- Hold Soludo responsible for crisis in communities — APC
- Those fomenting the crisis sponsored by opposition parties like APC — Soludo’s media aide
By Raymond Ozoji, Awka
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State has urged citizens to hold Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo responsible for crisis tearing communities apart over alleged foisting and imposition of traditional rulers and Presidents-General.
The APC in a press statement signed by the State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Okelo Madukaife, stressed the dire need for the present state government to refrain from meddling in town union elections and installation of traditional rulers not endorsed by the people.
It accused previous APGA governments of making fatal mistakes by prying into community affairs especially when such communities are autonomous and should be allowed the liberty to determine their leaders by themselves.
The press statement mentioned Ifitedunu, Umuona and some other communities in crisis due to government undue and unnecessary interference and meddlesomeness in community affairs.
It explained that the Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU) is not a government agency but an organ solely independent and insulated from government command and control.
The statement reads, “Our dynamic chapter of our great party once again has reasons to resound our initial advice to Anambra State Government, led by Gov. Charles Soludo to completely stay clear of foisting Town Union leaders or traditional rulers for Anambra State towns.
“It is a mistake made back to back by two previous APGA-controlled regimes in Anambra State and a mistake currently being stepped into by the Soludo Government.
“We have seen such misadventures in Ifitedunu, Dunukofia Local Government Area of the State, and Umuona in the governor’s home LG of Aguata.
“Our hope is that the governor, ìn case these unnecessary interventions are being foisted on his government by overzealous aides, should call off the unnecessary balkanisation of towns and creation of further conflicts in Anambra State, while taking steps to resolve those still raging.
“This applies in particular to towns who, in the near and far future would be choosing their town leaders in the two cited categories.
“Instead, the government should hand over all matters relating to the supervision of elections of town unions and selections of traditional rulers to the various local governments, who themselves should be led by elected officials.
“The people of Anambra State will hold Gov. Soludo responsible if things remain the way they are and meddlesomeness persists in these town union elections in which Anambra State funds have in some cases found their way into the distortion and perversion of the political process.
“We seize this moment to remind ASATU, the body formed with noble intents to compare notes in town union development that it is not a government parastatal but an association of autonomous communities, which interest lies with the development of their communities and not the installation of stooges loyal to some interests at the expense of development.
“We look forward to an Anambra State that will not run by command and control because ours is a republican society.”
Reacting to the claims by the APC, the Press Secretary to Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, Mr. Christian Aburime, said it is incorrect to say that the governor should be held responsible for crisis in Anambra communities.
Aburime who stated that the APC seemed to be oblivious of the goings on in the state, reminded them that upon assumption of office, Governor Soludo mandated the Local Government Ministry to ensure that communities that have been at loggerheads for decades were reconciled.
He said elections have been held in virtually all the communities and the elections, he said, were done democratically such that the people determined their leaders by themselves as same democratic process equally applied in the determination of the traditional ruler.
Aburime therefore maintained that Governor Soludo has never imposed any Igwe or PG on any community. He said there are processes and procedures which the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Town Union Matters adopts in consonance with the provisions of the law.
He said those fomenting crisis in communities were those being sponsored by opposition parties like the APC and that they should be held responsible for it, adding that Soludo has brought peace and harmony in all the 179 communities of Anambra State.
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