Former United Progressive party, UPP candidate for Orlu zone and Caretaker Committee Chairman of Imo state council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Comrade Precious Nwadike has called on the Imo state governor, senator Hope Uzodinma to as a matter of urgency conduct Local government election.
Nwadike who alongside others featured as guests during a phone in program at Boss FM radio station in Owerri over the weekend maintained that the excuse adduced by the Imo state independent electoral commission, ISIEC is quite flimsy and baseless, asking that if insecurity could be reason for postponing election, how come Ngor Okpala election held and government appointees were seen everywhere during the election.
The former National President of Orluzurumee Youth Assembly attributed the inability of government to conduct LGA election and provide job opportunity as part of the major reasons for insecurity in the state. He urged the governor to expedite action and ensure elections are held in the 27 local government areas of Imo state.
Explaining the sad state of the local government system in Imo, the human rights activist hinted that the government prefers caretaker committee, even when it knows is illegal , aimed at shortchanging the rural dwellers as such appointments make beneficiaries subservient to their master .He said, “it is no longer news that since the emergence of the Uzodinma led government , none of the LGAs in Imo has received more than #35million for capitaal projects when in actual sense, no local Government of Imo State has received anything less than #80Million,monthly.” What is the rest of the money used for?”, Nwadike queried
Nwadike argued that section 7 of the 1999 constitution did not empower the governor to appoint any person other than elected officers to oversea the local government councils. He also quoted section 14 of 1999 constitution which empathizes on the sovereignty of the people, adding that subsection 2 paragraph (b) says the primary responsibility of a government is to ensure security and welfare of the people.
The Orlu LGA born journalist called on the electorate to ask relevant questions as to how they are being governed since the constitution places such responsibility on them.
