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What is the Policy trust of your administration?

Oguta for your information is a metropolitan council. To this end, it is expected that the administration will be that which is expected to meet the needs of a cosmopolitan people. Uppermost is the maintenance of peace, law and order. As you know Oguta besides being a metropolitan council is also an oil producing community. As expected, we have oil companies operating in the area and in these days of restive youths who are all out to foment trouble, I believe a serious council boss should first of all enthrone peace, law and order. This is our first priority and we have done this so well that Oguta is today the only oil producing community where youth restiveness is virtually a non-issue. We also intend to enthrone a healthy Local Government via creation of effective and adequate sanitation. Another area of interest is provision and maintenance of infrastructure like light, water, good access roads and building of feeder roads. There is also the very important issue of youth empowerment which we intend to create jobs for our school leavers. Infact our hands are full, we are only praying to God for strength and health to fulfill our desires. Put mildly we intend to recreate Oguta to become a modern council.

What have you been able to do in concrete terms in your first hundred days in office?

In concrete terms, as you said, we have been able to clear the backlog of salaries owed Council workers as well as those of the traditional rulers who receive allowances. Our administration is also reactivitating the Oguta water scheme that has been abandoned for sometime. We also intend to expand its scope to cater for our people who are neighbours to Oguta. Besides, we are reengineering our entire office to check fraud, and encourage hardwork. Again in the next few weeks some communities will be taking delivery of some transformers bought by the council for their use. We are also liaising with oil companies doing business in our local government with a view to creating jobs for our teeming youths who are unemployed. Already some of them have been given jobs while many are on the waiting list. Finally, our administration has cleared some of the debts owed contractors.

Recently the Federal Government inaugurated a committee to review the operations of the Local Government. How do you see this move?

As the third tier of governn1ent, the L.G administration is the closest level of government to the people. I believe that the government must have good intentions to propose the review. Be that as it may l am aware that there is also agitation against the move. But all I have to say here is that whatever the case, government should give the best to the L.G to enable it serve the rural people better. As you may know it was President Obasanjo that began the reform of the L.G Systems of administration in 1976. If you ask I think we should give the President every support he needs to enthrone a better system of L.G administration so that the rural people who are the utmost beneficiaries will get the best.

What if he abrogates local governments?

I think we miss the point here. President Obasanjo is just an executive President, not a military President. May be you have forgotten he has the legislature that vets every move he makes. That's why the President inaugurated the committee on L.G reforms, which was initially headed by the Late Etsu Nupe and now Alhaji Ciroma. You will agree with me that both men are not pushovers. Let's wait for the outcome of their report first but I can assure it will be in the interest of every Nigerian.

You have worked closely with Governor Achike Udenwa, first as a party man, then as legislator, now as a L.G Chairman. Do you believe the man has done well?

I have known His Excellency closely since I was a councillor in this L.G. One thing I can tell you is that the man is a gentleman, he means well for the Imo people. In the area of achievement, they are all there for people to see for themselves. I am aware of the thought line of his critics but the Governor has greatly improved that lot of the people since he assumed office in 1999. I am sure that in the second term he will consolidate governance and the people will be happy. Come back in 2004, you will see the solid achievements.

Until recently you were a member of Imo House of Assembly. What is the difference between that and being L.G Chairman?

There is always a difference in a journey you have never embarked upon before. Frankly there is a world of difference between the two; the only common denominator is that both offices serve the people. As a legislator, our job was merely to make good laws for the good governance of Imo State. The entire Imo was my constituency; I could propose laws that can affect the entire state. Besides as committee chairman of Petroleum, I was saddled with extra responsibility to see to effective relationship between all companies doing business in the State and that happens to be my Local Govt. This time as Chairman, my job begins here in Oguta L.G. and ends here. I am now saddled with creating a good life for Oguta people. Put mildly, I now operate in an executive position whereas as a House member I functioned as a legislator. To ensure that we achieve our purpose, we have opened lines of communication between Oguta and Owerri and Oguta and Abuja. We are in liaison with our sons who represent us in these areas. But if you ask me again, the position of a Local government Chairman carries higher responsibility to the people, the government in Owerri and God who created all of us.

Mr. Chairman, you have been in Politics since you graduated from school. Where are you headed to after this?

Well, as human beings we have our plans but God knows better. I don't go around seeking political positions, my people who have always trusted my representation will decide the next step after this. I am only a tool in their hands.

Briefly Mr. Chairman, who is Alphonsus Irona?

I am an Oguta man, and also attended school here in Oguta. I was a Senior Prefect in my college days, later; I attended the Polytechnic Nekede and IMT Enugu as well as Imo State University for my Post Graduate Studies. By the grace of God I have been a councillor, a member of the last Imo House of Assembly and now the Chairman of Oguta Local Government Caretaker Committee.