By Chinedu Opara
When General Olusegun Obasanjo military administration reformed the local government system, he did that for good reasons.
He wanted to bridge the gap government noticed between the federal, state governments and the rural populace; bring government to their doorsteps and promote growth and development, among many other good plans. Like every other Nigerian institution, the system can not be said to have completely realized its mandate .No objective person can say that. But, to an appreciable extent it has giving rural people sense of belonging.
Its early drivers and managers were able to take the system to the modest height it is today, by utilizing the resources at their disposal. With what was given them they provided basic services and projects which impacted the people positively, thereby given them hope.
It is true development at that level may not be happening at break neck speed, but, it would also be wrong to say nothing is going on there and stand on that premise to write off the system.
Undoubtedly, the period spanning1976 to 1999 was period for foundation laying. That was done. Assuming all things had been equal by now more blocks would have been added to the edifice to take development at that level to new heights.However, the 36 states governors who held sway between 1999 to 2007, bluntly and wickedly didn’t allow that happen.
Apparently, driven by rabid gluttony, crave for filthy lucre, authority and limitless powers, those anti grassroots development agents sometime between 2002/03 induced the National Assembly with lorry loads of cash to, amend the 1999 constitution. They made them expunge the financial autonomy clause for local governments and contained in the constitution. And in its place inserted the vexatious conduit pipe called state/Local Government Joint Account, JAAC.
Since those governors successfully hijacked the third tier of government, succeeding generations of governors have toed the same path of literally kidnapping and holding the LG system at gunpoint.However, though this choking stranglehold on the 774 councils is a nation malady, that of Imo State seem to have degenerated so dangerously like a cancerous tumour. ex Gov. Rochas Okorocha laid the foundation of the cancer ravaging Imo’s 27 councils.
I say this without fear of contradiction having been around since Chief Udenwa’s time. In fact, i was both a witness and participant in his time. It was Same story during Chief Ohakims time. It is true Udenwa and co opened the doors of the dark prison in which the system is presently trapped. But, i recall vividly that the councils were alive and kicking under him.
He was fully in charge no doubt but, still allowed the system to run as it should.
JAAC meetings held; monthly allocations publication in newspapers remained sacrosanct and, more than 70% percent of allocation released to the 27 LGs after JAAC. His successor, Chief Ohakim more or less trod same path. It was Okorocha advent which turned the sweet vibe into a mourning dirge. His coming really seemed to have sounded the death bell of that tier in Imo.
As soon as he assumed power and saw money he went berserk. Amid that frenzy he told council workers to proceed on indefinite leave citing non commitment to duty as reason for that rash action. But, in truth he did it to have unfettered access to LG funds. Okorocha banished JAAC and newspaper publication of allocations. At the peak of that usurpation mania, he stopped releasing allocation to the councils.Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha’s election brought respite to the embattled councils. He recovered and returned life to LG secretariats with just one swift stroke of action.
That action was the restoration of financial autonomy to the 27 councils. To guard against sabotaging his noble intentions, he also instituted a strict monitoring regime using the Bureau for Local Government to, prevent TC chairmen from abusing the financial freedom. It paid off hugely. Life was returned to the LG system and visible development sprang up again.
Looking back at his commitment and sincere desire to reposition the system, one can safely assert that he would have conducted LG election as promised.
Perhaps, sensing that Imo people have so much interest in the third tier, Gov Hope Uzodinma while taking over on January 15, 2020, also promised to conduct LG poll within three months.
Two years after taking oath of office, Imo people are still to see him show interest in fulfilling his promise. Rather than do that, he seems more happy taking the people for a ride. But, trust Imo people. Daily eyebrows are being raised and questions are springing up here and there. Many are asking: Imo LG elections: “To be or not to be?
Well, the answer may well be in the negative as it is crystal clear the governor does not seem to see that exercise as priority project.
Indeed, if his body language is anything to go by then we can safely assume that truly hard times await them under him.You need not look far to see what gave rise to this fear. In few weeks the TC committees appointed in 2020 would be two years in office. That is an unimaginable constitutional breach. But, the governor doesn’t seem to be losing sleep over that undisguised illegal. Perhaps, they are being allowed to stay because as is being alleged, they willing tools through which funds meant for projects and salary are being salted away.
And does one need to be told that if those presently calling the shots in Imo are feeding fat on the councils treasury, expecting them to conduct elections will be like expecting a sixty years woman to put to bed. Perhaps, the ISIEC board has now realized that and bolted away after initial “gragra” of preparing for elections.
Apparently, they were initially carried away by the euphoria of appointment, to read the body language of the “oga on top”. Their intoxicated minds didn’t allow them see that their appointment was nothing more than fulfilling righteousness.
Now, their eyes have opened and they are now able to read what they ought to read correctly in the wake of their appointment. I recall that during its dreaming season ISIEC told us March 2022 election is irreversible. Today, we have less than fifty days to the end of March yet, there is no single sign of preparation for election. As a matter of fact, it has not even published the mandatory election notice which the law said must be done ninety days to the election.
Considering this worrisome scenario is there still hope of Gov Hope fulfilling his promise on LG elections?
There is no such hope in sight. That is to say, we are still were we were under Okorocha, under Gov Uzodinma. It may even likely get worse under him if what is happening now is anything to go by.
