By: Felix Ikpotor
Chairman of Ahoada East local government area in Rivers State, Barr Ben Eke has is now receiving knocks from social media users for handing over two dugout boats ( canoe) and paddles to Ekpena and Odiemude Community in the area.
But a statement from the chairman’s office said the chairman was fulfilling his campaign promises.
The statement issued by Elder Abubor Chiemele ThankGod,
Head Media and Publicity, Ahoada East Local Government Council
said the chairman donated the boats to satisfy the quest of the downtrodden in the area.
But social media users disagree. Although some said the gesture was a noble one but blamed it on badly managed Public Relations.
The comments which followed a post by a social media user (name withheld) said whereas other councils are donating speedboats to rural communities in their area, Ben Eke was gifting out dugout boats(canoes) even in this modern time.
Below is the press statement by the council:
“On Wednesday 17th July, 2019, the Executive Chairman of Ahoada East local Government Area, Hon( Barr) Ben Eke donated some dugout boats to coastal communities in the area.
Ben Eke a grassroot politician and a pioneer coordinator of the foremost Social political organization in Rivers State, the Grassroot Development Initiative – GDI believes in satisfying the quest of the downtrodden in the area.
There is no gain running down the pictorial presentation of such gift by some persons who probably think that governance is a competition or development should only be concentrated at the urban areas or attention be given to the political elites which may not have any direct bearing on the people.
As a responsible government we are not deterred by the act of negative criticisms especially when our dreams and aspirations to put smiles on the faces of our people is been met.
We want to once again call on the general public to continuously undermine such negative criticisms and urged the critics to be more constructive and professional as such will guide us to brace up to some few challenges we might be facing as a government”.
