The Secretary to the Gwagwalada Area Council, Mr Agu Okechukwu Samuel, has declared that the administration of Chairman Kasim Ikwa will not operate on a “business as usual” basis, warning that difficult decisions will be taken to restore accountability, protect the dignity of the council and advance the interests of the people.
Samuel, who spoke on behalf of himself and other political appointees recently appointed by Chairman Ikwa, said the new administration was prepared to confront practices that had been allowed to become routine despite being inconsistent with the principles of democracy, transparency and responsible governance.
His comments come against the backdrop of the recent appointments made by Chairman Kasim Ikwa as part of efforts to strengthen his administration and reposition the Gwagwalada Area Council for more effective governance.
Speaking on the responsibility that comes with the appointments, Samuel said the new team understood that meaningful progress would require decisions that might not always be popular.
He said some of the measures that would be introduced could provoke resistance from individuals who had become accustomed to existing practices, but insisted that the interest of Gwagwalada residents must take precedence over personal convenience or political sentiment.
«“The council will not be business as usual. There are some hard decisions that need to be taken for the betterment and prosperity of the people of Gwagwalada.”»
The Council Secretary further stated that practices which had been accepted as normal over the years but were, in his assessment, fundamentally undemocratic would be brought to an end.
According to him, the responsibility of those entrusted with public office is not merely to preserve existing arrangements but to have the courage to correct what is wrong, even when such actions attract criticism.
Samuel acknowledged that some people could become angry or uncomfortable with the decisions expected to be taken, but maintained that such concerns would not deter him from carrying out his responsibilities.
He said his primary obligation was to protect the dignity, integrity and reputation of the Gwagwalada Area Council, as well as the interests of the people of the area.
For him, public office must be measured by the willingness to make difficult choices in the public interest rather than by the ability to avoid controversy.
The Council Secretary also expressed appreciation to Chairman Kasim Ikwa for finding him and the other appointees worthy of serving in his administration, describing the appointments as both a privilege and a responsibility.
Samuel pledged that he and his colleagues would work to justify the confidence placed in them, assuring that they would not betray the trust of the chairman or fail the people they had been appointed to serve.
He said the appointees were determined to contribute meaningfully to the success of the administration and ensure that the confidence reposed in them translated into tangible benefits for residents.
The declaration by the Council Secretary is likely to heighten expectations among residents and stakeholders, particularly as the Ikwa administration begins to define its governing style and priorities.
With the administration now promising to challenge practices it considers undemocratic, attention will increasingly shift to the specific reforms it intends to introduce and whether its resolve to make “hard decisions” will translate into measurable changes in the administration of Gwagwalada.
For the new leadership, the message from its Secretary is unmistakable: what has been accepted as normal will no longer automatically be accepted as right.