Chairman of the Warri South council area of Delta, Dr Michael Tidi, has inaugurated the immediate past Secretary to the Warri South Local Government Area, Mr Joseph Oribioye, for a second term in office.
Tidi who spoke at the inauguration ceremony which took place at the Warri South Council Secretariat on Friday congratulated Oribioye for emerging as the Secretary of the council area for the second time back to back.
Tidi who described the nomination and subsequent confirmation of Oribioye as the Secretary to Local Government at the Delta State House of Assembly in Asaba on Thursday as “divine,” urged him to continue the good work.
Tidi also commended Hon Austin Oroye and Hon Matthew Opouro, members representing Warri South Constituency 1 and 2 respectively at the State House of Assembly, for their support.
He said history was made today when he reappointed Oribioye for the second time as the SLG, noting that this has never happened in the history of the council.
“I want to thank the two members of the Warri South Constituency, Hon Austin Oroye and Hon Matthew Opouro, who stood firmly behind the nomination and confirmation of the SLG,” he said.
He explained that the member representing the Warri South Constituency 1, Hon Austin Oroye having received the letter sent by him to the house of Assembly, presented the SLG to the House for screening and confirmation.
“The nomination was not an easy process. So Mr Joseph Oribioye I congratulate you, your wife and your family for your confirmation as the SLG,” Tidi said.
He also thanked the leaders of Warri South council area for throwing their weight behind Mr Oribioye’s nomination, adding that his nomination was a divine mandate.
He said that as politicians when he was seeking for re-election several huddles were thrown at him, and one them was the request to sacrifice the position of the SLG if he wants to become the chairman again.
But he said because of the trust he had in Mr Oribioye, he had to put his political career on the line to retain Mr Oribioye as the SLG.
“For those of you who know Michael Tidi, I will not betray a friend who has been very loyal in every sense of the word.
“Ask me of a man who is loyal, ask me of a man who is God fearing, ask me of a man who is a true family man, ask me of a man who believes in the fidelity of his marriage, ask me of a man who is intelligent and I will point to Mr Joseph Oribioye,” said.
He also thanked Chief Dr Roland Oritsejafor, Chief Dr Joseph Otumara, Hon Vincent Uduaghan, and the Warri South PDP chairman, Johnson Agbeyegbe, and others for the critical role they played in the nomination and confirmation of Oribioye.
“Oribioye is the architect of all that we do here in the council. Wake him up early in the morning and he will tell you the policy trust of this council,” Tidi said.
He charged politicians and civil servants in the council to hold loyally and sincerity to their heart, saying that many have been elevated to high position because of their loyalty and sincerity.
He urged the people of the council to stop making their leaders to fight one another through the social media.
“Social media today, has become a platform where certain leaders or certain overzealous followers of certain leaders choose to disparage themselves on social media.
“This is not right. Please let’s desist from it. Some off then have proxy accounts which they used to abuse leaders. If you are doing this remember that one day, you are going to be a leader.
“From what the country is going through today, we cannot afford to have inflationary remarks. We cannot tolerate any inciting speech today. If you think you have freedom of speech which is guaranteed according to the constitution of Nigeria, remember that there is a limit to that your freedom of speech if infringes on the right of another, you can be taking to court.
“Today there is no part of this country that is not tensed. It is by the grace of God that Warri is still at peaceful as we are today.
“We should not make statements that will incite people to come and protest against government which will lead to the burning of national assets” Tidi said.
Responding the Secretary to Warri South Local Government Area, Mr Joseph Oribioye thanked Dr Tidi for giving him the opportunity to serve in the council for the second time.
Oribioye promised to continue to deliver on the services that is required of him by the people of Warri South and all residents in the council with the fear of God.
“We have seen cases where leaders sacrifice everybody around them to become whatever they want to be. But in this case, chairman (Tidi) sacrificed himself for me to be where I am today. I want to say, thank you so much sir.
“Today it’s all about giving thanks to God for making history as the Secretary to Local Government that is serving back to back. It’s a rare privileged and honor for me to stand here today.
“That privilege and honor could not have been possible without you. And I will cherish this privilege and honor for the rest of my life,” Oribioye said.
