From 2011 to date, local government areas of Imo State have remained in tatters with hunger, suffering, insecurity and under-development devastating communities, hamlets, kindreds and families, with the local government administration lacking autonomy.
This is because the state government championed by moneybags over the years refused to constitutionally conduct elections that could have ushered in God- fearing and development- oriented leaders to champion the cause of the people who produce the wealth of the state.
Political authorities at the state have refused to adopt autonomous status for local governments and the judiciary as urged by federal government with the intent to continue to dictate, maneuver and siphon local government funds.
Speaking to News Echo, the people who frowned at the backwardness and negativity blamed state government for being less concerned at the welfare, wellbeing and safety of rural dwellers. They cautioned against playing politics with the people’s needs and services to the communities who lay the golden eggs that feed the state, stating that these needs must be consolidated and secured for continued success and cordiality.
A youth leader of Obazu Mbieri, Mbaitoli local government, Comrade Chima Sylvester called on Imo State House of Assembly to make a law that will compel the executive to hold periodic local government elections.
“Another thing that will bring smiles in the faces of the people especially those living at the rural areas is the immediate dissolution of the constituted interim management committee chairmen and supervisory councilors following legitimate elections”.
A Journalist and an indigene of Irete community, Owerri West, Deacon Dan Opara said he wants government to do the needful by organizing a fair council election. “I am of the opinion that the federal government should mandate all states especially Imo State to conduct council election so as to attract development and economic growth in the rural areas”.
Local government election, according to Barr Owulezi Anthony, a native of Obizi, Ezinihitte Mbaise, “was long overdue. But it is better late than vacuum. Therefore, I urge government to adopt local government autonomy to strengthen good governance (democracy) so that representative government breeds more administrative values and thereby improve better living with peace and tranquility being the hallmark of the society”.
Uwulezi stressed the need for “state government to allow local government administrators the full liberty and the capacity to positively effect changes through free and credible elections. The people are in dire need of quality infrastructure, qualitative and affordable education, employment opportunities which a working local government administration would naturally provide for the people. The freedom of the local government and that of the judiciary are very important and ought not to be toiled with by the state government”.
Owulezi observed that the electoral umpire, Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC), should be directed and encouraged to smoothen the local government election process with sense of sanity, decorum, discipline and sincerity of purpose.
A businessman and politician, a native of Ihitte- Oji, Ogwa, Mbaitoli, Ejikeme Stanley frowned that “the ruins in the local government council are being caused by executive recklessness driven by greed and lack of vision. The people should be given the chance to exercise their franchise through popular election to enable them produce capable people who they want to represent them. For donkey years, the hinterlands are denied of social amenities hence we demand for prompt council election. Community wealth should be used to develop the community to the good and benefit of the people who are the prime owners of government”.
A native of Orsu local government area and a teacher, Aguocha Ujunwa, noting that “from 1999 to 2007, former governor of the state, Chief Achike Udenwa, held and fully funded local government council poll which enabled people to fully participate in the affairs of the local government such as they benefited from largesse and goodies of his government”.
“Throughout Udenwa’s regime, the people were adequately represented in the local government council. People applauded Udenwa for his good governance which manifested in the credible conduct of elections. This feat by Udenwa should be adopted to reduce hunger, death and violence in the land”.
A civil servant, Nwabugo Noraurged called on Governor Uzodimma to emulate the pattern of Udenwa and Ohakim who held local government election and allowed the people to participate in the day to day activities of government and tackled hunger and insecurity. Allocations of the local government should be used judiciously for socio- economic advancement. Uzodimma should jettison handpicking local government council leadership with the tendency to control council allocations at the detriment of the people”.
Nwabugo who works in Owerri West local government council headquarters, advised Uzodimma not to tow Okorocha’s path who he accused of mismanaging local government allocations and held a kangaroo election few months to the end of his second tenure.
“As we speak, the local governments in Imo State are shadows of themselves. This was worst during the rescue mission regime. Adversely, Okorocha killed local government administration for 8 years. He never accounted to the people how he used the council allocations for 8 years. He selected his family members, loyalists and cronies to man local governments who eventually left the council to coma. His Community Government Council (CGC) was a flop, a mirage and a slap to viable democracy.
The local government election he held was adjudged the worst council election in South East. Only one seat was won by the opposition in both chairmanship and councillorship seats. Many workers were sacked after cutting 13 percent in our salaries just as retirees were suffocated without any payment of their pension. Thank God he never came back for the third term through his proxy son-in- law on whom he wasted public finance on campaigns and elections”.
Nwabugo also blamed Emeka Ihedioha for not holding local government election within the period he held sway as governor of Imo State. “Ihedioha was in office for more than seven months. He could not hold council election and repeated the error of Okorocha whom he vehemently opposed for killing the local government administration. Although, his sudden outstay abrogated the local government election which was slated for December, 2020. Uzodimma should not cash into these errors of his predecessors otherwise the local government areas remain in shackles of backwardness, poverty, hunger and insecurity”.
Speaking during a courtesy visit to Owerri West and the security agencies in Imo State respectively, chairman, Imo State Independent Electoral Commission, Hon Charles Ohiri, disclosed that soon local government election will be held in the state, as he begged the government to perfect its words on the election”.
The ISIEC boss told the people of Owerri West to be ready to fully participate in the local government council election. “It was a huge success as the ISIEC visited Owerri West local government area led by Mrs. Pauline Onyeka, myself, Hon Charles Ohiri and other members of the commission who were received by the Interim Management Committee chairman of Owerri West, Hon. Okechukwu Enyioha, monarchs and other notable leaders of the locality.
“We brought to them the good news of our preparations for the forthcoming Imo local government general election. We sensitized them on what they should know and also asked to know areas they need our help in order to make it a successful one, which they cooperated perfectly and assured us full support to conduct the free and fair election.
“I joined my colleagues on a courtesy visit to all security agencies in Imo State to brainstorm on how to actualize a peaceful, free and fair local government election in Imo State. Imo State Independent Electoral Commission is not leaving any stone unturned in its quest to ensure that local government councils in Imo are manned by elected officials as mandated by His Excellency, Hope Uzodinma. It is our greatest priority to get it right this time. With God, we believe that it is all achievable”
To this end, these concerned Imo indigenes had reiterated the need for government to fasten the smooth conduct of local government election in order to mitigate suffering and insecurity bedeviling the people with quality infrastructure, education, employment and socio- economic development.
They added that autonomous status should be accorded to the local government council so that state executive would not tamper with local administration, allocations and internally generated revenues at the expense of the people, saying youths and women should be meaningfully empowered and availed the opportunity to work for the good of their communities, hamlets and families via local government council support and encouragement.
