By Pamela Eboh
Former Labour Party, (LP) Governorship candidate in Anambra State, Mr Valentine Ozigbo has labelled Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s use of appointees to run local government administration as an act of illegality encapsulated in corruption.
He explained that given the heightened insecurity that has plagued Anambra since Soludo’s administration took office, continuing to remit approximately N175 billion funds without elected local government councils is counterproductive.
Ozigbo who stated this in a post on his verified X account was reacting to a recent court order in Abuja, which restrained the Accountant General of the Federation and the Federal Minister of Finance from further remitting funds due to the 21 local government areas of Anambra State to the Soludo-led state government.
He described the use of appointees chairmen of local government areas as not only corrupt but also illegal.
The former governorship candidate said: “While this news is not entirely cheerful, given that it involves funds due to the local government areas of Anambra, it is a welcome development.
“The corruption-laden use of appointed caretaker committees to manage the affairs of local governments has been consistently deemed illegal.
“It is unfortunate that Anambra’s Governor Chukwuma Soludo has continued this practice since his inauguration on March 17, 2022, despite promises to the contrary.
“Over the past two years, approximately N175 billion may have accrued to these LGAs. Now, imagine the impact this substantial sum could have had on schools, healthcare institutions, markets, and the lives of the people in LGAs like Ayamelum, Ogbaru, Idemili South, and Ekwusigo, which have felt little to no government presence.
“Consider that this approximated N175 billion is not part of the State Government’s allocation or the internally generated revenue in Anambra.
“Given the heightened insecurity that has plagued Anambra since this administration took office, continuing to remit these substantial funds without elected local government councils is counterproductive.”
He however hailed one Chukwuebuka Mmeni Esq.,for dragging the governor to court over the development,casting that he has taken steps to expose the Anambra State Government’s malfeasance.
He also urged the Anambra State Government to avoid wasting resources on legal fees to overturn the order, as it clearly serves the interests of Anambra people.
Ozigbo added, “The illegality of the caretaker committees cannot be overstated, and no sophistry-cloaked legal argument can defend the indefensible.
“Our state would benefit more if the state government redirected funds towards conducting genuine local government elections. Should the governor persist in contesting the order without conducting these elections, I advise my party, the Labour Party, to join the suit to ensure that the right thing is done.”
