IFEANYI EZUGWU,ENUGU.
Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu state yesterday while flagging off the People Democratic Party,PDP, local government area campaigns at Micheal Okpara Square said that some state governments in Nigeria has decided to run the local governments as if they were departments of the state.
The state chief executive challenged democrats in the country to, “seek legal redress in states were councils are administered by caretaker appointees which hinders democracy at the grassroot. People are entitled to preside over their affairs which should not be seen as a favour. The chairmanship of local governments should reflect the choice of the people devoid of any interference.
“Funds that are due to the councils get to them as at when due through Joint Account Committe(JAC) and dispensed accordingly in Enugu state. This is the fourth time we are conducting local government elections in the state since the inception of my administration. Most states in Nigeria cannot boost of replicating this feat.
“We will continue to improve on our performance at the local governments which is unparalleled in the country. PDP in Enugu state believes in consultation. Our politics is violence free. Out of the seventeen council chairmen, twelve were returned unopposed while five had opposition from their area but eventually emerged as the party’s flag bearers. In 2015, we will have a governorship candidate that will be unopposed”.
On opposition party’s in the state, Governor Chime lampooned the All Progressives Congress,APC, saying, “APC is making no effort to exist in Enugu and should channel their efforts to others states. It is either you are in PDP or you are not a politician in Enugu state.
“Some states in the country have not been able to conduct council elections but we have done so consistently in line with the constitution because we have the interest of the people at heart”.
