LG autonomy: APC chieftain hails Tinubu over move to check govs’ excesses

Chinedum Treasure

The South East Organizing Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Dozie Ikedife (Jnr) has lauded President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government for the move to check excesses of Governors over local government administration.

Ikedife described as rare courage and wisdom the suit instituted at the Supreme Court by the Attorney General of the Federation against the Governors on local governments administration and management of their funds.

Speaking to reporters on Sunday in Nnewi, the APC chieftain declared that the suit prohibiting state Governors from embarking on unilateral, arbitrary and unlawful dissolution of democratically elected local government leaders was commendable.

He also expressed satisfaction as contained in the suit an order permitting the funds standing in the credits of local governments to be directly channelled to them from the Federation Account in line with the provisions of the Constitution as against the alleged unlawful joint accounts created by Governors.

He said the action would bring to an end the Governors’ use of Caretaker Committees as a ploy to siphon local government funds and denial of grassroots development.

He said, “That usage of illegal state joint account system and also illegal Caretaker committees at local government areas have encouraged corruption, brazenness, unemployment, insecurity and also stifling economic and political activities across many council areas in the country.

“President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, GCFR 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 campaign 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.”

Describing as disappointing inability of the APGA-led Government to conduct local government elections since 18 years and 4 months it had been in power in Anambra State, Ikedife accused the party of continued stifling the LG system and siphoning the monthly allocation from Federation Account.

“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 stiffle the LGAs system for the whole of 15 years and four months, because they enjoy siphoning the monthly allocation from Federation Account.

“These 15years and four months of stifling the 21 LGAs in Anambra has impoverished the people,” he posited.

The APC stalwart further identified infrastructure decay as among byproducts of non-conduct of local government elections in the state, adding that the situation had increased the frightening level of insecurity in the state.

“The people of Anambra state gave special thanks to Mr President for the heroic and bold move to have democratically elected local government administrators at the grassroots level,” he added.

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