IMO LGAs AS CONDUITS OF LOOT
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FOR the past 12 years, Imo state has not had 'democratically' elected chairmen for the Local government areas.The situation of our 27 local governments in the hands of our governors should worry any good willed Imolite. IKEDI OHAKIM who brought in this menace did so with the mantra of one who has  come to work. His shoddy elections at the wake of his exit from the Douglas house was enough illustration of ill will as he selected only PDP chairmen. The chairmen were sworn in on August 9, 2010 by Ohakim, after the controversial Imo local government election of August 7, 2010.The council election was conducted by the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC) headed by Chief Emma Nwoye, said to be an in-law to Governor Ohakim and a staunch member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Then enters ROCHAS OKOROCHA, whose rescue mission wind swept away many policies of the previous government. Thereafter on June 6, 2011 Messiah Okorocha in a broadcast on radio and television dissolved the councils, sacking the 27 council chairmen and their councilors on the premise that it was fraudulent. He did this even when some legal minds in the state raised the alarm, saying it was an abuse of the constitutional rights of the chairmen. Recall that former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Imo State, Chief Livy Uzokwu (SAN) had told a national daily that he was shocked by the dissolution. It was even shocking to many keen observers why a new government, elected by the people, would wish to start governance with litany of litigations capable of heating up the polity and capable of causing serious distraction in a state that voted for speedy change and development. What did he do afterwards? He appointed administrators for the LGs. That was when we knew he was coming for a kill.

The sacked council chairmen, who are all of the PDP stock, could not comprehend why Okorocha wielded the big stick on them. At the initial stage,  they made overtures to join in the rescue mission train of the governor. I would recalled then how these ex-chairmen on May 29, 2011 when Okorocha was sworn in at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri, shed their PDP toga to adorn APGA uniforms with Okorocha's inscriptions on them. But that did not cut any ice with the new governor. Thus Okorocha over-ran the councils with his rescue mission train. The sacked chairmen and their councilors, who were then nursing their bruises, cried blue murder and ran to an Owerri High Court to seek redress.

In the originating summons filed at the state High Court, the council chairmen sought relief through the combined provisions of Section 7(1) of 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and Section 23(1) of the Imo State Local Government Administration Law No. 15 of 2000 (as amended), to determine whether the governor, by himself or through any person acting on his behalf, has the competence or power to dissolve 'democratically' elected local government councils. The rest here is history.

Sadly, Gov. Rochas managed the LGAs with sole administrators for his 8 years reign. When he was done feeding fat on them, he conducted a similar election at the verge of his leaving office and brought in APC chairmen, the same process he condemned Ohakim with.

When EMEKA IHEDIOHA came on board, he disbanded the APC elements that occupied the LGAs and appointed administrators on the logic that the Independent State Electoral Commission, ISIEC, was not properly constituted for that election. He gave his administrators 6 months to prepare for the election, that grace period was subsequently elongated. Perhaps he was to follow the infamous pattern of his predecessors before HOPE UZODIMMA toppled him. Hope has disbanded the administrators appointed by Ihedioha and has appointed his set of administrators which perhaps will watch over for him all through his reign.

What actually is the problem in Imo? In the foregoing, LG allocations would remain at the disposal of the governor who presides over it as it pleases him. And this is what propels them into the bizarre acquisitionn of illicit properties and money laundering. Some of them even introduced a 4th tier government when the 3rd tier is not working. Gone were the days when LGAs were bringing about community development involving provision of social amenities. These days, the sole administrators are just there as caretakers of the governors. All these are happening while the various Houses of Assembly and reputable Imolites are watching with embarrassing apathy as state governors in Imo state use the LG structures as conduits for loot. The present government is not taking a different step from his predecessors. He has just appointed his acolytes who will be there as much as he wants them.

A leep into the disbursements from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) will convince any concerned person that our state governors do not have the priority of developing our local communities. For instance, the distribution of Revenue Allocation to the states and local governments by FAAC last year Febuary shows the Gross and Net Statutory allocations; Gross and Net Vat allocations for Imo. After the statutory deductions in terms of external debt, contractual obligations (ISPO) and mercelinous deductions, the National Bureau of Statistics shows Imo had over N4bn, exclusive of our 13% derivation. This is time to question the gut of our state executives. Since the Assembly members have become full time foot soldiers and hand writings of the state executives, statesmen and concerned persons must help the government carry out her activities as it should be rather than being indifferent. The situation of our local governments does not reflect the administration of the huge sum allocated to these LGAs. most of them with dilapidaying structures only labour to project the flex  banners of the governors and their wives, but the communities have remained underveloped without social amenities simple because the LGAs have become in themselves conduits of loot by our governors who have built fortresses for themselves daring us to go to hell.
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