In Anambra, Divergent Views Trail Stoppage of Council Funds
From Charles Onyekamuo in Awka
A media report last week indicating that the Federal Government had withheld federal allocations to all the 21 Council Areas in Anambra State due to the inability of the state government to hold elections into them has virtually thrown politicians in the state into confusion with the Speaker of the State Assembly, Mr. Mike Balonwu describing it as " vexatious."
The report also indicated that Jigawa State would not br eligible to draw funds from the federation account for its councils like Anambra for the same reason.
Though, Local Government elections were conducted in several states of the federation on March 27, this year, Anambra is one of the states that could not holdelections into its councils along with others. This , has however become an albatross for the state..
The political camps of the state Governor, Dr. Chris Ngige and that of his estranged godfather, Chief Chris Uba have not been able to agree on candidate list for the election.
Initially, the state's Information Commissioner, Chief Joe Ofokansi announced an indefinite postponement of the polls citing irreconcilable differences between Ngige and his former godfather, Uba, as well as the alleged insecurity of public institutions and structure, including the Government House and the State Independent Electoral Commission building.
But about a month ago, Ngige inaugurated the membership of the sSate Electoral Commission, thus giving the impression that the postponement would not be forever. This however, was after he had described, the list of candidate harmonised by his camp and that of Uba and published by the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) as ''419 gimmick'' as he alleged that it was doctored.
The Chairmanship and Councilorship candidates of the party whose names were published had also issued the governor an ultimatum in May giving him 10 days within which to begin the process of conducting the council polls.
As this controversy reaged on, the PDP headquarters waded in, and asked the state chapter chairman of the party and other officers to set-up structures in the wards and council areas preparatory to the conduct of the polls. They were subsequently sued by some former officers of the party who maintained they were excluded from the meeting where the chairmen would be elected.
The Sate Electoral Commission just last week conducted an in-house workshop in Awka to prepare its staff for the election.
But speaking on the heels of the Federal Government's decision to withhold Anambra council funds, the speaker of the Sate Assembly, Balonwu said it was illegal, unconstitutional and vexatious.
He said: ''the 1999 constitution of Nigeria placed the responsibility of the councils on the State Assemblies. It is therefore their sole concern and prerogative to arrange and organise council polls where ever they deem it.''
The Speaker spoke while receiving the executive members of the Anambra State Council of Nigerian Union of Journalists led by Mr. Chris Aghanya.
The State Assembly, he said, was examining the constitution with a view to determining their next line of action.
The spokesman and chairman of Transition Committee Chairmen in Anambra State, Dr. Uche Ezeliora declined comment on the matter, even as THISDAY gathered that the his forum would meet on the matter. But his NULGE counterpart, Dr. Godwin Ibekwe promised to address the press on the issue after another meeting of the Union.
However, the State Government is said not to be taking the report with levity. Ngige's Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Fred Chukwuelobe described the report as doubtful, saying that no formal communication has been received by the State Government. He also said the state government was still studying the matter.
''We have no comments for now as we are studying the matter '' he said.
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