“You must channel your resources and energy to make these a reality because as I have always said, there can be no real development without peace”.
The governor stated this on Monday 8th March 2021, during the swearing in ceremony of the 25 Council Chairmen and the vice who sailed to victory at the just concluded local government election conducted on March 6th 2021 by the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC).
According to the governor, “Two things should be uppermost in your agenda, peace and security and the prosperity of our people. These as you know have been the fulcrum of my administration and programmes since inception in 2015”.
Okowa who expressed dissatisfaction over the recent communal crisis, farmer/herdrs clashes and abduction in some parts of the state, tasked them to work in synergy with relevant stakeholders to reduce crime.
Hear him: “The recent inter-communal clashes in some communities, the protracted farmers/herders crisis and the rising cases of kidnapping demands urgent and decisive action.
“As leaders closer to the grassroot, our chairmen and Vice chairmen must work closely with the traditional institutions, grassroot organizations, youth groups, vigilante groups and official security channels to ensure peace and security in our communities.
Speaking further, the governor pointed out that the aforementioned agenda would become impossible if the newly sworn-in chairmen are “Visiting Chairmen” to their various councils.
“Needless for me to say that you cannot achieve this if you are a visiting chairman who comes and go”, calling on them to dwell amidst their people, “You must live among your people to Command their trust and respect”.
He cautioned that his administration would not tolerate a situation where chairmen live outside their local government and they are found in the local government just once or twice a week.
He said as much as the state government has made significant breakthrough in empowering the people through various entrepreneurship development programmes, “I will be the first to admit that there is still a long way to go. Many of our people still live below the poverty line.
“I therefore, urge you to formulate policies and programmes that will impact positively in the economic wellbeing of your people, our people and move them from poverty to prosperity, saying “Pay particular attention to the most vulnerable, the indigents, the unemployed, the windows and the physically challenged.
Speaking as a prophet, Okowa said: “It is important that you work as a team, ensure that you include your Vice Chairmen, other members of the executive and the legislative arm in the decision making process. Things work better and faster when there is cooperation, unity and oneness of purpose.
“These are the minimum expected of you. We also expect that our Chairmen and Vice chairmen must cooperate and work in tandem with the party at the local government council level and the Ward levels to ensure that they continue to strengthen it for today and also for the future”.
Responding on behalf of the newly sworn-in chairmen and Vice chairmen, Chairman, Ndokwa west local government area, Joan Governor, assured the governor and Deltans of their best to uplift the councils from where they met them.
His words: “We will definitely perform to your satisfaction and the entire Delta state. Looking at the crowd, Your Excellency, we know that the task ahead of us is enormous but haven reposed this confidence in us, we are highly empowered and we know that with your mentorship and guidance we will excel.
“Some few years to come, everybody will see that these chairmen have made a difference. Your Excellency, your speech is going to be a Bible to all of us but we promised that we are going to deliver the dividends of democracy to our people”, they assured.
