Recent events at the local government level of Ebonyi State have created an urgent need to beam the light on the activities of the helmsmen at that eminent section of governance. These activities manifest in the discriminatory and indifferent and discriminatory attitude and actions of the chairmen. The aberrant system of operation at that tier produced a crop of tyrants who audaciously conduct themselves like lords, and despising all except the Governor whose fiat gave them their positions.
It is now the order for them to take decisions and actions without recourse to anybody or their councils. Perchance the council is made privy, some persons such as the Vice Chairman who have been completely left in the lurch, are kept in the dark of whatever transactions and activities taking place in the council areas. They are not recognized at functions, denied the perks of their positions, including overhead costs and office upkeep. It is alleged that the chairmen discountenanced the directive by Governor Nwifuru to pay their vice chairmen the sum of one million naira.
The brazen misappropriation and outright theft of local governments’ funds entrusted to their care for the purpose of registering life touching projects and programmes have gone unchecked in any form. The misappropriation of funds in the councils is the reason our local government areas have remained rustic, desolate and devoid of indices of growth or development.
What is the end of all governments? Certainly, it is the happiness of all the governed. But the performances of the chairmen are diametrically opposite to the ends local governments were created. It also undermines Governor Nwifuru’s Charter of Needs. They lack capacity and competence for due and adequate discharge of the trust deposited in them by the constitution. Consequently, they sequentially violate the public trust. In some local governments, the indices of projects consuming the huge federal allocations to the councils are the application of the funds to the construction of palatial private residences of the chairmen and purchase of exotic cars. They also go to the maintenance of retinue of thugs and harem of women of easy virtue.
The truth is that most of the chairmen lack vision, direction and purposefulness. Similarly, they lack capacity for critical thinking, planning and execution. These lapses are the result of the ignorance of the aims and objectives of the local government system. The third tier was created to bring governance closer to the people and to undertake projects and programmes that are capable of turning around the old order and raise the standard of living of the council areas. All that there is as benefit to the people are lamentable catalogue of woes brought about by uncouth and repulsive and negligent attitude towards them.
There is an odious tyranny against the people. It is a matter of serious concern that without the directive of the Governor, the chairmen remain apathetic, non-challant and complacent to the needs, desires and aspirations of the people. The chairmen, who are remote from the prevalent wretchedness and misery in their areas of jurisdiction, live in luxurious homes in Abakaliki, maintain mystic appearances in their localities to execute treacherous maneuverings, and throw their weight about to firmly oppress the people.
To rescue the local government system from odium, and redeem its charter from disgrace, the chairmen must gravely weigh their decisions actions against the duties and responsibilities expected of them. Governor Nwifuru must intervene to annihilate the prevalent retrogression in the system, and exorcise the spirit of tyranny that animates the hearts of the LG chairmen.
