Gombe Gov Urges Newly-Elected LG Chairmen To Shun Corruption

The Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya who swore in 11 elected Local Government Council Chairmen on Monday urged them to ensure transparency in the conduct of their duties and shun corruption. 

Allnews understands that the swearing-in ceremony was a sequel to the December 19 Local Government Election in which the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) clinched all the 11 Chairmanship and 114 Councillorship Seats in the State.

While the swearing-in ceremony was ongoing, Governor Yahaya said their election was in conformity with Section 79 sub-sections (3) and (4) of the Gombe State Independent Electoral Commission and Electoral (Amendment) Law 2011.

The governor commended the Gombe State Independent Electoral Commission (GOSIEC) for ensuring that the election was free, fair and credible, and, therefore, appreciated the voters for their patience, orderliness, and maturity during the exercise”.

He added that it is worthy of note that the victory recorded by the APC at the poll confirmed the level of acceptance for the people-oriented policies and programmes of his administration which enabled it to reach out to both its political friends and the opposition with a view to improving the situation, saying this has greatly reduced the level of political tension and enabled his Government to practice politics of development without the undue bitterness of the past.

READ ALSO: LG Election: Gombe LG Poll To Hold December 1

He said, “Let me reiterate that our government will not tolerate corrupt practices under whatever guise. Therefore, you must all strive to live above board and ensure transparency in the conduct of your duties.

“I charge you to be fair, equitable, and just to all citizens irrespective of political or cultural differences. The relative peace and harmony that is prevailing in the state must be guarded jealously.

“As agents of change at the grassroots, you are expected to come up with constructive and workable ideas for the development and transformation of your respective Local Governments. I implore you to use your wealth of experience in order to speedily move our Local Governments forward and provide the much-needed dividends of democracy to our people.”

He added ” I strongly urge the Local Government Chairmen to extend genuine hands of reconciliation and partnership to all those who lost out in the electoral process, regardless of party affiliation. Let us all join hands in order to collectively contribute to the development of Gombe state”.

Governor Yahaya said his administration has successfully achieved its objectives of transforming the State in virtually all facets of human endeavours, expressing the hope that the new Chairmen will imbibe an open-door policy in order to raise the state to an enviable height that is worthy of emulation by other states.

“It is expected that you will sustain this tempo in order to justify the confidence reposed in us by the electorate”

One of the sworn-in chairman representing Billiri Local Government, who is the only woman among the chairmen, Margaret Bitrus, in her remark said, “I look forward to embarking on developmental projects with a key focus on women of the local government and the state.”