The Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, has charged the newly elected Chairmen and Councilors to use their performances to prove that the local government system is central to the development of any nation.
Mrs Afuye lamented that the lacklustre performances of some council bosses, had created the widespread impression that the third tier of government doesn’t serve any purpose, urging them to bring a paradigm shift and change such a warped perspective.
Mrs Afuye said these on Tuesday, while receiving the chairmen and councilors-elect from Ikere Ekiti, who paid a visit to her office in Ado Ekiti, after collecting their Certificates of Return from the State Independent Electoral Commission.
Mrs Afuye, in a statement by her Special Assistant on Media, Victor Ogunje, insisted that the best pride the elected All Progressives Congress members can do Governor Biodun Oyebanji, herself and the party, is to deliver democracy gains to the populace.
She emphasized the need for the incoming elected officials to prioritise good governance by revving the pedal of development immediately they are sworn in to convince the skeptics that the system can turn around the fortunes of any nation if run properly.
“Please, go there and prove to Ikere residents that your own time will be different. All eyes are on you. I beg you, don’t disgrace us. Don’t put Governor Oyebanji and myself to shame before Ikere people .
“I want you to convince and disabuse the minds of those having the impression that the local government system is useless with good performances”.
Harping on the need for unity in the party, Mrs Afuye said: “Don’t take anyone as enemies, everybody should be your friends. Some chairmen were considered for a second term, but this will depend on your performances and loyalty to the government and our people.
“Work and perform beyond their expectations, so that our people can have trust in the local government system. Ekiti continuity begins with Governor Oyebanji and it won’t end with him. We must all work together and deliver democracy gains to our people”.
Addressing the visitors, the Special Adviser on Legal Matters to the governor, Barr. Bayo Idowu and the Deputy Chief of Staff, Hon. Victor Adeniyi, said local governements have become veritable vehicles of development in the state with the advent of Governor Oyebanji.
They pleaded with the Chairman to consider the organisation of seminars for councilors to boost their intellectual capacities and to always defer to the leaders while taking critical decisions to unify the party.
“Local government is not a useless creation, it is for development. The local governments are not rubber-stamp. If you can do well at that level, the pressure on the governor will reduce”.
The spokesman of the group and Chairman-elect, Ikere Local Government, Squadron Olu Adamolekun, promised not to betray the confidence reposed in them.
“We are not going to betray our leaders and all Ikere citizens. We will do our best to deliver to the people of Ikere and increase their belief in the local government system”.