Delta state governor, Sheriff Oborevwori has sworn in the newly elected chairmen of Isoko South local government council, Friday Ovoke Warri and Isoko North, Godwin Ogorugba as well as 23 other council chairmen with a stern warning against looting public funds, amassing wealth and extravagant lifestyle.
The governor who gave the warning Monday in Asaba, while swearing-in the newly elected chairmen of the 25 Local government areas and their vice who were elected at the Saturday’s council elections, reminded the chairmen that they were elected to address the recurring problems of insecurity, poverty, unemployment and environmental decay in the various council areas and not to be involved any form of squandering of public funds, amassing of wealth and profligacy.

Oborevwori, however tasked the council chairmen to embark on viable infrastructural projects and ensure modesty, fiscal discipline, prudent management, judicious allocation of resources, and excellent service delivery, explaining 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.
“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. Statutory allocations to the local governments in the state for the last three months remained intact. As Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, we advocated for financial autonomy for the legislature and judiciary. The House also voted YES to Local Government autonomy during the Fifth Alteration of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 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. Therefore, the Supreme Court judgment on financial autonomy for local government councils is a welcome development. Actually, Delta State Government has never tampered with local government funds. Rather, the state government has often had to augment the allocations to the local government councils to enable them meet their financial obligations”, Oborevwori stated.

The governor also used the occasion to charged the chairmen to improve on their Internally -Generated Revenue even as he cautioned against overtaxing an already burdened populace reeling under the painful effects of the current economic hardship.
He said: “Your success on this job will also depend on your ability to work seamlessly with your Vice Chairmen, the legislative arm and other critical stakeholders in the Local Government Area. Please, avoid running a one-man show. You must demonstrate the political sagacity to manage the local politics, and the administrative acumen to be all- inclusive to ensure peace, stability, and cohesion in your domains.”, and expressed appreciation to the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission, DSIEC, for conducting free, fair and credible elections and to the security agencies for ensuring peace and security throughout the exercise across the state.

Responding on behalf of the newly sworn in council chairmen and their Vice, chairman of Oshimili North Local Government Council, 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, assuring that they have adopted the MORE Agenda of the governor and would not betray the confidence reposed in them.
The newly elected Chairmen are Warri Friday Ovoke, Isoko South, Godwin Ogorugba, Isoko North, Emmanuel Bazim Chinye, Aniocha North; Jude Chukwunkwike, Aniocha South; Dagidi Andaye, Bomadi; Julius Takeme, Burutu; Augustine Ogedegbe, Ethiope East; Christian Onogba, Ethiope West; Monday Odigwe, lka North East, Jerry Ehiwarior, lka South; Vincent Osilonya, Ndokwa East; Obi Nzete, Ndokwa West; and Isaiah Esiovwa, Okpe.

Others are Innocent Esewezie, Oshimili North; Obi Kelvin Ezenyili, Oshimili South; Isaac Aguanah, Patani; Bright Abeke, Sapele; Vincent Oyibode, Udu; Jaro Egbo, Ughelli North; Lucky Avweromre, Ughelli South; Possible Ajede, Ukwuani; Anthony Ofoni, Uvwie; Festus Ashima, Warri North; Weyinmi Agbateyiniro, Warri South and Sylvester Oromoni, Warri South West.
High light of the ceremony was the administration of oath of office on the chairmen and their deputies by the governor.
