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Gov. Okowa, Dr. Uduaghan with the new Council Chairmen.

By Chukwudi Abiandu
(With Govt. House Reports)

Local government chairmen in Delta State are henceforth to take up residence in the council area where they have been elected and live with the people. This was the directive handed to them by the State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa who spoke shortly after administering the oath of office to them after following their victory at the Saturday, January 6th, 2018 local government elections.

Okowa ordered them, saying: “Stay resident in the local government where you are voted in. If you want to live outside your local government you must tender your letter of resignation.

The governor’s directive became necessary because of the unwholesome disposition and penchant of chairmen not to take up residence in the areas where they have been elected. They chose to behave like diaspora chairmen, who come to work from townships where they reside outside the places where they are elected. They are seen by the people on during the day and never at night. They became alien to those they were elected to govern, and never in touch with the people they are elected to govern.

This is why the Governor told them on Monday, January 8th, 2018: “Stay in touch with the people for the people to be able relate with you.”

Besides, Governor Okowa also extended the same directive to the councilors, who he told to ensure they interact constantly with members of the wards they are representing. Okowa said: “Councilors cannot be councilors in exile. They should also associate with the people in their wards the are representing.”

At the occasion that held in the crowded Unity hall of Government House, Asaba the Governor also admonished the Council chairmen, saying:

“As Council Chairmen, I expect you to continue in the spirit of diligence, transparency, prudent management and accountability that this administration has become known for”.
He cautioned the new LG. helmsmen to ensure judicious allocation of available resources. “The true test of a manager is not in the huge volume of resources at his or her disposal but in the astute management of the available resources, especially when they are not enough.”
Governor Okowa emphasized: “in discharging your functions, fairness, equity and justice must be your watchword, you must carry everybody along in your activities.

While congratulating the 23 chairmen out of 25 on their victories, he urged to pay priority attention to the primary health care system and environmental cleanliness, adding that special attention should also be given to the youths, women and the vulnerable in the society.
He also, commended the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) for conducting a credible election by providing level playing field for all the political parties, and used the event to commend the leadership of the PDP for their commitment to the party which ensured victory for the Chairmen in the January 6, 2018 local government polls in the state.
“The overwhelming victory of our party, the Peoples Democratic Party, at the local government council’s elections over the weekend is ample proof that where there is unity, victory is inevitable; we went into the elections as one united, indivisible PDP family and the results are there for us to see today,” he said while taking a swipe at some few individuals belonging to opposition political parties who he alledged wanted to unleash violence during the election which resulted in the postponement of elections in Ughelli North and Ethiope East local government areas to Tuesday, January 9, 2018.
Governor Okowa who attributed the victory of the PDP at the polls to the elaborate campaign by the party for the elections, also, stated that his administration’s landmark achievements in the areas of infrastructural development, job and wealth creation, agricultural reforms and transformation in the health and education sectors spurred Deltans to turn out in their large numbers to participate in the elections.
Responding on behalf of the newly sworn-in officials, the Chairman of Aniocha North Local Government Council, Hon. Chuks Oseme  thanked Governor Okowa and all Deltans for coming out to vote for them assuring, “we will not fail in the execution of our mandates to our people.”