By Gbenga Ariyibi

Ado Ekiti—GOVERNOR Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State yesterday swore in caretaker chairman of the 16 existing Local Governments and 19 newly-created Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs, urging them to ensure dividend of democracy got to the people at the grass roots.

Speaking at the ceremony, Fayemi charged the new council chairmen to carry the process of transformation to all the nooks and crannies of the state, saying “I have no doubt that going by the pedigree of the leaders being sworn in today; there will be accelerated progress in meeting the needs of our people at the grassroots.

”They were carefully chosen not only on account of their competence but also their closeness to the grassroots whose yearning they are expected to meet.”

He reminded the new council bosses that they would be held accountable by God and the people, imploring them to ensure equity and justice in managing the affairs of the councils

”I therefore charge you all to live up to expectations of our people in serving them with all diligence and honour. Above all, remember that all power belongs to God and to Him shall we all ultimately give account”, he said

Speaking more on the creation of the new councils, Fayemi said it became expedient for his administration to take necessary legal steps towards meeting the aspiration of the people.

He added that the new  chairmen would be playing a pioneering role in the establishment of structures and processes as well as programmes and policies that would drive the dividends of good governance closer to the grassroots

Speaking on behalf of the new council bosses, the caretaker Chairperson of Ado West LCDA, Mrs. Omotunde Fajuyi, pledged unflinching loyalty to the people whom they were appointed to serve, saying the Fayemi-led administration had shown example of good governance needed to be carried to the grassroots.

Fajuyi also promised that they would not let down the Fayemi-led administration but would justify the confidence reposed in them.