In its quest to deliver good governance and democratic dividends to the people, the Bonny Local Government and the Bonny Chiefs Council have agreed to deepen collaborations between them as the Chairman, Anengi Claude-Wilcox’s administration keeps off.

This was understanding was part of commitments reached on Thursday, November 7, 2024 when Claude-Wilcox led a delegation comprising the Bonny Legislative Assembly and members of her cabinet on a courtesy visit to the BCC at the King Perekule Palace, Bonny, Rivers State.

The visit, which was the first by both the Executive and Legislative arms of the Bonny Local Government, had in attendance the Amanyanabo and Natural Ruler of Bonny Kingdom, His Majesty, King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, CON, DSSRS, JP, Edward I, Perekule XI, Chairman of the BCC; Se-Alabo Dagogo Claude-Wilcox, Vice Chairman of Bonny LGA; Omoni Longjohn, Leader of the Bonny Legislative Assembly, Erefagha Allaputa, and Secretary to the Bonny LG Council, John Gabriel-Pepple, among others.

Addressing the Amanyanabo-in-Council, the Bonny LGA Chief Executive stated that the visit was part of commitment to fostering and collaborating with the Traditional Institution in Bonny LGA for the unhindered development of the LGA and improving the lives of the people.

“This visit was born out of the need to introduce the new government to the Amanyanabo-in-Council, appreciate him for his numerous support and seek for deeper collaboration for the unhindered development of the local government.”

In his remarks, the Amanyanabo of Bonny Kingdom, King Edward William Dappa Pepple III commended the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, the Bonny LGA Chairman and her team for the peaceful conduct of the recent local government election held on Saturday, October 5, 2024.

He indicated the predisposition of the Bonny Chiefs Council and all other institutions of the Kingdom to supporting the Bonny Local Government in achieving its set objectives, stressing the need for mainstreaming the infrastructural development of the LGA as well as optimizing the economic potentials of the area.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Bonny LGA Chairman, Boma Waribor disclosed that discussions between the two institutions during the meeting centred around issues such as relocation of the Bonny Cemetery, environmental degradation of the Coconut Estate Waterfront, Waterways Security, Bonny/Bodo Road preparedness, concerns over open defecation, and inclusion of rural communities, amongst others.

The visit aligns with the campaign promise of the Bonny LGA Chairman, Anengi Claude-Wilcox that when elected into office, her administration will coalesce with relevant and strategic stakeholders in optimizing and maximizing opportunities, fast-tracking development, upscaling governance and mainstreaming accountability.

Close watchers of the development view this visit, which most of them describe as “first step in the right direction”, as a fulfilment of that promise and a beacon of hope for enhanced performance beyond her earlier foray in governance.

Other dignitaries in attendance were Councillors, Chief of Staff to the Bonny LGA Chairman, Austin Onu-Pepple, Executive Assistant to the Chairman on Finance and Special Duties, Ralph Jamaica, Chairman of the Action Peoples Party (APP), Bonny LGA Chapter, Gogo Philips-Brown, and the Director General of the Bonny of Our Dream Campaign Organization; Godswill Jumbo, amongst others.