By Sylvanus Viashima, Jalingo
JALINGO (PRECISE POST) – The Association of Former Elected Councillors of Nigeria (AFECON) says unity across the Six States that make up the Northeast region is key to tackling insecurity, maintaining peace and bridging the development imbalance especially at the grassroot level.
Hon. Bello Gabdo, the newly elected regional Chairman of the association said this during his acceptance speech shortly after his inauguration ceremony in Jalingo on Sunday.
Gabdo said the association that has members from the 1,321 wards of the region is working to ensure the necessary synergy across the region including intelligence sharing to make the fight against insecurity more proactive and give governance a sense of direction by pointing the actual needs of the people to those in authority.
“We will promote ideals of good governance and service to our people; and we would be a voice for peace, security and development in a region that has suffered for too long.
“It is also our top priority to ensure the unity of the 1,321 wards. I will unite Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Taraba, Gombe and Bauchi as one family. No Local Government Area and no ward will be left behind.
“I will work with the North East governors for the welfare, dignity and inclusion in political appointment and empowerment of all former elected councillors who served in the 1,321 wards.
“The North East has suffered insurgency, displacement and underdevelopment for decades. As leaders who know all 1,321 wards by heart, we will work with our Governors, the Federal Government and development partners to advocate for peace, reconstruction and sustainable development.
“We will bring forward the needs of our wards and the experience of those who have served them. We will be the voice that tells those in authority what our people really need” Gabdo said.
Earlier, chairman of the inauguration committee Prince Tukur Yerima said that “as former elected councillors, we represent the heartbeat of local governance and the true voices of our local government areas. We have walked with our people at the grassroots through times of growth and times of challenge. Today’s inauguration of our newly elected North East Zonal Executives is a bold declaration of our shared commitment to build a stronger, united, and peaceful region. AFECON North East stands ready to collaborate with government institutions, traditional leaders, and regional bodies to foster peace, economic growth, and democratic stability across our communities.
“To the incoming Zonal Executives being inaugurated today: you carry the trust and mandate of thousands of former councillors across the North East. We charge you to lead with integrity, inclusivity, and vigor”.
In his speech, the outgoing acting Chairman Hon. Shagari Umar said that the idea of forming the association was birthed after seeing how most of the former elected Councillors were completed ignored and the hardship they face after service.
He urge the members to keep the flag flying and prayed that the association will become a forum that will not only project the plight of the former elected Councillors, but will become a voice that speaks for the people at the grassroots and proceed practical solutions to the challenges plaguing the region.
