easily accessed by road, and I propose that the road be constructed in phases for convenience.
If you were to evaluate the governor’s performance in terms of percentage, what score would you assign him?
Based on my observations throughout the state, if I were to evaluate Governor Oborevwori’s performance in terms of percentage, as a reasonable and progressive Deltan rather than a politician, I would assign him a score of 101%.
With the 2027 general elections fast approaching, how prepared is your party at the local government level?
No shaking! We are steadfast and well-prepared, the people of Burutu Local Government Area are ready to vote overwhelmingly for the ruling APC, as there is no opposition here. As I mentioned earlier, Burutu is now a united entity, and we are aligned in the decision-making process. We, the people of Burutu Local Government Area, believe that the 2027 general elections are the opportune moment to reciprocate the goodwill of our esteemed governor by voting en masse for the party to ensure his return for continuity. There is no contest here; we are APC, and all the leaders of Burutu have agreed to deliver Bulk Vote for the party to secure the return of our governor, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all candidates under the party. We understand that casting our votes for the APC is the only way to express our gratitude to Governor Oborevwori for including Burutu Local Government in his Renewed Hope for MORE Agenda.
Your final words
Under my leadership as council chairman, Burutu will continue to be a peaceful place where development can flourish in all communities. I am committed to working tirelessly for the unity, peace and progress of our people and the council area.
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