By Anselem Anokwute
The embattled elected chairmen of the 27 LGAs of Imo State and their councilors have rejected the suspension order slammed on them by the Imo State governor, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha last Monday, June 17, 2019. This is coming days after the governor has sworn in Transitional Committee Chairmen.
The ALGON chairman Imo State chapter, Barr. Gerald Mgborogwu gave the hint in Owerri while briefing journalists.
According to him, the suspension order was unruly and unconstitutional because it is only the councilors that reserve the right to effect such order or resolution on any erring council chairman and not Imo State House of Assembly, as the case may be.
He maintained that, it is an executive blunder for governor Ihedioha to cite laws purportedly repealed few days ago as a reason for his action which the ALGON chairman described as illegal, null, and void, and of no effect.
Mgborogwu said the councils chairmen and their councilors are ever ready to work with Ihedioha and have extended on Olive branch to him by not only openly congratulating him but also have visited his Mbutu home residence in a solidarity and friendship visit but the governor according to him failed to honour any of their visits and have not in any way called them for a meeting.
He maintained that the elected chairmen and councilors are predominantly APC members with few others and that the election that brought them into power last August 2018 was never contested at any court of competent jurisdiction and called for understanding of the governor to avoid mistakes.
He used the medium to inform the party APC National office Abuja of their suffering in the hand of PDP in Imo State and also the National Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) not to release any money or monthly allocations to non elected council chairmen and councilors to avoid money laundering and disruptions in the new economic policy.
Other LGA chairmen who spoke include Hon. Kenneth Obioha, Chairman of Njaba LGA who was in a meeting with the Councilors. He said that they are yet to receive any suspension letter from the governor. Others are Chief Bathram Mba, Chairman of Mbaitoli LGA who also declared that work is going on irrespective of the distraction from the state and re-emphasized that the LGA autonomy has created a big hitches between the government at the Federal, States and LGAs which he said has placed the Councils in a better developmental pedestrian. The Chairman of Orsu LGA, Hon. Ndubuisi Okonkwo posited that they are legitimately elected to serve their people and could not relent to dislodge any attempt to destroy the system by any body irrespective of political positions or affiliations and otherwise. He called for more unity amongst the Councilors and the 27 LGA chairmen.
