Osita Okechukwu, a prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has voiced strong objections to Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo’s recent legislative moves aimed at enhancing access to local government funds through the state House of Assembly.
According to reports, Soludo asserted last week that a recent Supreme Court ruling did not negate Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution. He argued that the new legislation was necessary, fearing that granting full autonomy to the 774 local government areas could create “humongous chaos” and impede sustainable development.
In an interview, Okechukwu, who previously served as the Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria, stated that it is inappropriate for Soludo to disregard the Supreme Court’s ruling regarding local government autonomy.
He condemned any legal or political adviser who would encourage the Governor to sidestep this significant judicial decision as engaging in “pure banditry.”
Okechukwu warned that any governor who disobeys the Supreme Court’s ruling on local government autonomy will face significant repercussions. He remarked, “Frankly, I believe that Governor Charles Soludo is merely riding on a vanity train built by political opportunists around him.”
“This vanity train refers to the Supreme Court’s clear ruling that any law established by the state House of Assembly that violates Sections 1(1), (2) and (3), 4(7), 5(2)(a) and (b), 3(b), 7(1) and (3), and 14(1), (2)(a) and (4) of the Constitution is unconstitutional. The ruling also prohibited actions like forming caretaker committees or dissolving elected council members.”
He further elaborated on the term “bandit,” suggesting that it refers to anyone who unfairly exploits others. “I classify our environment as plagued by various forms of banditry. If a legal or political advisor has intentionally guided Governor Soludo to ignore the Supreme Court’s landmark decision on the financial autonomy of local government councils, isn’t that a clear case of banditry?
The issues within local government administration have been highlighted by this Supreme Court judgment. I reiterate that any governor who does not comply will face consequences, whether through legal means or backlash from their constituents.”
