By DADA AYOKHAI
The people of South Uneme/Anegbette axis in Etsako Central Local Government Area have appreciated Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo for supporting them to produce an elected chairman of the local government
Governor Okpebholo recently swore in Hon. Vera Sado as Chairperson of Etsako Central LGA.
She becomes the first elected female chairman of the local government, and also the first person to emerge from the Anegbette/South Uneme clan since the creation of the LGA.
The path for Hon. Sado as chairman materialized on July 12th when she won her election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, during the local government elections.
Speaking on the development, Hon. Emmanuel Okolo from the South Uneme axis, a former councillor and Leader of the Legislative Arm of the council, described it as “a dream come true” to produce an elected chairman from their axis for the first time.
Hon. Sado, who was gorgeously dressed for the August ceremony, also stood out as the only female chairman at the event.
Speaking after her swearing-in, she expressed appreciation to her people and assured them of better days ahead.
In demonstration of love and solidarity, leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Etsako Central LGA and party supporters were on ground to celebrate with the new chairman.
In his address, Governor Okpebholo charged the newly sworn-in chairmen to prioritize grassroots development, shun corruption, and justify the confidence reposed in them by the people.
He described their emergence as the beginning of a new chapter in grassroots governance and development in the state. The governor said the recent Local Government elections were free, fair and credible, adding that the turnout demonstrated growing confidence in democracy and his administration.
According to him, local governments, being the closest tier of government to the people, have a greater responsibility to ensure development reaches communities across the state.
He noted that the renewed commitment to Local Government autonomy under the leadership of *President Bola Tinubu* had placed greater responsibility on the newly elected chairmen.
“The overwhelming victory recorded by our party at the recent polls is a call for more work.
I charge you to go and work for the people, complement the development efforts of the State Government and ensure that the impact of government is felt in every community,” he said.
Governor Okpebholo urged the chairmen to shun corruption, describing public office as a sacred trust and an opportunity to serve the people. He added that their legacies would be defined by the lives they touched, the problems they solved, and how effectively they used the opportunities entrusted to them.
