· Wants anti-graft agencies to intervene By Chancel Bomadi Sunday Chief Julius Takeme is the Chairman of Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State. Previously, he held the position of Transition Chairman for the council area and is a native of Obotebe community in the riverine council area. In this interview, Takeme reveals that his administration has made significant strides in enhancing infrastructural development and preserving the essential peace and stability in the oil-rich council area, among other matters. Excerpts: You have led Burutu for over two years; could you share the initiatives you have implemented for the benefit of the council area? We have made remarkable strides in infrastructural development, alongside promoting peace and security across various communities in the local government area. By God’s grace, the council has embarked on numerous infrastructural projects at the council headquarters and in various communities. Currently, there are ongoing projects such as the new Council Secretariat Complex, which includes the chairman’s office duplex, administrative blocks, chairman’s lodge, a 4,000-capacity conference hall, chapel, vice chairman’s office and other facilities. We are also constructing a new Legislative Chamber, a VIP Lodge, and other ongoing projects in Burutu. Furthermore, over two thousand women are employed to maintain cleanliness in Burutu, the council headquarters. In terms of healthcare, we have renovated the Primary Healthcare Centres in various communities within the council area, ensuring they are equipped to provide quality healthcare services to the people living in the creek. In discussing the maintenance of peace and security within the council area, particularly in multinational host communities, we have performed commendably. The council has intervened and resolved disputes concerning community leadership struggles among aspirants in various creek communities. We have addressed and settled intra-communal leadership conflicts in Tuomo, Ojobo, Enekorogha, Okpokunou, Ayakoromo, and other communities. I assure you that we are committed to excelling in human capital empowerment by actively engaging the young people in meaningful activities. Furthermore, we have launched free medical outreach programmes for our people, offering treatment for a variety of illnesses and diseases. We will continue to work for the people of Burutu local government area. You might be interested to learn that I provided the needed funding for Ms Timipame-ere Akiayefa, an indigene of Torugbene community, who represented Nigeria to the Commonwealth Games in Singapore, and who won a gold medal in the swimming competitions. I believe we can do much more for people in delivering the democracy dividends as part of the vision of our hardworking governor’s Renewed Hope for MORE Agenda. There are allegations from some individuals on social media, claiming to be former chairmanship aspirants in the state. They assert that you owe them and have not undertaken any significant projects to justify the 23.7 billion naira federal allocation to the council since you assumed office. How do you respond to these allegations? As a journalist, I’m sure you have visited Burutu and observed our efforts and achievements, as I previously mentioned, including the jobs we have completed and commissioned, as well as the ongoing projects. The essence of leadership lies in the judicious application of resources to improve the lives of the people, which is the hallmark of good governance. When we assumed office, I promised the people of Burutu that I would provide people-oriented services, and that is precisely what we are doing in Burutu local government area. We are transforming Burutu through human capital development and the delivery of infrastructural advancements. Currently, all our ongoing projects are significant landmarks, as I mentioned earlier. You will also agree with me on the challenges posed by the terrain, where it requires approximately four times the effort needed to construct any structure in the cities—considering transportation, logistics, loading and unloading of building materials and equipment, and so forth. Regarding the allegation of misappropriation in which it is claimed that someone has mismanaged approximately 24 billion naira over twenty-four months, as we approach our 24-month tenure, it implies that one billion naira is allocated to Burutu local government area monthly, which is both fallacious and absurd. I am uncertain of the sources from which the person making this claim derived this information. In terms of accountability, I regularly present myself before the Burutu Legislative Assembly to report my activities to the councillors. Those making these allegations identify themselves as former aspirants and are all aware of the processes that led to the selection of candidates for the former ruling party in the state at that time. It was the pa
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