The 17 chairmen and their deputies, as well as the 292 councillors elected during the December 21, 2016 local government elections in Abia State were sworn into office on Wednesday. All are members of the ruling party in the state, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In a marked departure from the past, the chairmen, their deputies and the councilors were all sworn-in at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia.

In the past, only the chairmen were sworn-in, after which they were directed to go to their respective local governments to administer the oath of office on their deputies and councilors.

Speaking after the new council administrators were administered the oath of office, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu expressed confidence that the crop of leaders elected by the people were capable of driving development in their local governments.

Ikpeazu, however, charged them to look inwards and identify areas of comparative advantage upon which they would fashion the development agenda of their respective local governments.

He also enjoined them to join forces with the State Government to wage war against “enemies of the state,” whom he described as people who do not see anything good in Abia.

Not minding the financial and other constraints, the Abia State Government, he explained, decided to conduct the local government polls “to deepen democracy, take governance to the grassroots so that our people will participate in choosing their leaders in a democratic way and also to make sure that democratic dividends get to the grassroots as quickly as possible.”

He commended the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC) for conducting the election in a manner that its cost-implication was reduced by half.

The Governor said: “I thank God for the wisdom that ABSIEC employed to look inwards in sourcing materials and inputs with which the local government election was conducted, because all the bags, the ballot boxes and apron were all manufactured in Abia. We were able to cut down the cost of that election by as much as 50 per cent.

“This story is a new paradigm in the administration and governance in Abia State going forward, and I recommend it strongly to our local government chairmen.”

Ikpeazu said this should be the spirit that should drive the new council administration in view of the present economic situation.

His words: “Where we are today in Nigeria has placed us in a position where we have to take decision to go for those things which we are stronger than other people, applying the principles of comparative advantage. That is what led to the five pillars of development on which this government is running.

“I, therefore, wish to recommend to the various local government chairmen to look inwards and identify those attributes that will separate him from other people.

“If I were local government chairman of Bende today, I make sure that in 2017, all the rice we consume, not only in Abia, but indeed, the South East and Nigeria, is produced in Bende.

“If I were the local government chairman of Ukwa West, I will look at how the local government can benefit from the huge deposit of oil and gas within the domain. I will swear to myself that electricity will be provided by the gas that is being explored in Ukwa West and swear to myself that I will make sure that I partner oil companies that are working in Ukwa West, together with the state government to provide jobs for youths of not only Ukwa West but Abia State.

“If I were the local government chairman of Aba South, my aim will not be multiplication of shops and collection of taxes and levies everyday. I will key into the Urban Renewal programme and ensure that world class three, four-storey car parks are built so that I can collect even if it is N50 per car on daily basis.

“I will make sure I key into the urban renewal agenda of the state so that new buildings will spring up in a beautiful environment. I will raise the ambience that will attract a five-star hotel to drive trade and commerce in Aba, because there is no billionaire that will invest N1 billion in city where he cannot spend a night.

“Therefore, the option is open to us today to work our destinies out by ourselves, working hand-in-hand with our Deputies and councilors.”

Ikpeazu advised the deputy chairmen and councillors to remain loyal and supportive to their chairmen to achieve the agenda which they (chairmen) have set for themselves.

“I have confidence that with this crop of people that we have elected as our chairmen in our various local governments, supported by their deputies and councilors, that the future of Abia tomorrow is brighter than it is today.”

Ikpeazu warned the new council helmsmen against joining those “who will not see anything good in Abia; those who go on the internet, newspapers and everywhere, conniving with people that are not Abians and people who do not love Abia to talk down on our state.”

“If you destroy Abia, one thing is sure: you don’t have any other state apart from Abia.

So, this is the time for us to see things that are good. If your brother makes a mistake along the way, call him aside and correct him or criticise him in a constructive way, don’t criticise him in such a way as to run him down, run government down and run Abia down because if you run Abia down, you have no other state than Abia.

“Therefore, you must now join forces to wage war against those who do not believe made-in-Aba, made-in-Abia; everything Abia is wrong as far as they are concerned because they are not the people that are sitting at the helm of affairs today. That is the most unpatriotic position anybody can take and as you join forces to wage war against the enemies of this state, I wish also to recommend to you to remain focused and join forces with the state government, even as we partner with the Federal Government to move ourselves from the state that we find ourselves.”

Responding on behalf of his colleagues, the Chairman of Umuahia North Local Government, Nwachukwu Chidiebere, assured the governor of their support and cooperation at all times.

“You have made Abians to smile today by taking government to the third-tier,” Chidiebere told the Governor.

Senators Theodore Orji and Mao Ohuabunwa graced the swearing in ceremony.

•Photo shows The new council chairmen taking the oath of office . . . today in Umuahia. Photo: Boniface Okoro.

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