You Must Not Amend Constitution To Implement LG Autonomy – Akwa Ibom APC Insists

….says Udom is not prepared for governance.

The Campaign organization of Obong Nsima Ekere, the Akwa Ibom State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC has insisted that “Nigeria’s constitution must not be amended before state governments allow local government funds to go directly to council authorities for development”.

The Information and Strategy Committee Chairman of the Organization, Mr. Eseme Eyiboh, in a press conference Tuesday, faulted the claim by the Akwa Ibom State Government and its agents that local government autonomy cannot be achieved if the provision of the constitution is not amended.

The former spokesperson of the House of Representatives stated that the state government, “apparently afraid of losing next year’s election, having been exposed by Obong Nsima Ekere who has promised to correct the anomaly when elected into office in 2019, have ‘wrongly’ argued against the enforcement of LG autonomy”.

Eyibo maintained that fear and frustration has already dampened the PDP led government and its agents who have been panicking ever since Nsima Ekere launched his manifesto.

Explaining that section 162 of the 1999 constitution as amended has recognized local government account, state joint account and internally generated revenue (IGR) of the State, which is expected that three percent (3%) of it be transmitted into LG account, Eseme Eyibo stressed that Ekere will keep faith with the promise to give muscle to local government.

He challenged the Udom led government to tell Akwa Ibom people if three percent (3%) of the internally generated revenue of the state has ever been transmitted to local governments as stipulated by section 162 of the constitution.

“This is a clear bridge of the law which the governor swore to. He had sworn to uphold and enforce the tenets of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. His refusal to abide by the constitution is an abuse of the law and the penalty is known to all learned Nigerians, including you, gentlemen of the press.

“Governance at the grassroots has totally collapsed, as many of them cannot afford the cost of cutting grass in their council secretariats. Primary health centres and basic rural infrastructure are not provided by the local government councils as it is expected.

“Lack of preparation for governance by Governor Udom Emmanuel has brought weak leadership recruitment to his government. The good news is, Obong Nsima Ekere has been in the system for long and understands the processes and functions of governance”, he added.

Reiterating the preparedness and the sincerity of the APC flag bearer towards the enforcement of local government autonomy, Eyibo enthused, “It is courage, support and determination on the part of the state government that will strengthen local government to perform its functions”.

Togther By
Uwem Sunday James