By Igbotako Nowinta, Alltimepost.com Nigeria Bureau Chief
[dropcap]N[/dropcap]ewly elected Chairmen of the eighteen Local Government Councils of Edo State have been seriously cautioned by the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewuare II to channel the councils’ resources towards meeting the development needs of the people rather than using them to service political godfathers.The Great Benin King gave the advice when the Commissioner for Local Government and Community Matters, Hon. (Barr.) Jimoh Ijegbai led the 18 Local Government Chairmen to pay him a courtesy visit in his Palace on Tuesday.
The Benin Monarch advised the chairmen to look inward for local resources that they could exploit for the development of their local government areas.
Oba Ewuare II enjoined the newly elected chairmen to assist in the fight against illegal migration, human trafficking and insecurity in their various local government areas.
The Benin Monarch commended Governor Godwin Obaseki for the election and expressed hope that these crops of local government chairmen will do their best to complement “the good works of the governor.”
On the problems posed by human trafficking, the Oba of Benin urged the council chairmen to engage in sensitization of the people in the grassroots on the dangers inherent in human trafficking, just as the Omo N’Oba also charged the council chairmen to take the problem of insecurity very seriously.
The Oba specifically drew the attention of chairmen of Uhunmwode and Egor to the development needs of their people and admonished them to do everything possible to impact on the people and villages in the locality.
He assured them of Palace support in their efforts to develop their local government areas.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Local Government and Community Matter, Hon. Jimoh Ijegbai said he was in the Palace to introduce the newly elected local government chairmen, and seek royal blessings for them to succeed in complementing the efforts of Governor Godwin Obaseki to develop Edo State.
He thanked the Omo N’Oba for the support over the years and sued for continued cooperation of “our revered royal father.”
Some local government chairmen, including Hon. Napoleon Agbama, Uhunmwode; Hon. Eghe Ogbemudia, Egor; Hon. Victor Emuakhagbon, Esan South-East; Hon. Josie Ogedegbe, Igueben and Comrade John Akhigbe, Etsako Central said they would do as directed by the Omo N’Oba, especially in the areas of insecurity, human trafficking and development of their areas.
