GOVERNOR Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, on Monday, charged newly-elected executives of the 25 local governments in the state to embark on viable infrastructural projects and ensure modesty, judicious allocation of resources, and excellent service delivery.
Oborevwori also tasked them to avoid profligacy typified by wasteful spending and extravagant lifestyle, but to address the recurring problems of insecurity, poverty, unemployment and environmental decay in the various local government areas.
He gave the charge while swearing-in the newly elected Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of the 25 Local Government Areas in Asaba, the state capital.
The PDP won all the twenty-five chairmanhip seats but loss only one out of 500 councilship seats to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Aniocha North LGA.
He explained that it was necessary for the chairmen to stay close to the people by operating from their area headquarters and warned that they must shun the unhealthy practice of running the local governments from offshore, especially Asaba and Warri.
Oborevwori, said: “To the elected Local Government Council Chairmen, I urge you to reciprocate the huge mandate that has been given to you by giving preference to the needs and aspirations of your people with a view to delivering good governance.
“You must discharge your duties with sincerity of purpose, impartiality, compassion, fairness, and justice and I expect you to work assiduously for the actualization of the MORE Agenda.
“As the third tier of government closest to the people, you need to improve the environmental sanitation in your communities. Our urban centres are riddled with filth as a result of improper waste disposal and poor sanitation habits of our people.
“I will like to see you step up in this regard by devising proper waste disposal measures, while embarking on aggressive public enlightenment campaign to educate our people on good sanitation habits.”
He said as the then Speaker of the State House of Assembly, they voted for autonomy for the Councils during the 5th Constitution alteration session.
“I, therefore, expect you to hit the ground running by embarking on visible infrastructural projects that can be commissioned. You must shun wasteful spending and extravagant lifestyle.
“Let your administrations be characterised by modesty, fiscal discipline, prudent management, judicious allocation of resources, and excellent project delivery,” he said.
While charging the chairmen to improve on their Internally-Generated Revenue, Oborevwori cautioned against overtaxing an already burdened populace reeling under the painful effects of the current economic hardship.
Responding on behalf of the chairmen and Vice chairmen, Chairman of Oshimili North LG, Honourable Innocent Esewezie, expressed appreciation to the governor and leaders of the PDP in the state for the opportunity given to them to serve at the grassroots level of governance.
He commended the electorate for endorsing their candidature and assured that they have adopted the MORE Agenda of the Governor and would not betray the confidence reposed in them.
Meanwhile, allegations of rigging have continued to trail the election even as opposition parties called for outright cancellation of the polls.
Senator Ede Dafinone of the All Progressives Congress (APC), representing Delta Central in the National Assembly, described the election as a sham
He said: “It’s very unfortunate that people at the grassroots level are prevented from participating in our democratic process by state governors to freely elect their councillors and council chairmen.
“It is very unfortunate and sad how low our people can go to acquire power. It’s even more troubling that after 25 years in our democratic experiment, we can’t conduct what looks like an election at local government level.
“What took place in Delta State on Saturday, to all intent and purposes, can’t be classified as an election. It’s a complete sham and an affront on all known democratic ideals,” the senator claimed.
The Labour Party chairmanship candidate for Aniocha North in the poll, Dr. Augustine Isikwei Ojogbo, expressed disappointment at what he perceived as the blatant disregard for democracy during the election in his area.
“It is clear that this election was marred by significant flaws, including late arrival of voting materials, votes buying, double voting, stuffing of ballot boxes, intimidation, illegal voting in non-designated places and compromised electoral officers, who are mostly PDP card-carrying members,” he stated.
“As a candidate, who dedicated my time and effort to serving the people of this community, I cannot, in good conscience, accept the results of an election that was conducted in such a fraudulent manner,” he stated.
The Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC ) has announced the results of last Saturday’s local government election with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) clinching the chairmanship seats in all the 25 council areas.
The party also won 499 councillorship seats in the entire 500 wards, leaving one to the Allied Peoples Movement in Aniocha North local government area.
Announcing the results in Asaba on Sunday, the chairman of the commission, Dr Jerry Agbaike, described the election as peaceful, credible, free and fair, commending security agencies, the media, observers and ad hoc personnel for their roles in ensuring the smooth conduct of the exercise.
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