LG Autonomy: CSOs Accuse Anambra Governor of Subverting Supreme Court Judgement
Alex Enumah in Abuja
A group of Civil Society Organisations ( CSOs) has accused the governor of Anambra State, Prof. Charles Soludo, of taking actions capable of frustrating the recent Supreme Court judgement in favour of local government autonomy.
This is just as posters with inscriptions such as “Disdain for Supreme Court judgements, Soludo’s dangerous anti democratic mission, fighting the presidency, Soludo’s ambush against the president, flooded some major areas within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT ) metropolis.
The coalition which comprises Save Nigeria Democracy Group (SNDG), Nigerian Democratic Movement, Civil Disobedience Institute, Campaign for Greater Nigeria, No Alternative to Peace Initiative, and Advancement of Freedom and Rights of Citizens, made the allegations on Friday in Abuja.
Coordinator of the coalition, Mr. Cornelius Ajagbe, who is also the Coordinator of Save Nigeria Democracy Group (SNDG), stated that apart from the alleged flagrant disobedience of the apex court’s judgements, the governor has involved himself in acts that constitute an affront on President Bola Tinubu.
The group expressed dismay that despite spirited attempts to navigate Nigeria away from its current economic and financial quagmire by the Tinubu administration, some persons in Anambra State are hell-bent on scuttling responsive policies initiated by the federal government.
In a statement, Ajagbe wondered why, despite the presidency’s support for the Supreme Court, which had in a landmark judgement given full financial autonomy to the Local Government Councils, the Anambra State governor went ahead to enact anti LG financial autonomy laws in the state.
“To mitigate Governor Soludo’s ambush against President Tinubu and the Supreme Court, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu created a new Directorate and appointed Lami Chinade, as Director of the State Liaison Directorate in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
“Primarily, the purpose is to ensure that LG funds are not tampered with under any guise.
“Regrettably, rather than face the insecurity issues in Anambra, it is baffling that the Anambra State Government feels the third tier of government should not exist.
“More worrisome is the fact that he could muster the courage to state that granting financial autonomy to the LG Councils would lead to chaos.
“Soludo’s self-concession and narcissistic demeanor are the reason why he sees himself as all-knowing. Hence, even the Supreme Court judgement should be subject to his pettiness,” Ajagbe said.
Describing the governor’s disdain for the presidency as “legendary”, the coalition recalled how the state government allegedly wasted resources “in a fruitless attempt to rewrite the Supreme Court judgement on APGA leadership against Chief Edozie Njoku who has been serially and countlessly declared the rightful National Chairman of APGA”.
“The posters you see around; the 3 Arms Zone, Maitama Roundabout, Federal Secretariat, Bannex Axis, Transcorp Junction etc, are a civil way to express our angst against the resolve of some Governors to hold down the development at the LG” the Coalition stated.
