31 LG Chairmen Sworn In By Akwa Ibom Governor

The 31 local government chairmen elected last Saturday in Akwa Ibom state have been sworn into office by the governor, Udom Emmanuel.

The election, which was described by the state electoral council and observers as credible and transparent saw the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) win all the 31 chairmanship and 310 councillorship seats in the election.

Governor Emmanuel at the swearing-in, on Thursday in Uyo, challenged the new council heads to uphold the tenets of the state government in delivering good governance to the people and always put the people first.

The governor also urged the new chairmen to follow democratic processes in managing their councils, which he described as the grassroots of political leadership.

Huge crowd which consisted of members of the State Executive Council and the legislature, family members, party supporters and the public witnessed the brief ceremony, which took place at the Banquet Hall of the Government House.

Emmanuel after administering the oaths of office and allegiance to the chairmen and their deputies, congratulated them on their victory and stressed the need for them to reciprocate the trust the people had placed on them by rendering selfless service to the people in their respective council areas.

“If you provide selfless service, you will be celebrated and you will continue to soar, but if you sacrifice the people’s trust, your name will stand condemned in both the people’s court and in the court of public opinion,” the governor said.

He however warned the chairmen not to see their election as a platform for immediate gratification and conspicuous consumption to the detriment of the people. He urged them to remain true to the foundational principle predicated on the unwavering commitment to rendering service to the people

He equally warned the chairmen that governance is not about making excuses, but delivering to the people the dividends of democracy by embarking on policies and projects that positively impact their lives.

“Though, Nigeria may be experiencing economic challenges, the business of the people must continue, our obligations to them must be met, our fidelity to their well-being must not be broken and the faith they have in us must be nourished and nurtured; in short, our adherence to the principles of the social contract remains an abiding article of faith,” he said.