Maduako Igbokwe I Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023
AWKA, Nigeria – Anambra State House of Assembly member representing Awka South Constituency I, Hon Nigeria Mbachu of the Labour Party, LP has stated that most of the insecurity and crimes in the state are majorly caused by refusal to conduct of local government council elections.
Mbachu frowned at the government’s insensitivity to the need of having elected members at the local government councils,which he described as the breeding ground for future leaders and politicians.
He made the statement on Wednesday evening when he hosted the Correspondents’ Chapel (CC) of the Nigeria Union Journalists (NUJ), Anambra State at his residence in Awka, the state capital.
According to him,if the local government councils elections were conducted,it would assist to reduce the level of increasing rate of insecurity and crimes in the state.
Mbachu said that due to non existence of local government councils,all Transition Committee Chairmen in the 21 Local Government Area of the State, Traditional rulers, President Generals, local politicians and other top community leaders are now living in the state capital,thereby increasing house rent and standard of living.
He said that if the local governments are in place ,there will not be need for all of them to shift their base to the state capital.
According to him,any chairman, who resides among his people would know their challenges and address them.
He wondered how LGA chairman and all the politicians in the state will be operating from the State capital, because of lack of social amenities in their various council areas.
“Honestly,the non conduct of LGA elections have caused increment in house rent, insecurity, high cost of food items and over population in Awka, the state capital, due to the rural-urban influx” he said.
He argued that the lack of elective local government system has affected the development of the state across the 21 local government councils and 179 communities that constitute the State.
“Those youths who are supposed to be groomed at the local government areas are neglected,thereby leaving them to roam the streets and becoming easy catch for criminal activities.
” We are complianing of unemployment,yet government is not making efforts to allow the LGA that would absolve many of youth to function.
The state lawmakers are now performing dual function of lawmaking and running of local government activities, all to meet up with the economic and social needs of those at the rural areas” he said .
He maintained that elective local government system remains the only channel, the rural dwellers can benefit from dividends of democracy and stay back.
According to him, there is so much to be done in the remote areas and this can only be achieved through a democratically elected leadership at the council areas.
“I am worried because this tier of government has suffered so much because of lack of Local Government Election in the state over the years.
“Local Government as the 3rd tier of government is the bedrock of governance. Leadership and political tutelage is heavily mounted on this tier of government and should be upheld.
“So, I am using this opportunity to appealed to the State governor, Prof Charles Soludo to conduct the local government election, as he promised Ndi-Anambra during his governorship election campaign in 2021” he said .
Mbachu also called on Anambra journalists to be bold enough and stand firm to hold those in government accountable to the people.
“I want the journalists to investigate and tell the Ndi Anambra why elective local government administration has not been in place for over a decade in the state” he said.
While charging journalists not to be afraid of “people in government” in the society, Hon Mbachu said the people in power can never be more powerful than God who created them.
“You Journalists should always investigate the truth and hold those in power accountable as watchdogs of the society. Always uphold the ethical values of the pen profession by making truth sacrosanct.
“I challenge you all, to investigate why local government election for long now has not been holding in Anambra State for years.
“Journalists are the ones that bring light to any darkness via their reportage. Therefore, I advised you to be impartial and ensure that you hold the government and individuals accountable while performing your lawful duties, he added.
Our correspodent also gathered that the lawmaker had made a similar call few weeks ago during the presentation of the 2024 Budget before the State House of Assembly by governor Charles Soludo, where he decried the obvious omission of LGAs election in the budget.
