The Bayelsa Deputy Governor, Mr Peter Akpe has urged political office holders in the eight local government areas of the state to prioritise grassroots service delivery.
Akpe gave the charge on Wednesday at an enlarged meeting with council chairmen, principal officers, legislative members, political secretaries and supervisory councillors at the Government House, Yenagoa.
He urged members of the legislative arms to avoid treating politics as a profession, advising them to shun infighting and cooperate with their respective chairmen.
The deputy governor said office holders should regard their current assignments as opportunities to demonstrate their capacity for greater responsibilities in public service.
According to him, serving the people effectively would not be difficult if political office holders viewed their positions as tests for higher responsibilities.
Akpe urged them to use their positions to deliver dividends of democracy at the grassroots and strengthen support for their party ahead of 2027.
He said delivering their polling units should not be viewed solely as an obligation to party candidates but also as a personal responsibility to sustain the political system.
The deputy governor also urged the councillors to play active roles in the forthcoming 30th anniversary of Bayelsa’s creation by sensitising residents about the celebrations.
He said every leadership position or political appointment is an examination that office holders must pass, by demonstrating meaningful contributions during their tenure.
“Every political office is a privilege and an examination they all need to pass, and stand a brighter chance of being entrusted with higher responsibility in public service,” he said.
Akpe urged the political office holders to maintain unity with their respective council chairmen, stressing that disagreements should be resolved through appropriate channels.
“Your position is not to fight or make trouble with your respective chairmen. If there are issues, you bring them up using the right channels for us to address them,” he said.
He described loyalty as essential to effective leadership, urging the councillors to align with the direction of the administration and avoid pursuing conflicting agendas.
“Loyalty is about one captain and his crew. You cannot have a different agenda from the captain and the crew,” Akpe said.
He urged them not to remain passive in their positions, reminding them that they represented the people and had responsibilities to their communities.
“You cannot be in these positions and fold your hands. You are the people at the grassroots,” the deputy governor said.
He urged them to use their positions to strengthen their social and political influence at the grassroots and ensure that their offices produced tangible political dividends.
“Take this as a personal matter to deliver your polling units genuinely. I want you to know that the forthcoming election transcends the flag-bearers; it is about us.
“You have to bring something to the pool,” he said.(NAN)
