By Ovat Abeng
The Anambra State House of Assembly member representing Awka South Constituency I, Hon Nigeria Mbachu (Labour party), has called on Anambra journalists to be bold enough to investigate why elective local government administration has not been in place for decade in the State.
He argue that the lack of elective local government system has affected development across the 179 communities that constitute the State.
He said the situation has also cause increment of house rent, insecurity, high cost of food items and over population in Awka, the state capital, due to the rural-urban influx.
He alleged that almost all the Transition Committee Chairmen in the 21 Local Government Area of the State, Traditional rulers, President Generals, local politicians and other top community leaders, for long now, operate from the State capital, because of lack of social amenities in their various council areas.
Read Also: Why President Tinubu Prioritizes Senior Citizens Rights In Renewed Hope Agenda – Betta Edu
Mbachu who frowned over the situation, when he play host to Correspondents’ Chapel (CC) of the Nigeria Union Journalists (NUJ) in the state at his residence in Awka, on Wednesday, noted that the state lawmakers are now performing dual function of lawmaking and running of local government activities, all to meet up the financial needs of those at the rural areas.
He maintained that elective local government system remains the only channel, the rural dwellers can benefit from dividends of democracy.
According to him, there is so much to be done in the remote areas and this can only be achieved through a democratically elected leadership at the Council Areas.
“I worry so much because this tier of government has suffered so much because of lack of Local Government Election.
“Local Government as the 3rd tier of government is the bedrock of governance. Leadership and political tutelage is heavily mounted on this tier of government and should be upheld thus.
“So, I am using this meeting to appealed to the State governor, Chukwuma Charles Soludo to conduct the local government election, as he (the governor), promised Ndi-Anambra during his governorship election campaign in 2021.
“While charging journalists not to be afraid of “people in government” in the society, Hon Mbachu said the people in power can never be more powerful than God who created them.
“You Journalists should always investigate the truth and hold those in power accountable as watchdogs of the society. Always uphold the ethical values of the pen profession by making truth sacrosanct.
“I challenge you all, to investigate why local government election for long now has not been holding in Anambra State.
“Journalists are the ones that bring light to any darkness via their reportage. Therefore, I advised you to be impartial and ensured that you hold the government and individuals accountable while performing your duties,” he added.
The Paradise News gathered that the lawmaker, has made a similar call few weeks ago during the presentation of the 2024 Budget before the State House of Assembly by governor Chukwuma Soludo, where he (the lawmaker) decried the obvious omission of LGAs election in the budget.
