The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra has described the Supreme Court judgment on remittance of Local Government Council allocation directly to the third tier of government as a “reprieve” for the local government system.
Chief Chigozie Igwe, Chairman of PDP in Anambra, reacted to the judgment in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday.
Igwe said it would address the refusal and reluctance of some state governments to conduct council elections.
He said it would take development and increased democratic participation at the grassroots when council elections were conducted as well as increase awareness among the people which would make them hold officials responsible.
“The judgement is a welcome development for democracy; we are happy for it because the ruling party has been doing all they could to kill the local government system in Anambra.
“Our problem in Nigeria lies with rural development and this cannot take place without the independence at the local government level through a duly elected administration.
“The ruling party in Anambra has been doing all they can to kill the local government system in Anambra but this judgement is a good starting point for it to come alive,” he said.
Igwe called on the Federal Government to ensure that the funds accruing to the councils were not trapped and unaccessed because of absence of elected council officials.
He called on the Anambra government to conduct elections at the local government council election and allow the people of the state to enjoy the benefits of the judgement.
“What this means is that money have been sent back to the people at the grassroots, so people should come down to that level and campaign, tell the people what they want to do for them.
“The judgement will not affect the rate at which people want to be governors; those who want to be governors will pursue their ambition because they have what it takes to be governors not because they want want to brag with allocations of Local Government,” he said.(NAN)
By Chimezie Anaso
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