- Says Action Amounts To Constitutional Breaches…
By Gbenga Abulude (Politics and General Desk)
The African Action Congress (AAC) in Delta State has criticized the postponement of the Local Council election in the state by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
The party which frowned at the governor’s decision, claimed that prior to Governor Okowa’s election as Governor of Delta State, he stood against the very idea of setting up of transition committees for Local Government Council.
According to AAC, the Governor should therefore allow the proposed January local council election to hold as earlier scheduled. Recall that Okowa had on Sunday, during a thanksgiving service for the newly re-elected Delta State People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chapter Chairman, Chief KIngsley Esiso cautioned PDP aspirants vying for elective roles in the January council elections to exercise restraint in their campaigns and planning because the council election expected in January will not hold any longer in the state.
But in a statement by the AAC Public Relations Officer, Mr Eworitse, the party insists that Governor Okowa’s statement amounts to a terrible violation of the autonomy of local government administration and fiscal autonomy, adding that such a move is unconstitutional, undemocratic, and an illegal interference in the affairs of the third-tier of government.
Eworitse pointed out that local government administration is a constitutional instrument for proper devolution of powers and enhanced service delivery at the grassroots in Nigeria. He appealed to President Buhari to urgently sign the Local Government Autonomy Bill into law to re-awaken this autonomy consciousness in our polity.
The statement reads in part: “Today, having been governor for over five years, Governor Okowa has by his statement confirmed that he does not agree with democratic ideals and practices as earlier proclaimed during his campaign.
“The Nigerian state, its ‘unitarised’ federalism occasioned by prolonged military administrations, regional politicking, and constitutional subjugation into excessive control from the component units, has led to the subjugation of the third tier of government – the local government.
“But one would expect that State governors would encourage the administrative and fiscal autonomy of local government. It is unfortunate that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has chosen to alter the Nigerian constitution in Delta State and drag us back to what we used to have during the military era.
“Governor Okowa’s statement violates the autonomy of local government administration and fiscal power. It is unconstitutional, undemocratic, and interference. We are by this notice advising the governor to accord respect to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and allow the January local council election to hold as expected”.
