By Suleiman Anyalewechi
A coalition of Civil Society groups on Friday, October 25, 2024, expressed deep concern over the deliberate attempts, allegedly, being made by Anambra State Governor, Prof.Charles Soludo, to undermine the Supreme Court’s position on Local Government autonomy in the Country.
The Apex Court had ruled to reaffirm the financial autonomy of the third tier of Government, declaring that Federal Allocations be, henceforth, remitted to the Councils directly.
But the Groups – Save Nigeria Democracy, Nigeria Democratic Movement, Campaign for Greater Nigeria, Civil Disobedience Institute , No Alternative to Peace Initiative and others – at a media briefing in Abuja decried that while the President Bola Tinubu-led Government is working to free local Councils from the shackles of State oppression to allow for development at the grassroots ,the Anambra state Governor has continued to constitute as an obstacle to such a lofty mission.
The Source reports that Prof. Soludo had, of recent, drawn scathing criticisms for midwifing a law recently in Anambra which seeks to compel Local Governments to deposit a certain percentage of their accruals in a common pool to be superintended over by a body that will, in all intents and purposes, be answerable to the Governor.
Not a few have come to perceive the development, allegedly, as yet another ingenious way by the Governor to continue controlling council funds much against the grains of the Supreme Court’s pronouncement.
The Convener of the Coalition, Cornelius Ajagbe has, therefore, described Governor Soludo’s plot as contemptuous of, and subversive to the Court’s decision on Local Government autonomy.
According to the group, the Anambra State Governor, by instigating the passage of the anti-local Council autonomy bill by the State House of Assembly, and going ahead to sign same into law, has clearly portrayed himself as one clearly out to disobey the verdict of the highest court in the land .
The group said apart from Governor Soludo subtly undermining the Supreme Court, his action is also a direct confrontation with the Federal Government headed by President Tinubu.
It expressed serious regret that Prof Soludo’s sabotaging efforts are coming at a time the Federal Government is trying to pull the country out of the woods through opening up development at the grassroots level of governance.
Further speaking, the Coalition revealed that it is the need to checkmate Governor Soludo and his ilks that led to the establishment of a monitoring Unit in the Office of the National Security Adviser NSA recently.
“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 NSA.
“Primarily, the purpose is to ensure that LG funds are not tempered 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 LGAs would lead to chaos .
“Governor Soludo’s self concession and narcissistic demeanour are the reason why he sees himself as all-knowing .Hence ,even the supreme court judgment should be subject to his pettiness ” the Coalition stated.
“The group noted that despite the enormous amount which is put at the disposal of Governors at the end of every month ,most of them still want to sit on top of Local Governments, share.
“This was contrary to the situation before now .Ordinarily, this move should have propelled State Governors to look away from the LG funds .
“But despite all these gestures from the presidency ,Some of them still have their eyes stuck on LG funds .
“This insatiable greed and the brazenness to bring down the law to achieve this impunity is what we are up against”, Ajagbe noted.
