The Apex Igbo Sociocultural Organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has condemned the stifling of the rightful autonomy of local government councils across Nigeria.
The organization was reacting to the alarming revelation that some governors have colluded to subvert the resources meant for the upliftment and development of grassroots communities.
Reacting to the news, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Secretary General of the organization said the actions of the governors are a “direct assault on the dignity and rights of the Nigerian populace.”
“It is a tragic irony that these custodians of our collective governance are using their offices as instruments of oppression, effectively brutalizing the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and sapping them of their financial independence and operational integrity,” the group noted.
Recall that the Supreme Court recently granted full administrative and financial autonomy to local councils.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo lamented that the ruling by the apex court is being flouted with impunity by some governors.
“Such conduct is a derision of the foundational tenets of our democratic framework, which relies on the co-equal functioning of the Executive, Legislative, and Judiciary branches of government.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo cannot remain silent in the face of this monumental fraud being perpetrated through the brazen manipulation of the local government system.
“The imposition of puppet chairmen, the controlling influence exerted via state-run electoral commissions, and the alarming emergence of legislation aimed at circumventing Supreme Court decisions are assaults that must be met with resolute resistance.
“The recent actions of the Anambra State House of Assembly, culminating in the passage of the “ANAMBRA LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION LAW 2024,” serve as a glaring example of this legislative madness.
“This law seeks not to empower local governance, but rather to entrench a system of coercion, compelling Local Governments to remit Federal allocations to accounts beholden to state authorities,” the group stated.
The organization expressed concern that such a law could originate from a Southeast Governor, specifically Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State.
“We call upon him to act swiftly to withdraw this reprehensible and unlawful bill, which stands as a direct threat to the autonomy and operational capacity of our local governments.
“We significantly caution that signing this bill into law could irreparably damage his prospects for re-election in the forthcoming 2025 gubernatorial elections of Anambra State,” Mazi Isiguzoro said.
He added: “We implore President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take decisive action by withholding local government allocations from any state that persists in these unlawful practices commencing from October 2024.
“We envisage a Nigeria where Federal allocations designated for local governance are protected from the grasp of Governors seeking to exploit them for personal or partisan gain.
“We call upon our fellow citizens to rise in solidarity against the reckless excesses and mischief of our executive leaders.
“The time is ripe for an awakening, a collective assertion of our rights, and a resonating demand for accountability.”
