APC Chieftain Slams Soludo’s Move to Overrule LG Autonomy Ruling
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Osita Okechukwu, has expressed his disappointment with Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo’s decision to push for laws through the state House of Assembly to limit local government funds.
It’s reported that Soludo recently stated that the Supreme Court’s ruling did not invalidate Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution, and that granting full autonomy to local governments would lead to “unmanageable chaos” and hinder sustainable development.
In an interview with Punch, Okechukwu, former Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria, emphasized that it’s wrong for Soludo to disregard the Supreme Court’s judgment on LG autonomy.
Okechukwu described Soludo’s actions as “banditry” and urged the Governor to respect the Supreme Court’s ruling.
“I believe Governor Charles Soludo is simply riding a vanity train constructed by some political schemers in his circle of power. This train is built on the eroded legal foundation that the Supreme Court has exposed. Any governor who fails to conform to the judgment will face the consequences, whether legally or by the local constituents,” Okechukwu said.
“If a legal or political adviser advised Soludo to bypass the landmark Supreme Court ruling on financial autonomy of local government councils, isn’t that a clear case of banditry? It’s a form of exploitation, and I believe the Supreme Court’s judgment has exposed the banditry that exists in local government administration. If a governor fails to adjust, they will face the consequences, either through the law or from the local community,” Okechukwu concluded.
