Ambode inauguarates, warns new council bosses against discrimination

Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, on Tuesday, swore-in the newly elected Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of the 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the State.

The new council chiefs were elected on Saturday during the council poll where the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) cleared all the LGs in addition to 369 wards while the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Accord Party clinched four and three councillorship seats respectively.

After over three years of administering the councils with caretaker executives, the state government eventually bowed to pressure by conducting the election.

Ambode warned the council chiefs against all forms of discrimination, saying that the dividends of good governance must be fairly distributed without prejudice to political affiliation, gender, religious beliefs or ethnic background bearing in mind the cosmopolitan nature of the State.

The Governor said his administration recognized the importance of government at the Local Government level, adding that a vibrant and effective system at the third tier of government was critical towards ensuring government of inclusion where everybody has a voice.

He said it was gratifying that the chain of government linking the Wards, Councils and LGAs to the State Government had been completed.

He congratulated the APC leaders and the new council bosses on their victory at the polls, as well as the Chairman and members of staff of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) for delivering a free, fair and credible election 

Ambode said, “My greatest commendation goes to all Lagosians especially those who defied the rains on Saturday to perform their civic responsibility. The hallmark of democracy is the participation of the people through the free exercise of their franchise to elect the people they want to represent them. This is the true source of legitimate mandate to lead a people,” Governor Ambode said.

To the newly-elected Chairmen, Governor Ambode said having crossed the hurdle of the election, they must now settle down for real governance especially by working hard and fulfilling all electoral promises.