Newly-elected chairmen of the 17 Local Government areas of Enugu State who emerged winners on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) at the February 23 local government elections were on Thursday, inaugurated at the Michael Okpara square, Enugu.
Speaking at the event, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi stressed the need for them to strengthen security in their respective areas, see to the welfare of their people and live amongst them.
He said, “While prioritizing the security and welfare of the people as enshrined in Section 14 Subsection 2 (b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, all Local Government Council Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen must reside in their constituencies, amongst the people that have given them the opportunity to superintend over their affairs.
“As Chief Security Officers of your Local Government Areas, you must be vigilant and facilitate the deliberate and proactive gathering and sharing of intelligence amongst security agencies to inform their counter-terrorism initiatives.
“This compels a sustained strategic engagement of all stakeholders in security including Traditional Rulers, Presidents General of Town Unions, Neighbourhood Watch Groups, Forest Guards, Youths and Road Transport Workers within your area of jurisdiction.
“You must therefore be focused and dedicated to the task at hand; to do otherwise is to prepare a recipe for failure.
“If we secure all our communities, our Local Government Areas will be secured. If we secure all our Local Government Areas, our dear state will be secured and vice versa. I am confident that you will do the needful and I assure you of our profound support.
“Your landslide victories in the February 23, 2022 Local Government Elections were testaments to the propriety of their choices as well as the trust and confidence that the good people of Enugu State repose in the Peoples Democratic Party in the State, under my leadership.”
The governor commended the people of Enugu State for believing in the PDP and “expressing same, overwhelmingly, in the just concluded Local Government polls”.
“As you celebrate, I inform you that you have now transitioned from Party (PDP) flagbearer to public servants. I remind you that there is work to be done”, governor Ugwuanyi said.
He hinted that the swearing-in exercise will be the last, under his watch. Governor Ugwuanyi added that his administration has been consistent with the provisions of Section 7 Subsection 1 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, as amended which guarantees a system of Local Government by democratically elected Local Government Councils.
“It has been our considered choice to provide great hope, opportunity and platform for democratic, responsible and accountable governance at this tier of Government by ensuring that the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) is adequately resourced to discharge her statutory duty of periodic conduct of Local Government Elections in the State.
“I laud the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) for the successful conduct of the last Local Government Elections in the State. These elections have been adjudged as credible, free, fair and transparent by body of Civil Society Organizations’ Observers and, correspondingly, the outcomes are acceptable to the good people of Enugu State”, he added.
He thanked the immediate past local government Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen for the services they rendered and wished them the best in their future endeavours . The governor expressed the hope that they will be willing to serve in other capacities when requested to do so. He also thanked members of the PDP for the resilience and unity of purpose with which they attended to the last Local Government Elections in the State.
In their separate goodwill messages, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Edward Ubosi commended Gov. Ugwuanyi for his good leadership , accomplishments in office, and consistency in conducting Local Government Elections in the state since he assumed office.
He thanked the people of Enugu State for voting massively for the PDP during the Local Government Polls and urged the new Chairmen to always be close and open to their people so that they will have a sense of belonging and support the government in delivering democratic dividends and ensuring peace and security .
Speaking, the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Barr. Peter Okonkwo advised the local government chairmen and their Deputies to make probity and accountability the watch words of their administration. He said that the Ministry of Local Government Affairs will live up to its mandate of evaluating their performance.
On his part, the Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Enugu, Most Rev. Dr. Ernest Obodo,while praying for the new Chairmen and their Deputies,
urged them to reside in their localities to concentrate and attend to the needs of their constituents.
Obodo who represented the Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Enugu ,Most Rev. (Dr.) Callistus Onaga said, “My dear beloved Chairmen, now the campaigns are over, the chips are down. You must stamp your feet on the sands of history. Bend down to work. Go back to your respective local government areas and stay there to work. Be responsible and accountable to your people.
“I ask God to bless you. Remember you are still children of God. Do not abandon God; do not abandon the people; they are the people who gave you power; listen to them; work for them; pray with them”.
He commended Governor Ugwuanyi for conducting successful local government elections in the state
In an interview, the former chairman of Nkanu East local government and former Senior Special Assistant to governor Ugwuanyi on Water Supply, Pastor Sam Iyiogwe commended Governor Ugwuanyi for conducting the local government elections.
He said,” First of all, I want to thank God for Enugu state. I want to thank God for a successful election. I want to thank the governor and his team, all the stakeholders for the process of nominating candidates, the way they conducted themselves peacefully and amicably during the elections, the process in which the election was conducted.
On his advice to the elected officers, he said,
“They were not elected because they were the best or the richest. They were elected because of the favour from God .
From here let them relate well with the governor. Let them relate closely with the people at the grassroots. Let them follow the policies of Enugu state government .
“They should tackle the issue of insecurity in our state. They should open their arms and ensure that every month the youths get something in their pockets so that they will not get involved in criminal acts.So that tensions will reduce.
” Infrastructures should be provided in different wards and different communities. Every community must be captured before they know it they will have legacies .
“This will be an evidence of what they have done. Just as what the commissioner for local Government Affairs said, at the end, if you have nothing to show, that will be the end of your political career, Iyiogwe said.
Dignitaries at the event were the Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Hon. (Mrs) Cecilia Ezeilo, the Chief Judge of the State, Hon. Justice Raymond Ozoemena, the former Governor of old Enugu State, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, his wife, Dorothy, Senator representing Enugu North Senatorial zone, Chukwuka Utazi , other members of the National Assembly, former Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Bishop Ralph Nwoye; the State Chairman of the PDP, Hon. Augustine Nnamani, Senator Ben Collins Ndu; Senator Hyde Onuaguluchi, members of the State House of Assembly and State Executive Council (EXCO), State Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Emmanuel Edeh,Traditional Rulers, youth and women groups, among others.
