Gov. Fintiri Swears In 21 Council Chairmen, Charges Them To Deliver At The Grassroots

Adamawa State Governor, Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, has sworn in the newly elected chairmen of the 21 Local Government Areas of the state, urging them to provide purposeful leadership and accelerate grassroots development through transparent and people-oriented governance.

The swearing-in ceremony, held on Wednesday at the Banquet Hall of the Government House, Yola, was attended by top government officials, members of the National and State Assemblies, traditional rulers, political leaders, and supporters from across the state.

The oath of office and oath of allegiance were administered by the Chief Judge of Adamawa State, Justice Hafsat Abdurrahman.

Congratulating the newly inaugurated council chairmen, Governor Fintiri commended the Adamawa State Independent Electoral Commission (ADSIEC) for conducting what he described as a peaceful, transparent, and credible local government election.

The governor noted that his administration has successfully conducted four local government elections within seven years, describing the achievement as unprecedented in the state’s democratic history.

He reminded the chairmen that they had entered into a social contract with the electorate and must justify the confidence reposed in them by delivering the dividends of democracy to the people.

“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,” Governor Fintiri said.

He urged the council chairmen to manage public resources prudently, remain accountable, and work closely with traditional rulers, development area administrators, and other critical stakeholders to address the needs of their communities.

The governor also directed them to remain in their respective local government headquarters and provide hands-on leadership.

“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,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the newly inaugurated chairmen, the Chairman of Yola North Local Government Area, Barrister Ibrahim Jibrin Jimeta, thanked Governor Fintiri for creating an enabling environment that ensured the conduct of free, fair, and credible local government elections.

He described the governor as a transformational leader whose developmental strides have repositioned Adamawa State and pledged that the new council chairmen would consolidate on his administration’s achievements by implementing people-centred programmes at the grassroots.

Barrister Jimeta also expressed gratitude to the electorate for the confidence reposed in the newly elected chairmen, assuring residents that the councils would pursue policies and initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life across the state’s 21 local government areas.

The ceremony drew a large gathering of political office holders, senior government officials, party stakeholders, traditional rulers, family members, friends, and well-wishers of the newly inaugurated council chairmen.