Maku Tasks Obi On Council Polls

The Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, last Saturday in Awka,
urged Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State to facilitate the smooth conduct of
elections into Local Government Councils.

Maku made the call in his goodwill message at a town
hall meeting to mark the end of the National Good Governance tour of projects
in Anambra State.

He said that the governor had performed well in rural
development but should entrench democracy in the Local Government Areas.

Maku said that democratising the local councils would
deepen democracy at the grassroots and increase the government’s impact in the
local councils.

“Democracy is the best form of governance and as the
president has demonstrated at the federal level, I am calling on the state
governor to do something about elections in the local councils.

“The State Government must work as a team and ensure
that true democracy is enthroned by allowing true election in the local
government areas.

“There should be no interference, state electoral
commissions should work like INEC to give a true reflection of the people’s
will.

“Let democracy win, that will be a part for the
development of Nigeria, that is what we want,’’ he said.

Maku also called on residents of the state to complement
government’s efforts by protecting its investments in infrastructural
development.

He lamented the lack-lustre attitude of some people of
the state, especially in the protection and maintenance of government’s
property in their domains.

In a related development, the National President of
RATTAWU, Mr Yemisi Bamgbose, called for the entrenchment of democracy in the
Local Councils in Nigeria.

He said that only true democracy, regardless of
political affiliation, could guarantee genuine development in the local areas.

Bamgbose called on the people of the state to complement
government’s efforts in providing basic infrastructure by protecting public
infrastructure.

The state’s Commissioner for Information, Mr Joe-Matrins
Uzodike, said that the tour of projects in the state had exposed the good work
of the State Government.

He said that 86 projects were scheduled for visit in the
state but it was reduced to about 15, due to time constraints.

Uzodike commended the Federal Government for the
initiative to help showcase the efforts made by the State Government to make
life better for the people.

He called on stakeholders in the state
to support the government’s efforts to leave a landmark.