*but wished it works out this time
The Anambra state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), has through its weight behind Gov Peter Obi over the recent disclosure that he is now ready to conduct election into the 21 LGAs in the state, come Oct 5, 2013.
President of NULGE in the state Comrade (Sir) Jerry Nnubia who revealed this in a chat with journalists at the Government House, Awka noted that the eventual conduct of the election would do a lot of good to the state’s polity and economy. According to him, democracy would take root in the state just like other states in the federation.
Nnubia emphasized that local Government Areas had always provided unique opportunity for training would be leaders nationwide. He said, “It is normal for you to see someone starting off as a councilor where
he is taught the art of law-making only to graduate to become a member of the state House of Assembly or even the bigger and mighty National Assembly”.
He lamented that the state unfortunately started off with the unpopular makeshift arrangement of Caretaker committees, which created a big lacuna in the system. This made the participants non-accountable to their people or the council areas.
Comrade Nnubia also pointed out that going by the two/three years tenure a large number of people would have been empowered in the last eight years of the incumbent administration.
The Council Areas too according to him would
be better off as the people at the grassroot would be given adequate democracy dividends and sense of belonging in participating in the decision on their welfare and administration. Such, he noted was not guaranteed in any make shift arrangement.
He believed, “The governor is trying his best but he should be complimented by democratically elected council so that the people at that level can really be empowered don’t forget, local government is the closest to the people”
Just like many, Nnubia expressed concern that he hoped the exercise would not be another fluke as earlier attempts were botched midway.
