•Sir Jonas Odocha
With the clamour for democratic governance as the ultimate for national development and people emancipation, local communities remain the litmus test of its accomplishment. Little wonder that the Local Government Authorities [LGAs] have been accorded the grassroots tier of governance, following the Federal and State tiers of governance. If we must be honest to ourselves, it is glaringly obvious that ample evidence exists, illustrating that the LGAs have been completely emasculated.
Growing up in this same Nigeria in the 40s, 50s and early 60s, one could witness the role and impact of LGAs in education, health, agriculture, and rural infrastructure maintenance. Primary schools flourished, there were dispensaries and maternities, Food security was boosted and Rural road infrastructure received routine maintenance. And all these, and more, were accomplished when agriculture was the mainstay of the Nigerian economy. But today, with all the oil boom and growing population, the local communities have been abandoned with the emasculation of the LGAs.
That the state governments have routinely hijacked and appropriated the funds of the LGAs is an open secret. This unwholesome scenario necessitated the passage of the law for the separation of state and LGA funding. This has been flouted, and state governors have continued to ride roughshod on this malfeasance. Three years after its passage, our erstwhile president lamented the action of governors in conniving with LGA chairmen in the misappropriation and misapplication of LGA funds. This is sheer rudderless governance and lily-livered leadership.
State governors have consistently disregarded the constitution to manipulate the removal or selection of LGA chairmen and councillors, via kangaroo elections in which the ruling party shamelessly scores 100% victory.
Imagine the current complaint of the Ogun State, Ijebu East LGA chairman, concerning the state governor “hijacking LGA funds.” You can also imagine the thunderous complaints of the reported sham of the Edo State LGA election held on September 2. Unfortunately, the issue of late arrival of INEC voting materials has reared up its ugly head again. But why must this INEC logistics impasse continue to occur where the ruling party is not comfortable or sure of victory? This is a sad commentary on our election transparency and fairness.
The reported over 60% Nigerians in the multi-dementionally poor bracket come from our local communities. The state governors and their LGA conniving chairmen must be directly held accountable for this inexplicable scenario. Regrettably, we must equally condemn the weakness and indifference of both the leadership of the executive and legislative arms at the 6 confronting these erring governors. All these, unfortunately, translate to RUDDERLESS GOVERNANCE.
•Sir Jonas Odocha writes from Abuja, Nigeria.
