Aniocha North PDP Tussle: Oseme Finally Inaugurates Legislative Arm

…Disassociates Self from Purported Councillors’ Inauguration.

By Miracle Enuji

The Chairman of Aniocha North Local government Area, Hon. Chuks Oseme has sworn-in and inaugurated Councillors who will man the activities of the Legislative arm of the Council for the next three years.

The event which took place today at the council’s secretariat, witnessed the oath taking by the 14 lawmakers who were declared winners by the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) in the just concluded Local Government Elections in the State.

This inauguration as marshaled by the Chairman, has rendered the initial inauguration of Monday 15th January, null and void which was allegedly supervised by some State actors who were reported to have hijacked the democratic process in the council.

It will be recalled that on the Tuesday January 16, 2017, pandemonium was averted as fracas broke out between supporters of two PDP groups at the council’s secretariat which was swiftly brought to halt by officers of the Police Force.

Investigations revealed that, for the timely intervention of security agencies, crisis would have engulfed Aniocha North as some PDP faithfuls loyal to various cabals in the Area were gearing to take on each other following the inauguration of 10 Councillors on Monday without the input of the Council Chairman.

Hon. Oseme while administering the Oath of Office, charged the new Councillors to abide to their oath and bring their wealth of experience to the development of the council.

The Chairman thanked Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for the opportunity given to them to serve in a democratic setting. “it is the first time we are having back to back administration without caretaker committee. Our Governor is a man of wisdom who believes so much in democracy. What we are doing here today, after God is our amiable Governor’s hand work. He gave us the platform to do it”. Oseme extoled.

While enjoining the Councillors to go back to their respective wards and reconcile with aggrieved members of their great party, PDP, Oseme urged them to remove sentiment and rancour in politicking, noting that where only unity and love are, development abounds.

Earlier, the Special Assistance on Media to the Chairman of Aniocha North local government area, Comrade Anazia Matthew condemned orchestrated reports on the purported inauguration of the legislative arm of the council area.

In a statement as obtained, Anazia said that the executive chairman of the council, Hon. Chuks Oseme never proclaimed any letter dated 15th January neither did he direct the Deputy Clerk of the House to read or preside over the inauguration as it was reported in the Pointer Newspaper and an online portal using his name for the inauguration.

According to the published report, it read that, “the Inauguration of the Local Legislative Arm was sequel to the proclamation for the inauguration by the Executive Chairman of the Local Government, Hon. Chuks Oseme, through a proclamation letter dated January 15th, 2018 and read by the Deputy Clerk of the Aniocha North Legislative Arm, Mr. Michael Monye, who presided over the ceremony”

The media assistance who described the story as untrue, mischievous and capable of misleading the people of Aniocha North, urged the people of the council to discard and disregard such report that is capable of destroying the local government.

Female Councillors in Aniocha North Local Government Area

Continuing, Anazia stated that, Hon. Chuks Oseme was not aware of any inauguration of the councillors and never directed anybody to represent him, saying that the purported inauguration was null and void and unconstitutional.

“Hon. Oseme is a law abiding citizen of Aniocha North and a respecter of law, whose council’s interest is his priority. Oseme has said over and over again that his personal interest will not override the interest of the people of Aniocha North, and urged the people to drop their personal interest and consider public’s interest for the development of the area”, he emphasized.