Residents back protest against non-conduct of LG elections in Anambra
Some residents of Anambra have given support to the protest led by a civil society organisation, Recover Nigeria Project(RNP), urging Governor Willie Obiano to conduct local government elections.
RNP had, in collaboration with the Tippers Association Anambra state chapter and Association of Anambra state former local government councillors, on Wednesday organised a protest against the non- conduct of local government elections.
A former Vice-Chairman of one of the local government areas in state, Hon. Chidera Okoli told South East Trust that the conduct of local government elections in the state was long overdue and urged the governor to urgently hold elections to create jobs for the local communities.
He said that the local government election was critical to the institutions of democracy in the country and must be accorded priority at all times.
“It is when you have elected officials at the local government levels that the younger ones can be engaged and be productive. Local government councils create jobs and reduce youth restiveness,” he said
A resident, Okechukwu Ebenebe, said that the protest would compel the government to do the needful by conducting the elections.
“The governor should conduct elections into local government offices. He should not wait until people start protesting before he does the needful,” he said.
However, the Chairman of Ohaneze Ndigbo in Anambra State, Damian Okeke-Okeke, told South East Trust on phone that since the government said there was a pending case against the conduct of the election in court, the residents should trust and respect it.
“I cannot have a different opinion when government said there is a pending case on the issue in Supreme Court. We must learn to trust our leaders and our government,” he said.
The group had demanded that the state government should conduct council elections before January 2021 or face civil disobedience.
The convener, Osita Obi, described the non-conduct of the election as ‘criminal denial’ of citizens’ political right for close to eight years of the present administration.
He said a vibrant local government system was the fastest means of reaching out to the people at the grassroots.
The State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr. C Don Adinuba, said the drivers were being manipulated by some opposition in the state to create problems.
“The protest by some tipper drivers in the state is politically motivated by opposition parties,’’ he said in a statement.
He said they were also ignorant that the issue was before a competent court and holding the election would be subjudice.