Governor Alex Otti, on Thursday, inaugurated the 17 local government transition council chairperson with a charge to evolve programmes that aligned with the rebuilding agenda of the government.

Speaking during the event at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia, Mr Otti urged the newly sworn-in officers to prioritise the security and welfare of the people of Abia as they pilot the affairs of the local government councils.

“Your first task as leaders of the various LGAs shall include strengthening the security architecture in the towns and villages within your domain, especially as the yuletide approaches.

“As we have said on many occasions, no part of Abia, not an inch, shall be ceded to any group of criminals, whether they are armed robbers, kidnappers or any individual or group whose actions threaten the peace in our communities,” said the Abia governor.

Mr Otti said the Abia government was working with multiple stakeholders to develop a robust framework for addressing the citizens’ critical challenges.

The governor added that it was important to accommodate the local government as a new strategic partner in developing Abia. 

He described the swearing-in as a strategic step toward meeting Abia’s developmental needs, adding that it would further enable the government to harness the numerous opportunities in the state.

Mr Otti said he was delighted that the chairpersons and their deputies had accepted to serve the people with their extensive wealth of experience in various fields of human endeavours.

“To the new mayors and deputies, may I remind you that this is a call to serve and not to be served. We do not expect you to get everything right on the first day, but you must be willing to learn and keep your mind open to new ideas and possibilities,” the Abia governor explained.

He added, “While the state will give each of you a free hand to manage the affairs of the council responsibly, it is very important to design your programmes in ways that align with the general development philosophy of the present Labour Party administration in the state.”

(NAN)