Two years into his tenure, Hon. Japhet Festus Gbede, the Assembly Member for Wuxor, Have, and Sremanu Electoral Area has threatened to step down from office if urgent action is not taken to repair roads in his Electoral Area.
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In a statement released today, the Assembly Member said that while his tenure has contributed meaningfully to development in the area through interventions in health, education, electrification, water, sanitation, security, and social empowerment, the state of the roads remains a major concern.
“I must, with humility and honesty, admit that I have not met the expectations I set for myself and for my people,” he stated. He explained that he had promised that the roads would receive at least annual maintenance, but many remain dangerous, worsening, and frustrating. The condition of the roads, he said, continues to affect traders, farmers, schoolchildren, and patients seeking medical care.
Taking full responsibility, the Assembly Member emphasized that if the roads are not fixed by next year, he will resign from his position. He added that his decision would not be out of fear, but out of respect for the people and the mandate they entrusted to him.
“This position is not born out of fear or weakness, but out of respect for the people. My conscience will not permit me to occupy this office while pretending that all is well when my people continue to suffer,” he said.
He also stressed that leadership is about accountability and honesty. “History will not judge us by how long we held office, but by how honestly we served and how bravely we accepted responsibility when we fell short,” he noted.
Describing himself as a son of the soil, the Assembly Member reaffirmed his commitment to the welfare of the residents of Wuxor, Have, and Sremanu Electoral Area and shared in their frustration over the deplorable state of the roads.
READ THE FULL STATEMENT HERE:
Two years into my service as Assembly Member for the good people of Wuxor, Have, and Sremanu Electoral Area, I speak today with a heavy heart and a clear conscience.
Although my emergence as the Assembly Member for Wuxor, Have, and Sremanu Electoral Area has contributed meaningfully to the developmental journey of my beloved Electoral Area through interventions in health, education, Electrification, water, sanitation, security, and social empowerment, I must also speak honestly about the areas where expectations have not been met.
By my principles, leadership is not defined by titles or positions, but by faithfulness to the people. It is about promises made in sincerity and results delivered with honesty. One of the core issues on which I sought and earned my mandate was the state of our roads. On that critical matter, I must, with humility and honesty, admit that I have not met the expectations I set for myself and for my people.
I stood before you and committed that our roads would, at the very least, receive annual maintenance. Today, I walk through our communities and confront a painful reality of roads that are worse, more dangerous, and increasingly frustrating. What pains me most is not public criticism, but the deep disappointment in the voices of my own people. That disappointment is justified.
I therefore accept full political responsibility without excuses and without shifting blame. When traders struggle to move their goods, when farmers cannot access markets, when children risk their safety to get to school, and when the sick suffer unnecessary delays because of bad roads, leadership must have the courage to pause, reflect, and speak the truth.
For this shortfall in the road sector, I openly acknowledge that I have let my people down!!!!
As someone who believes that leadership is service and that service demands accountability, this reality weighs heavily on my conscience. It is for this reason that I state clearly and openly that if the roads in Wuxor, Have, and Sremanu remain in their deplorable state by next year, I will step aside from this office as Assembly Member.
This position is not born out of fear or weakness, but out of respect for the people and the sacred mandate they entrusted to me. My conscience will not permit me to occupy this office while pretending that all is well when my people continue to suffer.
Leadership must mean the courage to admit failure when it occurs. I remain one of you, a son of the soil who feels your pain and shares in your frustration.
History will not judge us by how long we held office, but by how honestly we served and how bravely we accepted responsibility when we fell short.
