C'Riverians Clamour For Local Government Polls, Decry Alleged Move For Caretaker C'tee
By Judex OKORO and Ekanem ASUQUO
Clarion calls for the conduct of local government elections in Cross River has continued to gather momentum despite grave yard silence from the Governor Otu-led administration on the issue.
The posture by the state government is a sharp contradiction to other neighbouring states where machinery has been set in progress for the conduct of local government polls for return of full fledged democracy at the grassroots.
Findings by THE BEAGLES NEWS revealed that Local Government elections in Akwa Ibom has been slated to hold in October while Ebonyi is fine tuning arrangements to elect grassroots leaders next month. In Cross River state, stakeholders across all strata of the society are lending their voices to the call.
Commenting on the development, the Principal Counsel Basic Rights Counsel Initiative, James Ibor Esq posited that "there is urgent need for local government election because the grassroots is the base of our democracy. With proper democratically elected government at the third tire of governance, development would get to all nooks and crannies of the state. Development should be bottom up. It will reduce rural urban migration and communal unrest.
"We don't want Caretaker committee because it's not only undemocratic, it is illegal. Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) prescribed mandatory democratically elected Local Government Council. By law, the State cannot withdraw from the Joint account unless a democratically elected government is in place."
In his reaction, Dave Edadi, PDP Financial Secretary opined that "for far too long, Cross River State has been plagued by a lack of free and fair electoral processes at the local government level.
"Regrettably, past state governors have consistently appointed their preferred candidates to local government positions, disregarding the will of the people. This has resulted in the poor performance of local government chairmen and women, with no tangible projects to show for their tenure. Biase Local Government Area is a prime example of this trend.
"I firmly believe that the current state governor will not emulate the past but allow the people to elect their preferred candidates for each local government area, free from appointments and interference.
In the words of Emmanuel Ewang, "the local government is the 3rd tier of government. They are closer to the people and often connect with those at the periphery of governance. If LG functions well, the pressure on the state for service delivery would definitely be reduced.
"If local government chairmen election were to be conducted, the selection process has to portray the #Peoplefirst agenda. Otherwise, the aim may be defeated.I strongly suggest that we conduct LG elections but pay due attention to the leadership selection process. Very important."
Austine Ibok, former Special Adviser to Gov Ben Ayade, and PDP chieftain, said: "It is high time Otu conducted local government election because council chairmen and councilors play a crucial role in the development of communities in Cross River State.
According to him, unlike caretaker committees appointed by the governor, elected officials are generally more effective in driving development because elected chairmen and councilors are directly accountable to the people who elect them.
He added that "accountability ensures they are more responsive to the needs and concerns of the community. They have a vested interest in addressing local issues effectively, as their political future depends on their performance. Caretaker committees, on the other hand, are appointed and often lack the same level of accountability to the local population. The funds allocated for local development are more likely to be utilized properly by elected chairmen, who can be held responsible for failures and poor performance by the electorate.
"Democracy at the grassroots encourage local knowledge and engagement as council chairmen and councilors typically reside in the communities they serve, giving them a better understanding of local issues, needs, and priorities.
"They are more likely to engage with the community, attend local events, and maintain open lines of communication with residents. Caretaker committees may not have the same level of engagement or understanding of local dynamics, which can hinder effective governance and development. It would enhances sustainability of projects as elected officials are more likely to initiate and support long-term development projects that align with the interests of the community.
"Their tenure provides stability and continuity, essential for the successful completion of development projects. Elected chairmen can also initiate projects that address immediate community needs, identified through community needs assessment surveys."
Speaking further, Ibok said: "Full democracy at the local level of governance reinforces democratic principles and political stability as well as allows for the peaceful transition of power and encourages political participation among citizens. This democratic process fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility among community members, leading to greater civic engagement and community development.
"Additionally, local elections stimulate local politics and business engagement, addressing many security issues. This can relieve the state government from local financial demands and appointments, as the people can directly address their needs with their elected chairmen."
Dr Charles Bassey, a University of Calabar Don, said: "The governor should prepare and conduct local government election. The local government system in Cross River State has been without elected officials for over a year now and it is against federal government directive. It is possible that the governor is benefiting from the present status. I think it should be discouraged."
In his submission, Jimmy Aninege, a one time, secretary, Ogoja Local Government Council, and PDP stalwarts, said: "Local government elections play a pivotal role in shaping the governance landscape at the grassroots level. As the third tier of government in Nigeria, local governments are closest to the people, making them essential for effective administration and community development.
"Local governments serve as the bridge between state and federal authorities and the citizens. They are uniquely positioned to address the specific needs and challenges faced by communities within their jurisdictions.
"By electing local government officials, citizens have a direct say in shaping policies, allocating resources, and addressing local issues. This proximity ensures that decisions are more responsive to the actual needs of the people. Effective governance requires decentralisation.
"When local governments are empowered through elections, they can take charge of essential services such as education, health care, sanitation, and infrastructure development. By distributing responsibilities across various tiers of government, the burden on the state government is reduced, allowing it to focus on broader policy matters.
"Local government elections have significant economic implications as it can drive employment opportunities by investing in small-scale industries, agriculture, and vocational training. Elected officials can prioritize job creation initiatives tailored to the local context.
"Well-functioning local governments can improve roads, water supply, electricity, and other critical infrastructure. These improvements attract businesses, enhance productivity, and boost economic growth. Local governments collect taxes and levies, contributing to the state’s revenue. Effective governance ensures transparent financial management, which, in turn, supports economic stability.
"Elections hold local officials accountable. When citizens participate in choosing their representatives, they become more engaged in monitoring their performance. Transparent governance practices, fiscal responsibility, and regular reporting become essential components of elected officials’ duties."
Also speaking,a APC chieftain Emmanuel Charles postulated that "there is no reason for Governor Bassey Otu to delay conduct of local government elections after dissolving them on assumption of office in June, 2023. We had expected him to quickly put things in shape and conduct council election as done in other states.
"We understand that the Governor said paucity of funds behind not conducting council polls. But statistics available showed that Cross River local governments have been getting humongous allocation unlike before. So, he should use the funds to conduct election for us so that some of us can go back to the grassroots and sort things out.
"The idea of holding on to council funds is archaic and no longer fashionable in modern day democracy. Once you set up a democratically elected government at local government l, you create employment, reduce pressure and tension on state government and empower those who supported the system. They would Councilors, and other appointees that would put food on others table."
Bearing his mind a public affairs analyst,Solomon Asuquo, averred that "conducting the local government election is very critical to boost the grassroots economy at this very moment of very dire economic situations the country is facing. Unfortunately, governors are just comfortable to corner LG funds for their selfish purposes.
"The grassroots need to grow their small businesses through the injection of funds by LG administration to build capacity, develop infrastructure and support sustainable business prosperity for SMEs. When governor’s carry these funds, they are not directed to social and economic developments of the grassroots but for their personal and unsustainable projects that do not have bearings on grassroots development."
Contributing, a former state publicity secretary of the APC and journalist, Bassey Ita, remarked thus, the local government system guarantees power to the people at the hinterlands or what is called the grassroots level and that translates to having an efficient,even distribution of resources at the third tier.
"So,in the light of this reality it is important to highlight here that in as much as constitutional democracy guarantees the powers and liberty of various constitutionally or legally constituted institutions and machinery of government to operate full circle in line with their constitutional mandate,those institutions or machinery must be seen to be so constituted to achieve a seamless and efficient service delivery.
"Thankfully,in Cross River State, the present administration of Sen. Prince Bassey Otu has great regards for the statutes and precepts which govern the affairs of governance,and as a Government that takes pride in the ethos of constitutional democracy;of the rule of law and good governance,the Administration has been on the path to put in place not just an assembly of local government administrators but a league of Leaders who would help to revive local government administration to its fullest potentials of being the closest to the grassroots people.
"Doing this takes some careful planning and great preparation which has been on for some time now. There should be no whiff of tension or apprehension whatsoever about a democratically elected local government system in place. What should rather be the preoccupation for now,is the quality of leaders that should be thrown up by the parties in the course of the primaries and the elections proper.
"This is what would define the quality of leadership at the third tier that truly appreciates the essence of responsive and responsible local government system."
