Tony Okoh || Akwa Ibom state Governor Mr Udom Emmanuel has warned newly sworn in chairmen of the 31 local government area of the state not to see their new office as a platform for immediate gratification, or one where they would engage in conspicuous consumption to the detriment of the people who had sent them in the first place to represent them.
He sounded the warning after administering the oath of office on them at the banquet hall of government house Uyo yesterday.
Guiding them on leadership, Mr. Emmanuel said, “leadership is not about excuses or cop-outs; leadership is not about leaving the problems of today for tomorrow, leadership requires healthy doses of decisiveness and being proactive. Let this be your guiding principle”.
The governor further stated, “You position is akin to that of a chief executive of a corporation, you must lead, you must apply new ways of solving problems, you must be creative, decisive, forward- looking, tough without being dismissive or arrogant and above all, you must be transparent. The people will be watching your every move and you must not fail them.
The governor reminded them that as Local Government Chairmen, they are the direct voice, the echo-chamber of the peoples’ issues and concerns, and pleaded with them to endeavour to listen to people and work to meet their demands to the best of their ability.
According to the Governor, “You are not on a course for applause but on a journey that is measured on solid delivery of service to the people. Once you are able to achieve that, the people will, in turn, give you standing ovation for meeting them at the intersection of their needs”.
He further cautioned, “If you provide selfless service you will be celebrated and you will continue to soar but if you sacrifice the people’s trust, you name will stand condemned in both the people’s court and in the court of public opinion. Always have this, at the back of your mind and let these words be internalized by the Councillors whom you will later administer their Oath of Office upon your return to your respective Council Headquarters”.
Governor Emmanuel pledged that his administration will, as always, stand ready to support them, and working in close partnership with them, “we will continue to inspire our people and rouse them to ‘dakkada’ and claim the faith of their greatness. Akwa Ibom people are great people and we must do all we can to improve their material circumstance. That is your charge- a charge you must keep”. He concluded.