Ajimobi swears-in LG chairmen, tasks them on service delivery

Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has urged the newly elected council chairmen to see their victory as a call to service.

Ajimobi spoke on Monday at the swearing-in ceremony for the local government and Local Council Development Areas(LCDAs) chairmen held at the House of Chiefs in Ibadan.

Our correspondent reports that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state won all the 68 Chairmanship and 610 Councillorship seats in the local government election held on Saturday.

It was also reported that the oath of office was administered on the chairmen by the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Munta Abimbola.

“To the newly elected officers, having won at the polls, accept my heartfelt congratulations. Your victory has placed on your shoulders greater responsibilities to the people of Oyo State.

“I therefore charge you to live up to the true meaning of democracy which is serving the people and observing the true spirit of godliness, which is service to humanity,” he said.

He said the enviable position of the APC – led government in the state had produced another fruit of democracy with the swearing-in of the council chiefs.

“Your leadership must reflect people-oriented policies, programmes, projects, activities as well as developmental strides in tune with the very highly commendable repositioning efforts of our administration.

“Note that your overwhelming victory at the polls is a testimony to the confidence reposed in this administration by the good people of the state.

“They have accepted us and continued to show their support for us in appreciation of our restructuring and transformation efforts,” he said.

The governor said the successful conduct of the local government election in the state had demonstrated and consolidated the quality of the administration.

“I congratulate the chairmen, vice-chairmen and councillors who have demonstrated belief in the doctrine of democracy as being canvassed by the APC which effort enabled the defeat of the PDP in the 2015 general election.

“This culminated to the enthronement of the current APC-led Federal Government of Nigeria under the able leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari,” he said.

The governor stated that efforts at enthroning democracy at the grassroots from the inception of his administration in 2011 had been fraught with multiple litigation.

“For those who did not participate in the election, we are not perturbed because it is a confirmation of their self-assessment which is indicative of their lack of presence, relevant structures and convincing status in the politics.

“It is my prayer that the Almighty guides you as you begin to be worthy ambassadors of the electorate in your various localities,’’ the governor added.

Our correspondent reports that the event was attended by members of the State Executive Council, APC leaders, party supporters and well wishers.