The incoming chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ahiazu Mbaise LGA chapter, Chief Finian IK Ehiriwe , (aka Grand commander of Ahiazu youths) has hailed the recent Supreme court Judgement granting financial autonomy to the 774 Local Government Areas in Nigeria .
Chief Ehiriwe made the disclosure in a Media chat with news men in Owerri, the Imo State capital over the weekend.The youthful, energetic and pragmatic political leader noted that the 774 LGAs are the closest to the grassroots and nearest to the common people, especially in the rural communities, hence their importance in grassroots development cannot be over. emphasized.
Ehiriwe recalled the good old days when elected Executive Chairmen and Councillors held sway as popularly elected Council administrators,stating that the Local Governments in Nigeria, then witnessed rapid developments in both infrastructural facilities,such as reconstruction or rehabilitation of dilapidated classroom blocks in both primary and secondary Schools, grading of rural link roads, renovation and building of new Health Centers and establishment of poultry farms and other Agricultural development projects.
He hopes that with the prevailing financial autonomy,as pronounced by the Supreme Court and endorsed by the National Assembly,elected Executives of the 774 LGAs will re-enact and replicate the good old days of rapid infrastructural activities and provisions of basic social amenities like public water supply ,free text and note books for students and pupils and provision of fertilizer to boost agricultural yields in their various LGAs.
He frowned at the recent ugly developments and setbacks where Caretaker Committees were appointed and foisted on the people by state Governors,who rather than consider the welfare of the common masses,end up leaving the Local Governments as mere grave yards or cemeteries, with overgrown bushes and wild life, occasioning lack of good road network in the rural areas.
On whether his party, the PDP would participate in the forth coming Local Government Elections, come September 21 as scheduled by the Imo State independent electoral commission,ISIEC, the well known grassroots mobilizer, who was a former LGA Youth Leader of PDP in Ahiazu Mbaise LGA ,which earned him the alias ‘ Grand Commander of Ahiazu Youths’ assured of the preparedness of his party, PDP to participate actively in the forth coming Local Government Elections.
He called on the relevant bodies and stakeholders, including the Electoral umpire, ISIEC, Security agencies and Civil Society Organizations,CSOs to monitor the elections closely in order to ensure a credible, free and fair elections or risk the peace and security that are prevailing and pervading in the state,presently.
Chief Ehiriwe insisted that this time around, ” Our Votes Must Count” and vowed to resist any attempt by any person or party to steal the mandate of the people.
He boasted that Ahiazu Mbaise LGA is a PDP dominated Local Government, hence he expressed optimism that PDP will be victorious in Ahiazu Mbaise,come September 21 LG Elections.
He added that the party will as usual present only credible and competent candidates who understand the pressing needs of the people and have the capacity to prioritize their developmental objectives in order to satisfy their yearnings and aspirations.
He assured that PDP is ready to play by the rules of the game and vowed to deliver the Party in future elections, if he emerges victorious as LG chairman in the forth coming PPD State Congresses.
He also advised the governor against any attempt to hijack the results of the election for candidates of his ruling party to which the ISIEC Chairman Charles Ejiogu belongs, insisting that such an attempt will not only spell doom for the governor but for the entire State and democracy in Nigeria.
