By Moses Adeniyi
Chairmen alongside their vices, who were elected into all the 57 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in Lagos, were on Tuesday sworn in by the State Government, following their victory at the Saturday 24th, July, 2021 elections.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the swearing-in event at the State House, Ikeja, charged the installed Chairmen, who swore to oath, to live up to expectation, shunning sentiments of partisan leanings in the discharge of their duties.
Governor Sanwo-Olu who said to the newly installed Chairmen that their victories is an affirmation of the trust Lagosians have in their capabilities and capacities to discharge the duties of office, enjoined them to surpass the expectations of the people with social programmes which appeal to the welfare of the people at the grassroots.
“This not the time that you would want to eliminate any one not in your group. This is not the time that you would want to say that these are the people that voted me in, and these are the people that did not vote me in. This is not the time you would want to be partisan.
“This is the time for real governance. This is the time for everybody in your community to feel the essence of governance. This is the time for every one of you to bring into bear the level of responsibilities that have been entrusted on you by the oath you have taken.”
Reminding them that public office is a position of trust which is meant for a time-frame, he enjoined them to pay attention to crafting people centric policies that “will directly impact the lives of ordinarily citizens” within their jurisdictions.
“The only way you can reciprocate this trust is to give your very best and ensure that the welfare and well being of your people take precedence in all your decisions. You have been elected to serve the people. Put them first in all that you do and you have a responsibility that you do not let them down in any way.
“Public office is a position of trust that no one ever holds forever. You hold it for a time and then pass the baton to others.
“Let me use this opportunity to emphasize the need for continuity and progress in governance. I urge you all to ensure that you build on the good legacies laid by your predecessors and also ensure that you surpass the legacies and expectations of the people who have enthusiastically elected you into this office.
“The local government is the closest tier of government to the people. Any form of gap or short-coming would be keenly felt by our people. As a result, the policies and programmes you will be implementing must be people centric.
“You must focus on how to improve their lives and the livelihood of our people. I therefore, implore you to continue with the provision and facilitation of service that would directly and positively affect the lives of the ordinarily citizens on the streets within your various communities.”
The Governor who said the State Government has not left any vacuum in local government administration in the State, said it is expected of them to live up to the expectation of driving the people out of the challenging situations the COVID-19 pandemic has brought.
Assuring them of all “commitment and support” of the State Government to discharge their duties, he said a fresher course will commence for the Chairmen in the coming days to empower them ahead of duties.
Moreover, the Governor who lauded the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) for the conduct of the elections which brought in the 57 LGA/LCDAs chairmen, who were all candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), said the electoral processes “reflected the highest standard expected of such exercise.”
Describing the election as “fair, transparent, and credible”, he said the role of the citizens remain gratifying for bestowing the mandate to all the seats on the APC, assuring that the mandate “will never be taken for granted.”
In his remarks, the State’s Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Dr. Wale Ahmed, said the victory of the newly elected or returned council chairmen at the polls, “did not come as a surprise, but as a testimony to the solidity, strength, internal democracy and unity” of the ruling party, “despite little trickles of dissent.”
“The robust party support that you all enjoyed, coming collectively from party members, vividly tells the story of systemic dynamism, and deep political understanding, that always enable the APC to emerge stronger and more united, from what looks like challenging situations,” he said.
He however, charged them to be alive to duty, stressing that their re-election/election is “another call to a season of service, dedication and selflessness to our people.”
“It is no gain-say, that Governemnt exist because of the people and it will continue to exist because of the people. This is why your re-election/election is another call to a season of service, dedication and selflessness to our people.
“Therefore, the task ahead of you is to sustain or even surpass the tempo of performance of previous administrations in your respective council areas.”
The commissioner who charged them on the necessity of inclusive governance devoid of sentiments, added that: “You are the third-tier of government and the closest to the grassroots. You have emerged only by the will and mandate of the electorates, it behoves on you to ensure that the electorates enjoy the dividends that true democracy brings
“it is important to also remind you about the necessity of inclusive governance. In any human organization, there will always be dissenting voices based on individual dispositions and preferred choices. But having crossed the bridge, we remain as one in togetherness like our symbolic broom.
“I therefore enjoin all our chairmen, to carry everyone along in governance; the women; the youths and even those who supported the other camps.”
Moreover, he assured that the State Government expects that the scope of delivery by the crop of chairmen and vice chairmen, would cover all sectors and sub-sectors, in tune with the THEMES Agenda of the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led administration.