Ibori swears in new Warri council chiefs, urges peace
From Sunny Ogefere, Asaba
GOVERNOR James Ibori of Delta State at the weekend swore in the newly-elected chairmen of three Warri councils, with a warning that the government will no longer tolerate extremism and ethnic bigotry.
At the event, which held in Asaba, the state capital, the governor said the time has come to build upon the current peace efforts in Warri and its environs by integrating everyone into one structure.
"We can no longer afford to promote extremism and ethnic bigotry in Warri Federal Constituency. It is time to live together as brothers and sisters", he stated.
The governor said it was his expectation that having come this far, all interest groups, including unsuccessful candidates at the last elections, would equally demonstrate patriotism by working in co-operation with the newly-elected officials to increase the tempo of development in the state, especially in the Warri constituency.
He urged the new council chairmen to display good spirit of sportsmanship by extending their hands of fellowship for the progress and unity of the state.
Ibori charged the councils chairmen: "Go back and integrate your people, go back and reconcile everybody that inhabits the federal constituency. It is not time to fight, it is now time for peace and we must ensure that peace continues to reign".
Besides, he enjoined them to strive to promote good governance by improving on the wellbeing of the people and rekindle their hopes in the ability of local council administration to deliver the dividends of democracy.
The governor said: "In your individual councils, you must ensure that this integration continues and that you give a fair share to each and everyone that inhabits the boundaries of your local councils".
Responding on behalf of the councils' chairmen that were sworn in, the chairman of Warri South Council, Chief Arthur Diden, pledged readiness of the new council chiefs to work towards sustaining the new-found peace in the Warri Federal Constituency.
In an interview with The Guardian, the Commissioner for Conflict Resolution and Inter-Ethnic Relations, Mr. Ovuozourie Macaulay, stressed the need for the new chairmen to build on the efforts of the state in restoring peace in Warri and environs.
He said: "The challenge is for them to build on where the state government has handed over to them. In other words, they must continue with consultation, they must continue with every effort to integrate the people of the area".
