The Governor of Adamawa State, Umaru Fintiri, has sworn in the newly elected chairmen of the 21 Local Government Areas, charging them to provide effective leadership and accelerate grassroots development across the state.
Fintiri made this comment during the swearing-in ceremony at the Banquet Hall of the Government House, Yola.
The event attracted top government officials, lawmakers, party leaders, traditional rulers, and supporters from across the state amidst a mammoth crowd.
The oath of office and allegiance was administered by the Chief Judge of Adamawa State, Justice Hafsat Abdurrahman.
Congratulating the new chairmen, Governor Fintiri commended the Adamawa State Independent Electoral Commission (ADSIEC) for conducting what he described as a credible and peaceful election.
He noted that his administration has successfully conducted four local government elections within seven years, describing the feat as unprecedented in the state’s history.
According to the governor, the newly elected chairmen have entered into a social contract with the electorate and must justify the confidence reposed in them through transparent and people-oriented governance.
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“You have a responsibility to deliver the dividends of democracy to your people. One day, you will stand before your Creator to account for how you discharged the responsibilities entrusted to you,” he said.
Governor Fintiri urged the chairmen to be prudent in managing public funds, remain accessible to the people, and work closely with traditional rulers and development area administrators to address community needs.
“You must be the vanguard of development in your local government areas. Make yourselves available to the people, engage them regularly, and ensure they feel the impact of governance.
“Your duty post is in your local government. The era of absentee chairmen is over. You were not elected to stay in Yola,” the governor added.
Speaking on behalf of the newly inaugurated chairmen, the Chairman of Yola North Local Government Area, Ibrahim Jimeta, expressed appreciation to Governor Fintiri for providing a level playing field that ensured the conduct of free and fair local government elections.
He described the governor as a transformational leader whose achievements have repositioned Adamawa State, assuring him that the new council chairmen would build on his development agenda at the grassroots.
Jimeta also thanked the electorate for their confidence and pledged that the chairmen would pursue people-centred policies and programmes capable of improving the lives of residents across the 21 local government areas.
The ceremony was attended by members of the National and State Assemblies, senior government officials, party stakeholders, friends, family members, and well-wishers of the newly inaugurated council chairmen.
