Imo State: Dissolution of LGA council and matters arising

Imo State: Dissolution of LGA council and matters arising

Written by Nwaorgu Faustinus

The not too long ousted administration of Chief Ikedi Ohakim by Imo Electorate ascended the position of authority and power in 2007 through what most people believed to be wurururu election (election characterized by irregularities). From 2007 to late last year, he used stooges as his Sole administrations in the 27 local government areas in the state, allegedly slashing their allocation as he pleases. For three years he ran the affairs in Imo, he did not deem it necessary to call for elections in the council areas through the state’s INEC until late last year August, when election were conducted which observers in the state saw as a fraud.

Being so-called political neophytes, cowards, surrogates and godsons who were merely handpicked and rigged into office, they dare not complain about what they receive as their allocation for fear of being shown the way out.

This was the quandary most Local Government Areas if not all found themselves during the ostensible infamous administration of Chief Ikedi. The above situations accounts for the awesome outing of the 27 LGAs in the areas of primary school renovation, road maintenance and many others. It is believed that the council chairmen and councilors did not only do well within their short stay in office because of supposedly random deductions made in their allocations but also many of them lack the vision of what do with fund they receive. Instead as being alleged, they lined their bottomless vaults and shared what is left of the allocation among those (political godfathers) that rigged them into office.

Tell me how these visionless council men can be allowed to continue to administer the LGAs when they do not have anything to show for the allocation they are getting. Here in Rivers State some local governments have gone into setting up fish ponds, poultry farm and so on which has helped in creating jobs for their youths. Why can’t our Council Chairmen borrow a leaf from them? Can our chairmen honestly account for the allocation they receive in addition to the internally generated revenue?

It is therefore not a surprise to many observers of Imo State politics that the newly elected and sworn in Governor of the Eastern Heartland, Mr.Owelle Rochas dissolved all the 27 council areas yesterday. To many, it is an awaited positive development not minding other contrary views. Kenneth Uwadi who has been defending the former governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim when he held sway captured what happened yesterday  in one of his pieces titled “Rochas Okorocha’s Temper May Be His Worst Enemy” published on the 4th of June 2011 in some internet based media sites. He wrote, and I quote, “To me no one should keep a trigger anywhere near the governor. His temper can parachute and he blows someone’s head off. He also needs good advisers near him always if he wants to succeed. I heard he plans to in a few weeks dissolve the 106 newly recognized autonomous communities in Imo state and sack the Chairmen and Councilors of Local Government Areas in the state. This idea is not a good one. It is too early for the governor to throw the state into uncertainty and tension. He should look before he leaps.

Immediately the news of the dissolution filtered in, sympathizers of the affected council chairmen and councilors challenged though verbally, the action of the governor. It is important to note that those also affected by what some have come to describe as Owelle’s “unacceptable June birthday gift” are the State Council of Traditional Rulers headed by Eze Cletus Ilomuanya and the Acting vice-chancellor of Imo State University (IMSU).

For those affected by this development, they should seek redress in any competent law court. Until then, Imo state people are ever ready to watch how this latest onslaught on LGA Councilors, Chairmen and others will play out.     

Nwao(r)gu, Faustinus Chilee writes from Igboetche, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Mobile: +2348035601312. Email: fausteness@yahoo.com