Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, on Monday, presided over the swearing-in of the newly elected chairmen of 32 out of the 33 local government areas of the state.
The newly elected chairmen were declared winners on Sunday by the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) at the end of an election conducted on Saturday.
OYSIEC had earlier given certificates of return to the 32 elected council chairmen, with the exemption of Iddo Local Government Area, of which election was postponed to Wednesday, May 26, due to the omission of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) logo on the ballot papers.
The chairmen were sworn-in by the Chief Judge of the state, Muntar Abimbola who administered the oath of office and oath of allegiance in a ceremony held at the House of Chiefs, House of Assembly Complex Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.
At the ceremony, Governor Seyi Makinde explained the rationale behind the decision of his administration to conduct election into only the 33 local government areas of the state while leaving out the 35 local council development areas.
Makinde noted that the country’s Constitution only allows for the election of officials into the 33 local government areas of the state, saying the provisions of the Constitution were also followed in allowing all registered political parties who fielded candidates to stand being elected, but that it was the problem of those (parties) who did not field candidates.
He said: “So, here today, we have 32 elected officials who have been sworn-in. Let me also take this opportunity to congratulate the good people of Oyo State for this feat. Since the time I have been participating in local government elections in this state, I have not seen any like the one we did last.
“For the real people of Oyo State, you are the real winners in this process, as you can rightly say that you have elected your representatives. The process was free and fair and in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Makinde stated.
He noted that the chairmen must use their office as an opportunity to deliver good governance to the people of the state. He charged them to replicate the good governance initiatives of the state level at the grassroots level, affirming that the chairmen would be held accountable just as he is being held accountable, as the importance of governance at the grassroots cannot be overemphasised.
Addressing the new chairmen, the governor noted: “You have been given power now. The CJ has sworn you in and I have also approved it. There is no one who can remove you from office. Even me, as the Executive Governor of Oyo State, I don’t have that power anymore. It is now a process, a constitutional process to remove you and you will spend your three years in full.”
The Governor thereafter pronounced the 32 local government chairmen inaugurated to the glory of God and for the benefit of the people of Oyo State.
The event was attended by top government functionaries, traditional rulers, party leaders and party supporters, among others.
Emmanuel Ukoh
