Gov. Peter Obi of Anambra on Monday inaugurated the 20 newly-elected chairmen of local government councils in the state.
Obi, while congratulating them for emerging victorious in the elections, urged them to provide quality service to the people, saying “it is call to service’’.
He said that his administration respected the Nigerian Constitution that local government system should be democratised every two years, but many obstacles delayed it in the state until now.
The governor said the state government worked tirelessly because of its importance to ensure that the local government system in the state was democratised.
“Some reactionaries did everything to stop it and we fought hard to conduct the elections. We have done everything to make local government work.
“And today, the dream of the third tier of government is on the right path of progress with the completion of many new projects,’’ he said.
Obi said the election of the new chairmen was an invitation to service, pointing out that “they are expected to be servants of the people’’.
According to him, the mandate you have today is from the people, everything available in your council belong to them, including the resources.
“You must be answerable to them at all time,’’ he told the chairmen.
He urged them to work with the newly elected governor, Chief Willie Obiano and his Deputy, Dr Nkem Okeke, who would be sworn-in on March 17.
“They are the people we chose; you must cordially work with them and also learn your lessons from them. All of you will work to build a better Anambra.’’
The Chairman, Oyi Local Government, Mr Charles Okafor, who responded on behalf of his colleagues, commended Obi’s doggedness, quality leadership style and prudent management of resources.
Okafor commended the governor for the opportunity given to them to be part of his transformation agenda in the state.
APGA won 20 chairmanship seats out of 21 as well as 304 councillorship seats out of the 327 wards.
