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Ex-council chairmen elect new president
By Adelanwa Bamgboye
A veteran journalist and former chairman, Imeko-Afon local government area of Ogun State, Hon. Albert Durojaiye Asipa, has been elected as the National President of Association of Ex-Local Government Chairmen in Nigeria.
In his acceptance speech, Asipa promised to work with diligence and passion towards taking the association to greater heights.
A statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the ASELGON, Abdallah Abubakar, quoted Asipa as pledging to engage stakeholders, amongst them the Governors Forum, National and State House of Assembly members, the Nigeroa Union of Journalists (NUJ), civil societies and traditional rulers with a view to strengthening local government administration in the country.
“To put local administration on the right track, especially on the issue of autonomy, which is not about confrontation with the Governors Forum or any other stakeholders, what it enquires is constructive engagement and for all concerned to demonstrate utmost patriotism that can move the polity forward,”Asipa advised.
The statement also said the National President promised that the association would support President Muhammadu Buhari to fight corruption at all levels of governance.
He urged Buhari not to renege on the promise he made in his inaugural address to pay adequate attention to the issue of local government administration.
The association hailed the governors who had planned to conduct local government election but urged the them to provide a level playing ground for to all political parties.
It also called on states where local government were under caretaker administration to set machinery in motion for the conduct of democratically elected council in line with the nation’s constitution.