…As Gov Gets Knock Over LG Polls

An Onitsha-based PDP chieftain, Mr Harold Ekwerekwu, has criticised Governor Peter Obi of Anambra’s failure to conduct local government elections in the state.

Ekwerekwu told newsmen recently in Onitsha, Anambra, that it was painful that the governor aborted the planned December 4, 2010 elections, a month to the date without consulting stakeholders.

“By this time, electoral and political stakeholders had spent a lot campaigning before the indefinite suspension of the exercise by the governor who cited security lapses and inadequate voters register.

“But today, all these excuses have been solved and we are witnesses to smooth presidential, national and state assembly elections.

“So, why the delay to give the grass-roots people their chairmen and councilors,’’ he asked.

He said majority of the people in the rural areas were being excluded from governance, and denied the social amenities that ought to be provided by the third tier of government.

“Things are really turning upside down in the hinterlands where the number of unemployed and restive youths are rising by the day,’’ he said.

“It is not enough to have adequate armed security men but it is enough to have job security for the people, especially youths in the rural area.’’

Reacting, Mr Mike Udeh, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, said denied the allegation, describing it as a handiwork of those who wanted to ridicule the government.

“We have Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) whose duty it is to organise local government elections and the body is independent of the governor and government of the state.

“Governor Obi is a democrat and that is why he confirmed the body as presented by the state Assembly and has given it a free hand to operate in all ramifications.

“What the governor is concerned about is violence-free and credible local government elections, which I know every other statesman is concerned about,’’ Udeh said.

He said the timing of council elections depended solely on ANSEIC.