Soludo Sacks 21 LG Chairmen, Sparks Political Firestorm
Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo, has dismissed all 21 local government transition committee chairmen in a move that has sparked a political firestorm across the state. The governor’s decision, communicated in a letter signed by the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Collins Nwabunwanne, dated May 17, has been met with a mixed reaction from the public and political stakeholders.
The sacked chairmen have been instructed to hand over the administration of the councils to the Heads of Local Government Administrations (HLGAs) by Monday, May 20. This directive has been seen as a significant shake-up in the state’s political landscape, with various political parties and civil society groups expressing their views on the matter.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra has called for Governor Soludo’s resignation, citing his inability to conduct local government elections since assuming office over a year ago. The party also suggested that the Federal Government should appoint a “caretaker governor” to run the affairs of the state, a move that has been criticized by the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
The APGA, on the other hand, has defended the state government’s actions, pointing to a “litany of litigation” at the courts as the reason for the delay in holding local government elections. The party’s chairman, Mr Ifeatu Obi-Okoye, has also cited a Supreme Court judgment that empowers the state government to set up the Local Government Area Transition Committee.
The sacking of the chairmen has also drawn attention to the broader issue of local government autonomy in Nigeria. The 21 local government areas in Anambra have been under the control of the Local Government Area Transition Committee chairmen, appointed by the governor, since 2014. This has led to criticism from opposition parties and civil society groups, who argue that the reliance on transition committee chairmen undermines the local government system.
The political firestorm comes amid a backdrop of other controversies involving Governor Soludo, including a public criticism of the Caretaker Chairman of Ogbaru Local Government Area, Paschal Aniegbunam, over a road project in the area. The governor expressed his disappointment with the lack of a pedestrian walkway along the Relief Market-Obodo-Ukwu Road in Okpoko, threatening to sack Mr. Aniegbunam if the walkway was not constructed.
The situation in Anambra State highlights the complex and often contentious nature of local government administration in Nigeria. As the state grapples with these issues, the focus will be on how Governor Soludo and other stakeholders navigate the challenges and work towards a more effective and democratic local government system.
