Joy was bold on the faces of the new local government chairmen as they were inaugurated, following their victory at the polls.
Many of them were returning for a second term. Some are new on the job. But, all were seized by excitement at the Government House, Alausa, Ikeja, venue of the event. Decked in colourful attires, the chairmen were not accompanied by huge crowd, due to the rampaging Covid-19 pandemic.
It was nevertheless, a solemn ceremony as Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu highlighted the challenges of grassroots administration and expectations by Lagosians across the 20 local governments and 37 local council developmental areas.
The governor emphasised the need for them to replicate his achievements at the local government level. He is conscious of the fact that local government is the closest to the people. If the state government is performing wonders and the effort is not complemented by the council administrations, the huge gap will impact negatively on development. Therefore, Sanwo-Olu said they must justify their administrative and financial autonomy.
Most chairmen are products of bitter intra-party contests that shook the platform. Having triumphed during the shadow poll or selection process, and the ultimate election, they should see their victory as a call to duty and service to Lagosians.
Also, the chairmen, Sanwo-Olu said, should live above the acrimony that characterised the electioneering, adding that they should shun vendetta and the tendency to eliminate political opponents.
