ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – After 15 years of being in office, the Governor of the Erbil province Nawzad Hadi announced his resignation on Tuesday a day after the Erbil Provincial Council held a farewell ceremony for him. In his farewell press conference, Hadi thanked Erbil’s diverse population for supporting him following his ascension to the post after deadly attacks in 2004. “I am thanking the people of Erbil city, people from the districts, sub districts and villages of Erbil province, and all the components including Kurds, Christians, Turkmen and Arabs for giving me confidence to assume the post of governor following the February 1 incidents,” said Hadi. Hadi ascended to the position of the governor in the wake of the February 1, 2004 twin suicide attacks on the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) offices in Erbil, which left more than a hundred people dead, including the Erbil Governor at the time Akrem Muntek. Hadi heralded his leadership at the event, touting Erbil’s plan to expand its series of circular roads spiraling out from the historic citadel in the city center. The 120 meter road was nearly completed and work on the 150 meter road began during Hadi's time in office. The city's limits have widened, from three kilometers from its citadel core to 13 kilometers. “These are the giant achievements which completely reflected with the development of the livelihood of people, businessmen, traders, all the other sectors of Erbil," he said. The aim is for commuters in Erbil’s suburbs and surrounding towns to use the ring roads before entering smaller, more congested roads within the city. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has repeatedly blamed the conflict with the Islamic State (ISIS), a global downturn in oil prices, and budget disputes with Baghdad for delays in the region’s infrastructure projects. Hadi thanked support from the KRG’s administrations for the health, traffic, education and other projects they did complete during his tenure. “The KRG’s fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, for supporting us and we have always worked in team group to serve Erbil,” he said, referring to the successive KRG governments, of which the ninth is currently in power. Hadi’s replacement is Firsat Sofi, a former member of the Kurdistan Region parliament from the ruling KDP. “I am wishing all the best to Mr. Dr. Firsat Sofi who is the KDP’s nominee for this post,” said Hadi. “Indeed he will need support from all of us to succeed in serving the capital and maintain services.”
