EKET (Akwa Ibom) – Chief Nduese Essien, former Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, has appealed to the national and the state houses of assembly to pass a law to grant full autonomy to local governments.
Essien made the appeal while addressing newsmen in Eket when he was honoured by Eket Peoples Union on Saturday.
According to him, full autonomy will enable the tier of government to carry out its constitutional duties to the grassroots people.
He lamented the deplorable state of the third tier of government all over the country.
Essien said that in the past, local governments were able to carry out tangible development that touched the lives of grassroots people.
“Today, many local governments are not able to carry out development projects apart from payment of salaries to their over bloated workforce. [eap_ad_2]
“In some parts of the country, we hear reports of how political leaders and elders insist on sharing council funds among themselves and their gladiators,’’ he said.
He decried an “unhealthy development in the polity of Akwa Ibom where young people now line up against their elders”.
He expressed worry that if the situation persisted, youths would lose the benefit of learning from the experiences of the elders.
He says that a good leader will always groom a successor and leave the scene when the ovation is loudest.
“That is why I have decided not to seek any elective position again in my lifetime,’’ Essien said.
Essien said that 25 governorship aspirants in Eket Senatorial District had declared interest in the governorship of Akwa Ibom in 2015.
He called on the people to choose the best from amongst aspirants from the senatorial district.
He advised aspirants not to see governorship election as an employment opportunity, saying that the office was a serious institution that carried great and challenging responsibilities. (NAN) [eap_ad_3]
