Don’t Treat Abia LGs As State Ministries

The Human Rights, Justice and Peace Foundation (HRJPF) has condemned alleged plans by the Theodore Ahamefula Orji administration in Abia State to appoint caretaker committees to run the affairs of the 17 local government councils in the state on expiration of the tenure of the present democratically elected chairmen and councilors.
In a statement made available to newsmen, President of HRJPF, Comrade Chidi Nwosu, noted that Section 7(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, clearly states: “The system of local government by democratically elected local government council is under this Constitution guaranteed…”
But rather than conduct local government elections through the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC) as required by law; Governor Orji has chosen to appoint his friends, cronies and relatives to occupy them, the statement said, adding that, the move is an attempt to stage civilian coup against civilians and elevate arbitrariness above the law.
“It beats our imagination that Governor Orji who swore to uphold the constitution has utter disregard for its sacred provisions. Otherwise, why attempt to treat the local government councils as state ministries, appointing his unelected persons to run them?” The group queried.
While condemning the unholy plan to entrench civilian dictatorship at the local government level in Abia State; the HRJPF called on Governor Orji to cancel the plans and set the machinery in motion for the conduct of local government elections by January 21, 2010.