Dr. Bassey Tom Pragmatizes Leadership Prowess Amidst Financial Constraint, Deserves An Applause By James Agada

 Dr. Bassey Tom Pragmatizes Leadership Prowess Amidst Financial Constraint, Deserves An Applause

A leader who does not have what to offer to his people is not worthy to be called a "leader," and when a leader knows the right thing to do, has the ability to do it, but fails to do it, then he is not qualify to be vested with leadership powers. 

It is unarguable that the Local Government Councils in Cross River State have suffered tremendously for about five contemporaneous years due to lack of elected leadership. This has automatically turned the local government councils to moribund, not until the eventual May 30th Local Lovernment elections that paved way for the Executive Chairmen of Councils to be inaugurated on July 2nd, 2020. 

Over 11 billion naira was said to be the total funds meant for the 18 Local Government Areas,  which was also shared according to revenue generation of each Local Government Area, but till date, the Council Chairmen are yet to access this funds to enable them run a smooth government as earlier anticipated.

 This seeming catastrophical result is in no doubt orchestrating doom if the State Governor, Sir Ben Ayade maintains reticence.

It is in the midst of this ostensible unpalableness, that some Council Chairmen including the Executive Chairman of Obubra Local Government Council, Dr. Bassey Agara Tom and some of his counterparts who have refuse to fail their people, resorted to work with the meagre IGR they can afford.

Among his numerous projects which have been constrained by financial incapacitation, the Chairman of council, Dr Bassey Agara Tom who is resolute in his determination, deemed it appropriate to take the bull by the horn and ensure that his people are not left behind in the developmental hue despite financial constraints in the Council. Hence the enthusiasm to pragmatise his leadership adroitness.

In his quest to restore the lost glory of Obubra and her beauty, Dr Bassey Agara Tom seem to be very concern about the smutty state of Obubra Local Government Area, starting from the Council Headquarters down to other parts of the LGA. 

Thus, he decided to embark on a cleanliness mission. He has in less than three months of assumption of office as the Executive Chairman of Council, beautified Obubra in water ways despite the financial paucity which the Council wallows. This is not appalling however as one can obviously say that when a leader has a submerging zest to make his people comfortable, he does everything within the ambience of his powers to achieve his dreams. That is the case of Dr. Bassey Agara Tom.

Starting from the evacuation of debris at mile 1 market in the Local Government headquarters, a project which is still in the pipeline, the Capacity Chair, as he is fondly called, also saw the need to expand the Obubra major road that leads to the express way starting from the Council Headquarters, a road that is said to be capable of causing accidents for motorists and the okada riders.

The Chairman led some groups which comprised of his aides, the youths and other volunteers who saw the need to assist the Chairman in keeping Obubra clean, flooded the Obubra major road with their cutlasses and other farming paraphernalia to clear the grasses along the road. It was a routine which also attracted the attention of some Obubra patriots and Special Assistants to the Governor who saw the need to come home and join hands with the Executive Chairman in the business of keeping their Local Government Area clean.

 This pragmatic display of the Chairman's leadership prowess also attracted the attention of some cheap articles who went to social media to comparatively criticize him for practically leading the people of Obubra to embark on such task. In one of his meetings with the Obubra Chapter of the National youth Council of Nigeria led by Comr. Enoh, the Chairman reacted "Being the Chairman of Council, does not in anyway deters me from showing a practical example of what ought to be done for the betterment of my people . I am a leader, and I must live by example. I don't blame those who go to social media to criticise my way of operation. After all, people must always have something to say..."

 Today, the Obubra major road has becomes wide and smooth for motorists and all critics of the project have run to their shelves while Dr. Bassey Agara Tom keeps receiving torrents of accolades from the grateful and well wishers of the TomBassey's administration.

Going to the Council Headquarters, every one whose mind is in right position can attest to the fact that the Obubra Local Government Council and its vicinity has over the years become moribund, grassed and exasperated without any iota of proof that it is the Headquarters of a Local Government Area. 

Today which marks less than three months in office since assumption of office as the Executive Chairman of Obubra Local Government Area, Hon. Dr Bassey Agara Tom has through his innate ideas and leadership dexterity, changed the narratives and brought vicissitudes through the ongoing mahoosive renovation at the Council Headquarters and maintenance of its environ. This has visually given a new shape and beauty to the Council which is now a cynosure to everyone.

To critically access this great and inexplicable performance, one can easily be tempted to question where the Executive Chairman is getting the funds to embark on these gargantuan projects, an act which have also coerced some of his counterparts to express their consternation in different ways.

Although, criticism can not be utterly expunged from the language of politics, it can be done constructively. But an applause is one of the vital tools that drives and encourages a performing leader to do more for his people alongside prayers for him. 

Dr. Bassey Agara Tom is in no doubt steering the ship of Obubra to its place of fulfilment, as it is becoming more conspicuous that with him, a New Obubra is Possible (NOP). So he deserves applause and prayers.

COMR. JAMES U. AGADA,

National Publicity Secretary,

MPA.