Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has challenged the newly elected chairmen of local government councils to be prudent in the management of funds and desist from engaging in discriminatory actions.

He gave the charge today while administering oath of office on 23 newly elected local government chairmen that won Saturday’s council polls conducted by the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC).

Dr. Uduaghan challenged the council chairmen to complement his administration’s Delta Beyond Oil economic development model through judicious application of resources.

“Make infrastructure development a priority, let your elections be a blessing to the people and make sure you reside in your local government headquarters so that you can be accessible to the people,” he said, adding:

“As local government chairmen, please, don’t discriminate between those that worked for you or worked against you during the elections because, you were elected to serve everybody.”

Governor Uduaghan advised the chairmen to be abreast with local government laws and also complete all on-going projects in their locality, observing: “Government is a continuum, consolidate on the achievements of your predecessors and complete all the ongoing projects.”

While congratulating the council chairmen on their election, the Governor said: “Ensure that peace and security reigns at your councils at all times.”

Dr. Uduaghan condemned the conduct of some voters at the Saturday’s poll whose action of thronging DSIEC offices and police stations disturbed the distribution of materials, noting that it was wrong for the electorate to besiege places where sensitive election materials were kept.

“At future elections, let us not go to the Police or DSIEC offices to wait for materials, we should wait for materials at the different polling units,” he advised.

The Governor commended DSIEC for conducting generally acceptable elections and also thanked the security agencies, religious leaders and traditional rulers for their various roles in the successful conduct of the polls.

Dr. Uduaghan used the occasion to explain that council polls in the state were delayed due to legal issues that surrounded the government’s attempt to reconstitute the electoral commission.

Responding on behalf of the chairmen, Hon. Constantine Ikpokpo, Chairman, Isoko South Local Government Council, said they would execute people-oriented projects and would be responsible to the electorates.

•Photo shows cross section of the newly elected chairmen taking their oath of office . . . today in Asaba.