Delta State, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has issued a stern ultimatum to local government council chairmen, warning that failure to meet their security responsibilities could lead to their removal from office.
Speaking in Asaba, the governor expressed deep concern over recurring incidents of kidnapping and violent crime in various local government areas, accusing some council chairmen of gross dereliction of duty.
He warned that nonchalance, poor attendance at security meetings, and failure to coordinate effectively with local stakeholders would no longer be tolerated.
“If you are weak as a council chairman, we will remove you,” Oborevwori declared bluntly.
The governor emphasized that council chairmen are the chief security officers of their respective local governments and must take that role seriously.
He lamented that despite persistent reports of insecurity, many chairmen have failed to consistently attend or convene local security council meetings, a dereliction he described as unacceptable.
“Security is a shared responsibility,” he said. “You campaigned for these positions. You know your communities. You must act. We cannot allow complacency at the grassroots level while lives and livelihoods are under threat.”
Oborevwori also highlighted the compounding effects of criminal infiltration from neighboring states, particularly across the Niger, stressing that the state government would soon deploy technology to track and counter these external threats.
The governor charged council chairmen to work closely with traditional rulers, vigilante groups, and security agencies to stem the tide of criminality.
“If I can manage all the traditional rulers in the state, then surely you can manage those in your local government areas,” he added, urging greater community-level coordination.
Oborevwori warned that the state government would hold the Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) and his executive body accountable for any continued lapses among their members.
“We will not take any form of laxity from any chairman,” he said. “By the time we use one or two persons as examples, the rest will sit up.”
He further advised young people to avoid inciting rhetoric on social media and instead channel their energy into supporting efforts to secure their communities.
While some residents have welcomed the governor’s tough stance, critics argue that the warning comes late and reflects deeper issues of political patronage and underperformance at the local government level, problems successive administrations have failed to address.
As the state grapples with increasing insecurity and community unrest, all eyes will be on whether Oborevwori follows through on his threats and whether local leadership rises to the challenge.
