The National Coordinator of All Progressives Grand Alliance( APGA) Media Warriors Forum, Chinedu Obigwe, has assured that the state governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, will conduct local government elections in the state but nobody should use that to blackmail him.
Obigwe was reacting to a report credited to the House of Assembly member representing Awka South 1, Hon Nigeria Mbachu , that the non-conduct of Local Government elections in the state was partly the cause of kidnapping and other violent crimes in the state.
Mbachu of the Labour Party (LP) had several times suggested the conduct of LG polls in the state as veritable means to create job opportunities for the teeming youth in the state.
The lawmaker had recently picked holes with the 2024 appropriation bill of the state for not containing budget plan for local government elections.
Reacting to Mbachu’s comment, Obigwe took a swipe on the LP lawmaker, stating that he should be invited for interrogation by relevant security authorities to explain further about his comment on how nonconduct of LG elections was causing kidnapping and other vices in the state.
Obigwe said,”I will also state without mincing words that Mbachu goofed by saying that armed robbery, kidnapping and other violent crimes are a product of nonconduct of local government election.
“He truly needs to be invited by security agents to throw more light on this.”
Continuing, the APGA Chief said, “There is a need for Hon Nigeria Mbachu to clarify his claim that Anambra local government councils are run with the imposition of Caretaker Committee members.
“I say this because I know that Nigeria Mbachu as the member representing Awka South 1 constituency in the State House of Assembly has participated in the House of Assembly members screening and confirmation of Caretaker Committee members for our local government councils.
‘All the Caretaker Committee members in our local government passed through House of Assembly screening and confirmation, so I don’t know how Mbachu will justify his claim that they are product of imposition.
Obgwe maintained that,”The appointment of Caretaker Committee members for our local government councils is a creation of law enacted by Anambra State House of Assembly and in that regards, they cannot be described as a product of imposition.
“I will also state without mincing words that Mbachu goofed by saying that armed robbery, kidnapping and other violent crimes is a product of non conduct of local government election.
“Governor Soludo recently declared zero tolerance of potholes on Anambra roads commendable initiative is being executed by the Caretaker Committee Chairmen and ARMA.
“They are more responsive under Governor Soludo administration and the Governor deserves to be commended for partnering with them in transforming Anambra State.
“As for the conduct of local government election, anybody using it to blackmail Governor Soludo is wasting time.
“Agreed that Governor Soludo promised to conduct local government election but the fact remains that he has not told anybody that he will not fulfil that promise.
“Peter Obi that is the national leader of the Labour Party on whose platform Mbachu won his election to represent Awka South 1 constituency in Anambra State House of Assembly conducted local government election two months to his exit from office as Anambra Governor. This was after he stayed in office for 7years and 10months as Anambra Governor.
I’m confident that Governor Soludo will fulfill his promise of conducting local government election but blackmailing him to do that is unacceptable and condemnable.
“If Mbachu is sincere, he should first of all condemn Peter Obi’s conduct of local government election in Anambra 2months to his exit from office as Anambra Governor before talking about Governor Soludo.
“As long as the appointment of Caretaker Committee Chairmen is a creation of the law enacted by Anambra State House of Assembly, anybody raising eyebrows about it is dwelling in self deceit.
