By joshua Gov Nwifuru Inaugurates LG Chairmen, Vice, Approves Appointment Of 1710 Executive Assistants
By Emmanuel Agbo, Abakaliki
The Executive Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru has sworn in the thirteen newly elected Local Government chairmen and vice chairmen to pilot local government affairs in the State.
The Governor sworn in the newly elected officers at the Christian Ecumenical centre Abakaliki.
Nwifuru congratulated the chairmen,vice and urged them to take development and good governance down to the grassroots.
He, however, directed them to engage their political opponents and reconcile with those who contested against them during the council elections.
“Engage all your opponents. Engage those who contested against you. Discuss with them, bring them back to our party,” he said.
He also advised the chairmen not to inherit political enemies, stressing that individuals regarded as his own political opponents should not automatically become enemies of the council chairmen.
“Don’t ever inherit anybody’s enemy. My enemy shouldn’t be your enemy. Reconcile with them. Did you hear me? My enemy can be your friend, and reconcile with us,” he said.
The governor also warned the vice chairmen against allowing political gossip to create conflict between them and their principals.
He urged them to work closely with their respective chairmen and resist pressure to form rival groups within their councils.
“Don’t listen to gossip or the advice of people who will destroy your relationship with your chairman,” he said.
Nwifuru reminded the newly elected officials that local government chairmanship was a demanding political responsibility, saying their performance would determine their future political relevance.
“The position of local government chairman is one of the toughest positions anybody can vie for. It can either make you or destroy you politically,” he said.
He charged them to serve residents diligently, respect their constituents and remain conscious that their conduct would be closely scrutinised.
The Governor directed councilors of 171 wards across the State along side stakeholders to nominate 10 persons per ward mostly women for appointment as Executive Assistants to the Governor.
He said the directive followed complaints from his wife that many women in the state were not getting adequate opportunities.
“My wife has complained to me that many of our women are not getting enough opportunities. So, we charge the party chairman, under the supervision of the local government chairmen, the coordinators of development centres and stakeholders in all the wards, to give us 10 names of people who will be appointed as Executive Assistants to the Governor from the wards,” he said.
The governor further urged the new chairmen and their vice to uphold their oath of office, obey the Constitution and serve the people irrespective of political differences.
Nwifuru directed the chairmen to protect the party’s interests in their areas and resist attempts by opposition politicians to undermine the APC.
He said his directive was not a threat to opposition parties but a clear expression of his commitment to protecting the APC and ensuring victory for the party in all elections in the state.
He said with campaigns for the National Assembly elections now underway, the chairmen were expected to mobilise support for the APC in their respective local government areas.
“Campaign has been declared open for the National Assembly. So, as you are going back to your local governments, what you will be talking about is our party. Your prayer is for our party to win all the positions.
“We cannot leave one position to any other political party. We will win 100 per cent in the general election. Go and tell our opposition that nobody is threatening them.
“We have now started campaigning. We are not threatening you; we will defeat you at the polls. Nobody is threatening you. We are politicians. We must speak for our party and we must deliver our party,” Nwifuru said.