By Umar Dankano Yola.
The Adamawa state Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has sworn in the twenty one (21) newly elected local government council chairmen urging them execute projects with direct bearing on their respective people in the state.
Recall that the Adamawa state Independent Electoral Commission, ADSIEC has conducted local councils election in June where it declared that all the seats in the 21 local government areas were won by all candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP despite the defection of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri from the PDP to the ruling All progressives Congress APC few months ago.
“I welcome you to the grand ceremony of the swearing in of our 21 Local Government Council Chairmen across the state. I equally congratulate the Chairmen and the 226 Councillors across the State for their victories”. said Fintiri.
Governor Fintiri while addressing the newly elected chairmen at the Government house banquet hall Yola on Wednesday said that his administration has in the last seven (7) years provided a conducive atmosphere for the political development across the nook and crannies of the state.
Fintiri charged the elected chairmen to always remain in their various councils to work assiduously for the upliftment of their respective councils urging them to include the traditional leaders, development area administrators and other stakeholders in their domains so that majority views are considered in taking decisions for good governance.
“You have to work with your respective traditional rulers and Development Area Administrators to ensure the reconstruction of trust and confidence on government’s good intentions.
“We have demonstrated our commitment to an entrenched democratic culture which is rooted in the sanctity of election especially at the grassroot level. Back-to-back, we have provided the needed atmosphere and resources to conduct hitch-free elections into our Local Government Councils four times in seven years.
“This is a feat our predecessors and some states in the federation, have not had the courage to achieve
“I have made it a point of duty to sermon ize on the sanctity of oath-taking. It is a ceremony beyond empty rituals. The administration of the Oath of Allegiance and that of Office in public is not just a matter of formal procedure but a public witnessing of the making of two solemn promises for the performance of which the oath-taker will be responsible, on the one hand, to the people and be accountable, on the other, to his Creator.
“As Chairmen of Councils, you are the government at grassroot. You are at the vantage position to create the right image for government policies which are not only pro-poor and largely intended to change the life of our rural dwellers for the better. You must be the vanguards for stimulating developments in your respective areas.
‘You must let the people feel the impact of governance by way of making yourse lves available and willing to listen and solve problems at that level. Governance is better appreciated when its impact is felt at the bottom.
“You must be a symbol of government at your various duty posts. You must theref ore engage the people regularly and dem olish all real or imagined misconception that might exist between the government and the governed.
“As leaders of the closest tier of govern ment to the people, your doors must be wide open and your people must have access to you as much as possible at all times. I must emphasize that the era of absenteeism at your respective local governments is gone. Under no circumstance should your people look for you and you are not there.
“You are not elected to work in Yola. Except on extreme official assignments, I would not like to see your individual faces here. I must caution you on the sanctity of the principles of public finance; the twin creeds of transparency and accountability”.Fintiri suggested.
Speaking on behalf of the 21 sworn in council chairmen and chairman of Yola North local government area, Barrister Ibrahim Jibrin Jimeta expressed gratitude to Governor Fintiri for providing the enabling environment that allowed for free and fair election that resulted in our victory during the last local government election .
Jimeta said that their victory was as a result of the Governor’s positive impact in terms of human and capital development across all the 21 LGAS.
“Let me say this without mincing words that no one, I repeat no one in the history of Adamawa State and indeed the defunct Gongola State has done quarter of what you have done for the land and the people. Today we walk with our shoulders high in every part of this Country as proud sons and daughters of Adamawa State courtesy of your visionary and purposeful leadership.
“To our people, the electorates, your impl icit confidence in us, which manifested in the massive votes returned at the polls will not be taken for granted, you are the true owners of this mandate, we say thank you for your trust and believing in us.
‘We heard you loud and clear during our campaign tour and therefore assure you of our commitment to providing the needed dividends of democracy by ensuring we carry you along every step of the way, operate transparent and an all -inclusive government aimed at improving standard of living and bringing government close to our people.
“The next three years that our tenure will last will represent moments of fulfilments, so we urge you to be part of this journey of positive development to our communities.”Jimeta assured.
