HON. DAGIDI RAWLINGS ANDAYE: A BEACON OF DEVELOPMENT AND HOPE FOR BOMADI LGA
By any standard, his first tenor will remain a landmark year in the history of Bomadi LGA, as unprecedented waves of development, empowerment and social intervention swept through the town—largely attributed to the tireless efforts of one man, Hon. Rawlings Andaye.
For years, communities across local governments have yearned for leaders who combine vision, influence and genuine love for their people.
In Bomadi, that aspiration has found expression in Hon. Dagidi Rawlings Andaye, whose commitment to youth empowerment, infrastructural development and support for the less privileged has continued to redefine grassroots leadership.
Throughout his first Tenor, Bomadi Local Government has witnessed remarkable interventions attracted through Hon. Dagidi’s engagements with the relevant support of the Delta State Governor, His Excellency Rt Hon. Sheriff Francis Oborevwori .
These interventions cut across critical sectors of community life, touching youths, women, students and vulnerable groups. From roads construction to borehole project and public service projects, restoration of electric power, Bulding of Dcns Tobore Oborevwori Ultra-Modern Multipurpose Event Centre, providing clean and accessible water, from school renovations to the fencing of educational institutions, the impact has been both visible and far-reaching.Educational development stood out prominently.
Several schools in Bomadi LGA benefited from the council chairman’s free enrollment for SSCE Exams and improved learning infrastructure. Scholarships were also secured for deserving students, offering renewed hope to families who previously struggled to keep their children in school.
For many beneficiaries, these interventions were not just projects but lifelines that restored dignity and opportunity.
In the area of empowerment, Hon. Dagidi Rawlings facilitated cash support and empowerment schemes targeted at youths and the less privileged, helping many start small businesses and stabilize their livelihoods.
Notably, Hon. Dagidi Rawlings has consistently acknowledged the role of the State Government in making these achievements possible, openly appreciating the proactive administration of His Excellency Rt Hon. Sheriff Francis Oborevwori for its commitment to grassroots empowerment and inclusive development. His approach reflects a spirit of collaboration rather than self-glorification—an attribute many in Bomadi describe as rare and admirable.
The gratitude of the people has been overwhelming. Across the town, residents speak with pride about a son who has placed Bomadi first and used his influence for collective progress. Youth leaders, elders and community stakeholders agree that Hon. Dagidi has demonstrated, through action, what it truly means to love and cherish one’s homeland.
In recognition of his outstanding contributions, attracted the multiple nature of his awards which also attracted him to becoming the best council chairman for the year 2025 by Time Africa, and The Forward News Media Personality of the Year 2025.
To many, this is not just an award, but a reflection of deep communal appreciation and trust.
For the people of Bomadi LGA, Hon. Dagidi Rawlings has become more than a leader—he is widely regarded as a God-sent light, a man whose compassion continues to touch lives daily. As prayers rise for his continued strength and elevation, the community remains united in its resolve to support and honour a man who has consistently remembered his roots and uplifted his people.
Indeed, Bomadi’s story in recent years is inseparable from the name Hon. Dagidi Rawlings —a symbol of hope, service and selfless leadership.
Hear Him:
Mr Chairman, thank you again for welcoming us. Looking at your prolific personality, can you tell us more about yourself, early life and background?
I am Hon. Dagidi Rawlings Andaye, the Executive Chairman of Bomadi Local Government Area. I Was born and brought up in kpakiama community. Kpakiama is a community in Bomadi LGA of Delta State. I am not a stranger; I am a village ground person. Politics has been my passion. So I took the bull by the horn from a younger age to ensure that I participate in the decision making process of governance. And so to me, it is not strange where I am now. I had the opportunity to contest for this position and God helped me, I became the chairman of council. I am a son of the soil.
The Executive Chairman Bomadi Local Government Area, Delta State. Hon. Dagidi Rawlings Andaye with The Forward News Media correspondents during an interactive session in his office
It’s over 16 months now since you were sworn in as the chairman Bomadi LGA, Delta State. How would you describe your first year in office and also the people of Bomadi ?
The story is everywhere. My first year in office is laudable and I give all glory to God for giving me the grace to achieve all what I have achieved during my first year in office. And perhaps maybe because the governor of the state, when he became the governor, he is workaholic in nature and we can see that every city in Delta State have turned to a project site. Becoming a council chairman under this kind of governor, you have no other option than to emulate and narrow down the agenda. I came into council and because of my passion for the people, I hit the ground running and by the end of one year as at August 7th 2025, I was able to commission 14 mega projects in the history of Nigeria. 14 Mega projects were executed and commissioned within one year in office and that attracted the multiple nature of my awards which also attracted me to becoming the best council chairman for the year 2025 by Time Africa. So, my one year in office is laudable, the projects are there for everyone to see. One of such projects is the Dcns Tobore Oborevwori Ultra-Modern Multipurpose Event Centre. It has a capacity of 5000 people. And it has almost 11 to 12 offices, a restaurant with multiple facilities embedded in it that can accommodate a world class national and state Local government programs without going outside the atmosphere. The landscaping outside also houses activities that can expand beyond he capacity of the hall.
After roughly 15 years of darkness this LGA and environs, your administration has succeeded in restoring electric power to Bomadi town and surrounding environs, you have also constructed roads and finished some public service projects. Which of these projects made you most proud and what was your inspiration doing these projects?
When I came on board, I noticed the other chairmen that were here before me. I knew I won’t achieve anything without God. I know it was God who gave me this power because I believe that power comes from him. So one of the things I did was not to rely on my personal strength but to rely on the grace of God and then, I entered into a covenant with God to build a chapel for Him in the council premise where council workers would be worshipping every morning. I know when I did that, every other thing would be given unto me according to Matthew 6:33. This gave me the grace to embark on all these multipurpose projects. However, about the electricity, YES, when I came on board, we had no Nepa light because we were disconnected from the national grid for over 15 years plus. So, I embarked on the project and it was reconnected and yes we have had light consistently since then, although the light is epileptic and you might not enjoy it the way you want to enjoy it, but then we have light. That is also a project that gave me a lot of joy. Most importantly, before coming into office, I noticed that Bomadi-ohoror road was practically not motor able, actually beyond the understanding of human being and when I became a candidate of the party, I approached our governor who was already a governor then to see what he can do to the road. Because of my passion for the people and how dilapidated the road was, making it a ghost road, I used personal resources and went into palliative measures. This then made it possible for vehicular movements even tho it wasn’t smooth. After doing that, it encouraged and motivated me. I then went to the governor, pleaded with him telling him what I have done and that also motivated him. The governor then awarded that contract and I supervised it. By the grace of God, you can see today that the Bomadi people can easily move from our place to Ughelli peacefully. So the people are no longer suffering which is one thing that also gives me a lot of joy. All the projects made me so happy. Before today, there was no reliable place for government functions in Bomadi but now we have been able to build an event Centre for all government activities and other functions.
THE COUNCIL BOSS HON DAGIDI RAWLINGS ANDAYE RECIEVING
A MERITORIOUS SERVICE HONOUR AWARD FROM THE PUBLISHER OF THE FORWARD NEWS MEDIA, COMRADE VIVIEN OKAFOR
In the town, over the years, there has been some precarious and excruciating concerns of the Bomadi people. Such as Coastal erosion in Akugbene, community displacement, flooding in riverine communities which has impacted the educational sector and also recently this security issues in the nation. Recently it was reported that a senior officer was abducted from his lodge in Bomadi by armed gunmen, although thanks to the LGA that he was rescued. But then, what can you say about this challenges affecting the community and What would you want the government to do?
The fact that we are happy about the projects we have done doesn’t necessitate that we don’t have challenges. We have a lot of challenges. There were challenges before of an event Centre, we have gotten that now, there was a challenge of a worship Centre, we have gotten that now, there was a challenge of roads, we have gotten a smooth Bomadi-Ohoror road by the governor of Delta State. So often there also enormous challenges in the life of every human being. Just like the one mentioned. In terms of security, I will tell you for free that Bomadi LGA is practically peaceful, just like during the yuletide season that comes and go, this is the first time you will see that the holiday season is practically peaceful because I worked closely with the security agencies, I had to set up a patrol team to move round all corners to ensure that security be curtailed to the minimum. Bomadi is very peaceful and we are ready to clamp down on any individual who would want to take laws into their hands to disrupt the peace that we are enjoying. Speaking about the Akugbene coastal erosion, as the council chairman, Akugbene is a community under my local government, I went to the scene and I also aired my voice because it is beyond the council. I also aired my voice to call every other enabling intervention agencies to come to our aid and I think we are on course and by the grace of God,that would become a thing of the past because no challenge will remain forever.
The community youths are ecstatic and enthusiastic concerning your move to raising the bar of education in the town. This is relative to your appeal at the Delta State House of assembly to facilitate the takeoff of the long abandoned Bomadi Polytechnic legislated since 2015. What is the current progress of this appeal?
I won’t talk about this much, because I have not followed that duly. During my commissioning, I cried with a loud voice to the governor of Delta State that Bomadi LGA needs a university and I think that we are on course. I am aware of this polytechnic and we are following it and I believe it would soon be a thing of the past because education is a bedrock and I have passion for it. To portray and buttress my commitment to education. Just this recent SSCE exams, I ensured that I gave all the secondary schools in the Local government a free enrolment. This is to tell you how committed I am to education. I also want to ensure by the grace of God, before the end of my tenure, we should have a university.
Hon Rawlings dagidi Andaye with The Forward News Media Correspondents
You were elected under one party and recently changed affiliation in 2025. Can you enlighten us on some reasons for this move and how it affects the governance in Bomadi?
It is for progress. It is for the betterment of my people. And my people are now happy. YES, I was elected under one party and recently changed affiliation in 2025, but It was a progressive movement. Before, we were not with Mr. President on the same platform and therefore we were cut off from the presidential presence in the local government. Now we are on the same platform with the presidency, we have seen the benefits. I can count so many benefits of presidential empowerments coming directly to us. So it is change for good and we are not regretting. And this is why the slogan of the state says “renewed hope for more agenda”. Because Mr president believes in renewing the hope of our people and the hope of our people are indeed renewed. Now in APC, our people are very happy, more dividends of democracy are available at the local government area.
Over the years you have time and time again proved to be indefatigable, formidable, indomitable and innovatively journeying through life. What are some of the life lessons and principles that made you who you are today? What’s your advice to young men looking up to you?
Nothing comes easy. Life is a journey, it is not static, and it is dynamic. In every journey, there are pots holes, in every journeys, there are blockades, so your ability to circumvent blockades and pass another good road is what makes you a man. When life becomes discouraging, your ability to surmount challenges and move on is what makes life progressive and possible. Me becoming a council chairman today, I have passed through a lot of challenges in life in the process of trying to move forward. So this is an advise to the younger generation. Life is not always a bed of roses as people would always talk about it. There are a lot of challenges. Your readiness to surmount challenges is what will take you to where you want to go. The most important thing is for everyone to have a goal and a set target. As far as you have a target, no matter the distraction and challenges, you must take them behind you and focus to achieve whatsoever goal you want to achieve. So everyone must have a target as you have goal. When you have a goal, you won’t allow challenges to distract you to take you off tracks. Everyone has challenges, and Challenges always brings out the best in us.
Relative to the trending news that went viral over an allegation about you and the council, what can you say about this?
The matter is before the court already, so if anyone is talking about that matter somewhere; it is to the best of their knowledge. The matter is already before the General State House of Assembly. So I would not want to drag much about it. These are the challenges I am speaking about. For the first time, in the history of this Local Government, we have never gotten a development like this. One or two people and anti-agents of development have done this. I have actually given my best to the local government, I need to be encouraged and not distracted but I am also aware, for every good thing you are doing, somebody must speak evil of you. If everybody is clapping hand and talking good of you, you are getting close to the grave because we are in a world where people don’t like good things and what we believe as Christians is that Light and darkness cannot stay together. It is those that in darkness that are fighting.
A leader is always a visionary, where do you want to see Bomadi LGA in the next 24 months and what is your advice to the people in Bomadi and Nigeria at large?
In the next 24 months, Bomadi LGA should turn into a small London and that is how it would be whether the devil likes it or not, with or without distractions. I pray for the holy spirit to lead me in fulfilling all of Gods plan for the local government. We have a vision and that vision must be achieved
