By Austin Okoro
The Imo State Independent Electoral Commissio ISIEC has a great burden to deliver a free, fair and credible Local Government Elections come Saturday September 21st 2024.
It must be recalled that the Supreme Court of Nigeria recently delivered a judgement granting financial autonomy to the local government areas in Nigeria. Many Nigerians in both home and diaspora have applauded that judgement because of its sensitive nature to the development of the grassroot areas of the country.
Our local government areas not excluding anyone of the (774) seven hundred and seventy four LGAs in Nigeria have suffered obvious and huge neglect under the supervision of the state governors who blatantly usurp the resources accruing to the LGAs to the detriment of the rural dwellers. The reason being that the resources meant for the development of the local areas of the country are being diverted to other uses in the state if not embezzled by the so-called Chief Executive officers of the states.
A cursory look at the LGAs shows that its operations have nosedived to zero level. Workers at the local government areas no longer come to work. Bushes and dilapidated structures are what you see when one takes a trip to the LGAs. In fact, it has lost its power of being the third tier level of government with the primary responsibility of overseeing the activities at the local levels. One still wonders if allocation accruing to them actually get there.
When we talk about the infrastructural decays at the rural levels , we are actually understating it because it has gone to a level where everyone should be talking about it in all their town hall meetings so that those in power will understand and come to the aide of the rural dwellers. The roads which are the main access routes to all transactions are in sorry states. What about other infrastructures like electricity, pipe-borne water, schools etcetera, they are in a state of decay and dilapidation.
But why all these information? Is it ISIEC that caused it ? They may ask. No ISIEC did not cause all that but the ball is on their court. Can they play it well? One may ask.
However, ISIEC and other state electoral bodies have the sole responsible to conduct a free fair and credible elections to usher in credible people who will oversee the activities at the local government areas. Leaders who love God and the masses. Who love to keep legacies. Who love good names more than too much riches. Who will with or without supervision deliver the dividends of democracy to the people and get their rewards from God.
On the side of the electorates, or the voters. They should vote in leaders who have been tested and trusted. Who can Lead and not who can rule. Leaders with the minds of the people.Leaders who have proven themselves over time. Also, political parties should present credible candidates too. Political parties both big and small should participate fully to ensure credible people are delivered come Saturday September 21st 2024 and Imo state will be better. Nigeria will be better and agitations will reduce. A word is enough for the wise.
Austin Okoro (Apostle) is a concerned Imo citizen and writes from Owerri Imo state, Nigeria.
