By Gwiyi Solomon
“Government is best which is closest to the people. Yet that belief is betrayed by those State and local officials who engage in denying the right of citizens to vote. Their actions serve only to assure that their State governments and local governments shall be remote from the people, least representative of the people’s will and least responsive to the people’s wishes.” ~ Lyndon B. Johnson
The recently concluded local government chairmanship and councillorship elections in Enugu State, under the supervision of the Enugu state Electoral commission (ENSIEC) which was held on the 23rd of February, 2022; and the eventual swearing in ceremony of winners of the local exercise on the 3rd day of March, 2022, by His Excellency, the executive governor of Enugu State, Rt. Hon. Dr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, is no doubt, an example that must be trumpeted by every lover of democracy across the world.
Since his assumption of office as governor of the state, the governor Ugwuanyi administration has kept faith with local administrations across the 17 LGA’S of the state; especially by ensuring that the elections were held as at when due, without minding whose ox is gored.
The merits of the governor’s consistency in ensuring that this exercise is held every two years and at the expiration of each term is too numerous to mention: one is that it helps the governor in ensuring smooth running of his administration as the elected chairmen across the rural councils of the state contribute immeasurably in ensuring that the rural development drive of the governor is replicated at the grassroot level.
The above position played out very prominently when after the swearing in of the newly elected chairmen of the 17 LGA’s in the state, the governor reminded the newly sworn in council chairmen that theirs is “closest government to people at the rural areas” while urging them to live among their people in the hinterlands so as to be able to feel their pulse and respond appropriately to their demands.
Without a doubt, by regular conduct of this exercise, the governor has throughout his years in office, continually provides a nexus through which the rural dwellers can be heard as well as communicate their plights to either the state or the centre, especially when such intervention is needed.
However, the other unique aspect of the Enugu Example is Rt. Hon. Dr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s choice of young, energetic, creative and ebullient youths as candidates of his party (PDP) and their eventual triumphs at the polls. This group of young administrators at the local level of administration makes it attractive and very interesting, as the local councils have turned a breeding ground for future leaders of the state.
Unfortunately, some neighbouring states and some others across the country have continued to treat their respective local governments with so much discontent. They see it as none existent and a waste of both economic and human resources; hence they prefer to run the system using transition committees.
The above positions should not be tolerated in our system any more. It should rather be discouraged and condemned as the local government remains the way to go, in order to ensure speedy development of our local areas.
“What we need is not more Federal government, but better local government.” ~ Calvin Coolidge once said.
Let us therefore, strengthen our LGA’S: the benefits are enormous.
‘A word’ they say, ‘is enough for the wise!’
Gwiyi Solomon is Media aide to Uzo Uwani LG chairman. He wrote from Umulokpa.
