By Chinazaekpere Chinwendu
Ikwuano, Abia State| September 22, 2026 —
Councillors representing the various wards in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State, alongside Labour Party ward chairmen, have paid a solidarity visit to the Executive Mayor of the council, Dr. Anthony .N. Nwaubani, reaffirming their commitment to his administration and pledging continued support for his development agenda.
The meeting, which provided an opportunity for the grassroots political and legislative leaders to interact with the council chairman, also afforded the councillors and ward chairmen the opportunity to commend ongoing projects across the local government, raise concerns and discuss ways of strengthening cooperation at the grassroots.
Speaking, the Councillor representing Ibere Ward 2, Hon. Sunday Uche Okoro, described Nwaubani as a man operating under the grace of God, noting that Ikwuano had witnessed significant transformation under his leadership.
Okoro described the mayor as a man of principles, straightforwardness and honesty, while affectionately referring to him as "Mr Project" in recognition of the various development initiatives being executed across the local government.
He said the councillors and ward chairmen had a responsibility to give the mayor their unreserved support, stressing, however, that genuine support must go beyond praise and include constructive advice whenever necessary.
According to him, "It is also our duty to advise our mayor and tell him when he is not getting it right and commend him when and where necessary. That way, he will be able to do his job very well."
He noted that several initiatives and facilities that were previously unavailable at the local government had been introduced under the Nwaubani administration, citing the pepper farm, poultry project and the massive local government secretariat headquarters among the notable projects.
Okoro further pointed out that several communities across Ikwuano had ongoing projects, including road interventions and other infrastructure, adding that the mayor had undertaken projects beyond what would ordinarily be expected of the local government administration.
He specifically commended the recent grading of roads across Ikwuano, describing the exercise as one of the best interventions witnessed in the area.
The councillor also highlighted the cordial relationship between the legislative arm, ward chairmen and the executive chairman, urging the political stakeholders to preserve the unity that had enabled them to work together.
He said genuine support should not be motivated by mere eye service, stressing that the success of the mayor would ultimately translate into success for everyone working within the administration.
"When we started almost two years ago, I promised the mayor that I would give him my full support because when he succeeds, everyone has succeeded. I urge us to give our mayor our full support so he can do his job well without unnecessary distractions. Because if it is well with him, it is well with all of us," he said.
Okoro also described Nwaubani as a listening and approachable leader who was willing to receive the concerns of the people and engage with them. He stressed that no individual could successfully govern in isolation, noting that regular consultations among grassroots stakeholders remained essential to achieving meaningful development.
Also speaking, Hon. Councillor Ejike Williams expressed appreciation to the mayor for convening the meeting and suggested that similar engagements should be held monthly to sustain communication and strengthen the relationship between the council administration, councillors and party ward leadership.
Williams commended Nwaubani for his efforts in developing Ikwuano and encouraged him to sustain the momentum, assuring him of the continued support of the councillors and ward chairmen.
Responding, Nwaubani thanked the councillors and ward chairmen for their contributions, assuring them that their concerns and commitments had been duly noted.
The mayor said the collective objective should be to achieve effective performance at every level of the council administration, stressing that the failure of one component of the administration ultimately affects the entire team.
"All we want to achieve is good performance from all of us, because if one of us fails, we all have failed," Nwaubani said.
He expressed particular satisfaction with the unity demonstrated by the councillors and Labour Party ward chairmen, describing both groups as critical grassroots leadership structures that must work together for the progress of Ikwuano.
Nwaubani warned against individuals who might seek to create friction between councillors and party ward chairmen, describing such attempts as inimical to the stability and development of the council.
Drawing from his advocacy for peace and conflict resolution, the mayor observed that disputes and divisions at the grassroots could sometimes have underlying interests that were not immediately apparent.
He therefore urged the stakeholders to remain vigilant and refuse to allow individuals with ulterior motives to exploit disagreements among them.
He commended the councillors and ward chairmen for demonstrating that they could work as one, noting that their unity was particularly important because they remained the closest political leadership to the people at the grassroots.
The vote of thanks was delivered by the Labour Party Ward Chairman for Oboro Ward 3, Lucky Nkemka, who commended the mayor for finding time within his busy schedule to meet with the grassroots leaders, listen to their concerns and respond to them.
Nkemka, on behalf of his colleagues, pledged their full support for the Nwaubani administration, saying the mayor's response to their concerns demonstrated the existence of a harmonious working relationship between the council administration and the grassroots political leadership.
He described Nwaubani as the "Governor we have in Ikwuano," explaining that the mayor's actions at the local government level represented the broader development vision of the administration of Gov Alex Otti.
He also commended the scale of development witnessed in Ikwuano under the present administration, particularly the newly constructed local government secretariat headquarters, which he said had become a source of pride to the people.
Nkemka urged the mayor to sustain the development momentum and expand the reach of his projects as the administration progresses, particularly by ensuring that more communities directly experience the impact of government programmes.
He emphasised the importance of grassroots development, noting that the people at the community level remained central to the success of any political administration.
The councillors and ward chairmen collectively reaffirmed their support for Nwaubani, stressing the importance of unity, consultation and cooperation in advancing development across Ikwuano Local Government Area.
The meeting ended with a renewed commitment by the grassroots leaders to work with the mayor, strengthen the bond between the council administration and party structures, and support initiatives aimed at improving infrastructure and the welfare of residents across the local government.