*Says participation of  parties ends dispute over the legality of  37 LCDAs

By Olasunkanmi Akoni & Monsur Olowoopejo

The  Blue Roof of Lagos Television, LTV, located on Lateef Jakande Road, amid tight security, was filled to capacity, yesterday, as Governor Babatunde Fashola  of Lagos State presided over the oath taking and swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected chairmen into  state’s 20 Local Government Areas, LGAs, and 37 Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs, including their vices with a charge to the officials to exceed the target of Millennium Development Goals, MDGs.

Dignitaries at the well attended ceremony include the state Deputy Governor Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, immediate past governor of the state and national leader of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former deputy governor of the state, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, wife of former governor of the state, Mrs Abimbola Jakande, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, representing Lagos East Senatorial District, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, representing Lagos Central, members of the state Executive Council, party chieftain led by the chairman of  the state ACN, Otunba Henry Ajomale and Oba  Rilwanu Akiolu, whose birthday coincided with the event.

A cross section of the newly elected Chairmen, at the swearing in yesterday.

Fashola, in his address at the occasion, urged the elected officials,  to step up the agitation for an urgent revision of the revenue allocation formula in favour of the states and local governments.

He said: “While it is true that you were elected by the residents of your council, our party will take a more active role in holding you to account for the implementation of our programmes and policies.

“You are taking office at a time when the world attention is focused on the attainment of certain targets such as the MDGs to be achieved within the frame of 2000-2015.”

Fashlola recalled:  “About three years ago when we were preparing for the 2008 election, a few parties instigated by our now defeated but quarrelsome opponents, choose to boycott the election, after failing in their efforts to use the judiciary and the federal executive to stop the elections.”

“For me this contest by other political parties in the just concluded local government election, signals the end of the dispute over the legality of the 57 local governments in Lagos State.”