UMUAHIA—NEWLY elected 17 local government chairmen in Abia State, including those of the controversial seven from Abia South and Ohafia and Arochukwu were sworn-in yesterday by Governor Orji Uzor Kalu, despite opposition by the Senate President, Chief Adolphus Wabara and National Vice Chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nze Fidelis Ozichukwu Chukwu. Kalu said at the ceremony conducted under tight security at the Michael Okpara auditorium that it would have been in-human to swear in people who did not go through screening.
Besides, he wondered why anybody should support that new people should take over from those who have been candidates since 2002 when they won at the primaries.
His words: “it is important to use this medium to speak on the controversy generated by the conduct of council elections in the state. The process that threw you (LG Chairmen) up, including your deputies and councillors was transparent, fair and met all the criteria set by the PDP.
“It is on record that the two lists by ABSIEC submitted to the national chairmen and national secretary of our great party were duly screened and approved by the party. I therefore wonder why some persons are still raising unnecessary dust over the matter. Those people that some people want to bring in got their tickets on March 23 for an election meant for March 27.
“As believers in the rule of law and constitutionality, we have done all we should do to ensure that everybody was given a level-playing ground. Those having contrary views are those who want to foment trouble and cause a state of anarchy in Abia State. If I have opportunity again to do what I did in this local government election, I will do it.”
He warned that government would deal ruthlessly with any person or group of persons who attempt to disrupt the peace of the state, adding that relevant security agencies had been placed on red alert to deal decisively with the situation. Kalu specifically advised parents to warn their children not to be used by “evil doers” to destabilize Abia State, insisting that “government would not intervene in the case of arrest of any person, no matter his or her status or age.”
The governor charged the chairmen to begin the process of discharging the mandate given to them by the people to run the affairs of the councils for the next two years, reminding them that it is a sacred covenant between them and God on the one hand and the people on the other.
He warned that his administration would not condone inefficiency on the part of any local government chairman, adding that he has drawn up a number of criteria for the assessment of their performance. Such criteria, he explained, would be reviewed from time to time in line with the expectations of the people and government.
According to him, there is nothing they could achieve if they failed to adopt the strategy of probity, transparency and accountability which, he advised, they should apply in the day-to-day running of their councils.
Those sworn in were Dr. Godwin Duru (Aba South), Eleke Chukwu (Aba North), Kalu Eke Kalu (Arochukwu), Chukwu Ngozi Chukwu (Bende), Kelvin Ugboajah (Ikwuano), Friday Onukwue (Isialangwa North), Patrick Onwuka (Isialangwa South) and Charles Ojukwu (Isiukwuato). The rest are Macaulay Obia (Obingwa) Emeka Kalu (Ohafia) Eze Nwanganga (Ugwunagbo), Chinedu Elechi (Ukwa West), Joseph Adiele (Ukwa East), Allen Nwachukwu (Osisioma) Rev. Sam Ekeledo (Umuahia North) Maxwell Adindu (Umuahia South) and Chidiebere Ude (Umunneochi).
Ekeledo, who responded on behalf of his colleagues, thanked the PDP and the electorate for the opportunity given to them to serve. He said that although some of them felt disturbed when they were asked to go back to the classroom, they later discovered that they really needed it.
