Dissatisfied with the abnormalcy associated with creation of Local Government Areas in the past, a human right activist and chairman of Campaign for Democracy, CD, in Anambra State, Comrade Vincent Ezekwueme, yesterday demanded for the creation of additional 25 Local Government Areas in the South East Zone.
Speaking as a guest lecturer at a workshop in Onitsha organized by members of the Civil Society Groups in the State, he said, “the present 95 Local Government Areas are inadequate”.
“I recommend creation of additional 25 Local Government Areas for the people of South East so that they will be at par with other zones”.
Comrade Ezekwueme also stressed the need for the conduct of election in the various council areas in the country stating that the appointment of caretaker committees to manage the councils is a clear denial of democracy on the people.
The workshop themed, “Local Governments in Nigeria, Relevance and Impacts in Grassroots Mobilization and Development”, Comrade Ezekwueme expressed satisfaction that the workshop came up at a time the caretaker committees are operational in the state instead of elected executives.
According to him, “this topic is most suitable now that Local Governments in Anambra State are being governed by caretaker committees against constitutions of Nigeria that stated that Local Government must be governed through democratically elected officials”.
“It is quite despicable, distasteful and alien to Nigeria constitution the use of caretaker committees by State Governors. This has retarded development and good intentions of former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration for the establishment of Local Government system”, he stated.
He reiterated that for the actualization of rapid socio-economic development of the country, “we must focus on the great unexploited and unharnessed resources of the various local governments in the country.
“I wish to reiterate my earlier call on Anambra State Government to commence the process of conducting Local Government election in the State as transition committee is alien to Nigeria constitution”, he stated.