From David Onwuchekwa, Nnewi
The South East Organizing Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Dozie Ikedife (Jnr), has commended the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu for the move to check the excesses of governors over local government administration.
Mr. Ikedife, in an interview, described the suit filed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) against the governors on local government administration and management of their funds at the Supreme Court as a rare courage.
He said the suit prohibiting state governors from unilateral, arbitrary and unlawful dissolution of democratically elected local government leaders was commendable.
He said the action would bring to end governors using caretaker committees as a ploy to siphon local government funds, thereby denying grassroots development.
He said “that the usage of illegal state joint account system and illegal Caretaker committees at local government has encouraged corruption, brazenness, unemployment, insecurity and also stifling economic and political activities across many council areas in the country.”
“President Ahmed Bola Tinubu has in this singular action proved that he is one of the greatest democrats, heroes and a courageous leader of our time.
“Anambrarians who are among the victims of non-conduct of local government election for nearly two decades will, across different political divides and religious leverages, be the highest beneficiary of this brave move by Mr President, if the Supreme Court delivers judgment in favour of the Federal Government as it concerns this all important suit instituted against the 36 states Governors.
“The Governor of Anambra State, Prof Charles Soludo had during his electioneering in 2021 promised Anambrarians to do the council elections within six months if elected. But Governor Soludo has refused to honour his campaign promise after two years and four months since assumption of office and he has not taken any step towards making any arrangement for the conduct of the local government elections.”
He noted that the APGA-led government has been in power for eighteen years and four months in Anambra State with nothing to show for it. “It’s very shameful and disappointing that APGA Governments for this length of time gave Anambrarians democracy at the council level only for three years while they continued to stifle the LGAs system for the whole of fifteen years and four months, because they enjoy siphoning the monthly allocation from Federation Account, “he submitted.
He blamed infrastructure decay in the state on non conduct of local government elections, adding that the situation had increased the level of insecurity in the state to a frightening level.
