Governor Hope Uzodimma has sworn in the 54 newly-elected Imo State Local Government Area Chairmen and Vice Chairmen, reading the riot act to them to perform or be recorded wrongly by history.
The Governor swore in the 27 Council Chairmen and the 27 Vice Chairmen on Monday at the New Executive Chambers, Government House, Owerri, before top government officials, lawmakers, traditional rulers, religious leaders and captains of industries amid jubilation outside the Chambers by friends and well wishers from the 305 electoral wards in Imo State.
In his speech after administering the oath of office on the Chairmen and their Vice, Governor Uzodimma expressed joy over the conduct of the recent Local Government election in Imo State, saying “We have put our democratic vehicle in an irreversible gear to take us to our desired progress and development at the grassroots”.
He charged the Chairmen to run an all inclusive government, serve the people sincerely, shun corruption, be creative about revenue generation, automate governance processes to maximise their revenue, secure and live within their domain, among others.
Governor Uzodimma warned them not to see their office as one only meant to share allocations from the federation account, but to rather use such position to showcase their creativity in creating opportunities for wealth to serve the people better.
Reminding them that his administration will have no room for sharp practices and corruption, the Governor further told them that their statutory emolument is enough to carter to their personal needs hence those liable for corruption will face the law squarely.
Governor Uzodimma challenged them to use their first 100 days in office to identify the needs of their people whether in the area of roads, primary health, small businesses, and begin in earnest to deal with them, even as he called on Imo citizens to play the role of referees on the activities of their Council officials as their employers.
