By Emeka Chiaghanam
Mr. Valentine Ozigbo, a
prominent chieftain of the Labour Party (LP), has voiced strong opposition to
Governor Chukwuma Soludo's decision to appoint new transition committee
chairmen for the 21 local government areas in Anambra State.
This move follows the
governor's sacking of previous caretaker council chairmen, an action that has
been met with both support and criticism from various stakeholders.
In a press release, Ozigbo
lauded the High Court's ruling, which ordered the federal government to halt
further remittance of council funds to the state government until local
government elections are conducted. This legal challenge, initiated by Anambra
lawyer Chukwuebuka Mmeni, Esq., has been celebrated by many, including Ozigbo,
as a step towards upholding democratic principles and ensuring accountability
in local governance.
Ozigbo appealed to Governor
Soludo not to allocate state funds towards overturning the court's judgment. He
emphasized that the interests of Anambra's citizens would be best served by
adhering to the court's directive and moving forward with local government
elections. According to Ozigbo, "It is in the best interest of Anambra
people for elections to be conducted. The governor should not expend monies
belonging to the state to challenge a judgment that aims to uphold democratic governance."
Ozigbo's appeal reflects a
wider demand for transparency and democratic integrity in Anambra State's
governance highlighting the growing need for democratic elections at the local
government level. He urged Governor Soludo to focus on holding these elections
instead of relying on temporary measures. Ozigbo stressed that real democracy
at the grassroots is essential for the state's development and fair
distribution of resources.
The backdrop of this appeal
includes the Anambra State House of Assembly's recent passage of a bill for the
establishment of a state electoral commission. While this legislative move
initially raised hopes for imminent local government elections, these hopes
were dashed with the announcement of new transition committee chairmen, who are
expected to serve for another three months. Critics argue that these
appointments could extend indefinitely, mirroring the previous pattern of
continuous tenure renewals.
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