Autonomy: Imo LG elections to hold in December -Ihedioha“Live at home or resign”

Gov Emeka Ihedioha has once reassured Imo people of the commitment of his administration to fulfill its campaign promise of conducting local government election six months after assumption of office.
The governor renewed this commitment yesterday at the Sam Mbakwe Executive Chamber, Government House, Owerri during the swearing in ceremony of the Chairmen of Interim Management Committee, IMC, of the twenty seven local government areas of the state.
Similarly, he sounded it loud and clear that the Chairmen must reside in their various local government areas or, alternatively render resignation if they can’t obey the directive, even as he equally reiterated his resolve to ensure that local government autonomy takes root under his administration.
Addressing the Chairmen of the IMCs and their well wishers and supporters who thronged the venue of the ceremony Gov Ihedioha noted that they were being sworn in to fill the vacuum created by the sacking over financial impropriety of the former local council administration’s adding that in keeping with the provisions of the law their tenure will elapse in six months.
The governor said his administration mindful of its promise to the people of the state during the campaign to conduct local government election within six months of assumption of office, will conduct local government election in the state at the expiration of the tenure of the present Interim Management Committee
According to the governor as an advocate of free democratic space, the best and most pragmatic approach to expressing this interest is through the conduct of credible, free and fair polls at the local government level.
He charged the newly inaugurated Chairmen to go home and work as that will be in tandem with his administration’s desire and plan to resuscitate governance at grassroots level to stem problems of rural urban migration, collapse of basic amenities,security of life and property as well as guaranteeing good governance at that level.
He made it clear to them that his administration will not tolerate their overseeing the affairs of their LGs from anywhere outside their own councils warning anyone not ready to abide by the government directive to resign or, risk being shown the way out by his government.
The governor also allayed fears about his administration’s preparedness to prioritize local government autonomy pointing out that he is convinced that autonomy for the local government system will go a long way in bringing development and growth down to the rural areas of the state.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after the inauguration, IMC chairman for Ngor Okpala, Hon. Charles Abara assured the governor and the people of his Council of his readiness to serve the state and the LGA.