Anthony Iwuoma
Former Anambra State governor and Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, has called out Governor Willie Obiano over his alleged imposition of caretaker committees to run the town unions and local governments in Anambra State, saying it was detrimental to democracy at the grassroots level.
in a statement on Thursday by his media aide, Ngige warned Obiano not to meddle in the internal affairs of his community, Alor in Idemili South Local Government Area, adding that many communities in the state were under bondage and led by undemocratically foisted town union and local government executives, a situation he attributes to communal conflicts in the state.
Noting that town unions are the closest to the people, the minister said: “That is why you have confusion everywhere. It shows that the government has no grip of governance in their place. What they have everywhere is caretaker. We will force the state government to do election in those places through the judicial process.”
On his own community, Ngige stated: “The people of my hometown have democratically elected their own town union government and the traditional ruler, without any external interference, just like every other community would want to and should.
“Anambra Government is pushing Alor. You cannot impose somebody who has no education on the people of Alor, when other towns are presenting people who have diplomas, first degrees, masters, PhDs and even professors as their traditional rulers.”
The minister criticised the state government for its alleged flagrant disobedience of court orders, adding that is not only anti-democratic but also inimical to good governance in the state.
“Anambra State government should learn to obey court judgments. The Alor Peoples Assembly (APA) is a product of court judgment. Justice Oguji of the Anambra State High Court in Awka declared that a caretaker is illegal. He ruled that a caretaker cannot last forever and told Alor people to do their election.
“We went to Okebunoye village hall in February 2019 and did our election for the town union government. The state government went to Appeal Court and the appeal was thrown out for lack of diligent prosecution. Only two weeks ago, they were asking the Court of Appeal to relist the case and at the same time refused to obey the judgment of a competent court even when they don’t have a stay of execution,” he added.
According to the minister, following a security report sent to Abuja by the State Government, claiming that Alor will be in flames, they relocated from the previous venue, Obiezeagbudugbu to St. Mary’s Catholic Church to avert bloodshed.
Ngige, who is rumoured to be interested in contesting the governorship of the state in the next dispensation, said the Obiano government had not done anything for the people. “When they are talking about government, everybody’s attention will be focused on the Federal Government while the state governments will hide somewhere, watching. It is always Buhari didn’t give us this or that. What is Obiano giving you? Today, they cannot even build roads. Anambra people are enjoying roads I built as Governor 17 years ago,” he said.
