Katsina State Governor, Ibrahim Shema, has inaugurated the newly elected 34 local government council chairmen in the state. Speaking shortly after the state Chief Judge, Justice Abdullahi Yusuf, administered the oaths of office and allegiance on the chairmen, Shema said N33 billion had been raised in the local government joint accounts to help them focus more on people-oriented development at the grassroots.

“The chairmen just sworn-in today, your jobs have just begun. Tighten your belts and move into the field and work for your people,” he charged the council chiefs.

The governor also stressed the need for the chairmen to go back home and ensure that their councillors be sworn-in immediately.

“I want to commend you to do your best to uplift the status of your people. Make sure that whatever you do, you put the fear of Allah foremost in your minds,” he added.

Shema attributed the clean sweep of the polls by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the working of Allah and urged the chairmen to emulate the successes of his administration in working for posterity and the people without discrimination.

The governor applauded the contributions of all stakeholders towards the conduct of rancour free, fair and credible elections last Saturday across the state.

He said the fairness and magnanimity of the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) was unparalleled in the country, saying: “It has never happened in Nigeria that an electoral body would have to succumb to any party’s demand.

“They cut prices by 50 per cent and asked them (some political parties) to join. Yet, some parties by choice – a few of them –decided not to participate, PDP equally has the right to participate in any election,” Shema said.

Dignitaries at the swearing-in ceremony included former governor of old Kaduna State, Lawal Kaita; former deputy governor of Katsina State during Yar’adua administration, Tukur Jikamsh; Deputy Governor of the state, Garba Faskar; Katsina-born Minister of Solid Mineral, Musa Sada, and the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Umar Ya’u Gojo-Gojo.