Governor Rochas Okorocha
in a group photograph with members of the newly constituted Elders Advisory
Council
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Governor of Imo state,
Owelle Rochas Okorocha has inaugurated 135-member Elders Advisory Council, with
five of the elders chosen from each of the 27 Local Government Areas of the
state.
Inaugurating members of
the Elders Council at the Government House Owerri, yesterday, Governor Okorocha
said their role would not only be advisory but would also provide constructive
criticisms for the government, adding that the government had taken time to
select members of the council to ensure that none of them is in politics or has
any known political affiliation.
His words,”the Elders
Council must be independent. Members would always advise the government.
It would equally offer the government constructive criticisms from time to
time. That is why we have made the council to be independent. We
had also taken time in the choice of the members of the council to ensure that
they are not into partisan politics and do not have any strong political
affiliation with any of the political parties or politician. The essence
is to ensure credibility of their personalities and what they set out to do. ”
According to Governor
Okorocha, “the elders in the council would also serve as the bridge between the
political parties, elders across the nation and even between politicians within
and outside the state. This is in line with our belief that elders are
those who understand the past and have a clear view of the future. People
who are in custody of the history of the past and what must be done to correct
the mistakes of the past to bring improvement to the future.”
He further stated,
“members of the council are those not less than 70 years of age, who must have
retired if they were politicians or working. And who must have been
people of proven integrity, who would not be afraid to say the truth no mater
whose ox is gored.”
To the elders, the
governor told them “to whom much is given, much is expected. You are also
expected to bridge the gap between the government and the people. You
should also restore the fallen integrity of the elders in the state by being
brave and truthful in the discharge of your duties.”
Governor Rochas Okorocha
congratulating the chairman of the newly constituted Imo Elders Advisory
Council, Dr. E.J.K Onyewuchi
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However, Dr. EJK
Onyewuchi emerged as the chairman of the council, while Prince Pat Abii was
chosen as the secretary of the council.
In his response,
chairman of the Council, Dr. Onyewuchi, thanked the governor for acknowledging
the role and importance of elders in a democratic setting and assured him that
they would leave no stone unturned to achieve the lofty goal for which the
Elders Council was constituted.
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