‘Stop demonizing governor’s over local government autonomy – Ex-INEC boss, Elder Eya

From Chinelo Kodilichukwu Enugu

The former Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Nduka Eya, has urged Nigerians to stop ‘demonising governors’ over Local Government Area administrative and financial autonomy.

Eya made the call while speaking with newsmen in Enugu on Sunday on various issues that affect the nation and her people.

He said that the current negative perception of Nigerians, who looks at the governors as the problem rocking the council areas; which is not, as the problem stems from the military’s unitary system of rule as well as the constitution.

According to him, “I was once a permanent secretary to council areas in old Anambra and I know how the council areas administration and financial system work.

Eya, a two-time INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, said: “To be fair to the governors, especially the present governors, the present conditions of council areas are not their making.

“It started with the military unitary system of government which made council areas of no consequence and no value for decades.

“The military stopped the smooth running of council areas and dissolved it whereas the regional government of the 1960s made active use of the council or municipal area authorities to drive development to the grassroots.

“The constitution is not also helping matters. The constitution fully recognized and apportioned clear powers and responsibility to the Federal (Central); regional government (where available) and state components.

“Nowhere did the constitution make clear cut power and responsibility for the council areas. This means that the constitution leaves room for the council areas to be used at the mercy of the state or federal governments.”he Said.

On the upcoming secession plan of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Eya called on Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, to follow a laid-down process in its constitution to rotate its leadership as spelt out.

He cautioned the present Ohanaeze leadership, led by Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, to ensure a smooth transition of power to Rivers State candidate, which is the state to produce the next Ohanaeze President-General.

“As there is remaining about six months to the end of the current leadership of Ohanaeze tenure; we urge the leadership to ensure a seamless and smooth handover following Ohanaeze’s laid-down constitution and not to plunge the respected body into any session of secession crisis,” he said.

The elder statesman explained that Ohanaeze Ndigbo is made up of seven Igbo speaking states, namely: Abia, Anambra, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo and Rivers States.

He said that the leadership rotation is taken according to the alphabetic mentioning of the Igbo speaking states and now Imo State is currently occupying the President-General position.

Eya, a Commissioner for Education in the old Anambra State, said that for some years now, the move for true reconciliation between Ndi Igbo and the North had been in the open; adding that “it has been around for some time now”.