Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has administered the oath of office to Mayors and their deputies, appointed to oversee the 27 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state.
Charging the newly sworn-in officials, Otti emphasized the importance of serving and securing their respective communities.
The swearing-in ceremony, which took place at the Michael Okpara auditorium in Umuahia, saw 34 appointees taking the oath of office.
During his address, Governor Otti outlined the immediate priority for the new appointees, urging them to reinforce the security architecture in their respective local government areas.
He made a resolute declaration that no part of Abia State would be ceded to criminals, reiterating a commitment to ensuring infrastructural development reaches all corners of the state.
Otti granted the new LGA chairmen, referred to as Mayors in Abia, the autonomy to manage the administration of their local governments, emphasizing the importance of servant leadership.
He encouraged them to align their programs with the philosophy of the Labour Party (LP)-led administration in Abia.
Responding to criticisms raised against some LGA bosses, Otti acknowledged the concerns and assured the public that his administration had taken note.
However, he expressed confidence in the choices made during the selection process, defending the competence of those entrusted with the responsibility of leading the councils.
Governor Otti also commended the House of Assembly for their swift screening of the LGA chairmen, praising the efficiency in the process.
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