A prominent chieftain of Nigeria’s All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State has voiced serious concerns, accusing Governor Alex Otti of seeking to manipulate local government funds for his own discretion. Prince Paul Ikonne, formerly the Executive Secretary of the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA), stated that Governor Otti is reportedly attempting to enact new legislation that would grant him unchecked access to these vital resources.
This accusation comes in the wake of President Bola Tinubu’s recent public expression of dismay over governors’ alleged non-compliance with a Supreme Court ruling mandating local government autonomy. Ikonne, speaking on a television program, specifically identified Governor Otti as one of the state leaders disregarding the President’s directive on this matter.
Ikonne drew a stark contrast with Lagos State, where he observed local governments actively undertaking development projects such as building health centers and schools. He emphasized that elected local government chairmen and councillors in Lagos are demonstrably functioning, highlighting the critical role this tier of government plays in serving the populace.
“The governor should know that local government is another tier of government that is closer to the people, closer to the farmers, closer to the less privileged, closer to the widows, and closer to the disabled people,” Ikonne asserted during the interview.
However, Ikonne alleged that in Abia State, Governor Otti is actively pursuing amendments to existing laws or the creation of new ones. The purported aim of these legislative efforts, according to the APC chieftain, is to consolidate financial control and empower the governor to utilize local government funds according to his personal will and pleasure.
Challenging the Abia State administration, Ikonne dared the governor to publicly account for how local government funds have been managed under his leadership. He expressed disappointment, particularly given the Labour Party’s historical emphasis on grassroots development and social welfare.
“One would have imagined that being a Labour Party, they would have used this as an example to show what they would do,” Ikonne remarked, suggesting a missed opportunity for the ruling party to champion local governance.
He further criticized the state of local government affairs in Abia, claiming that the current administration has undermined the system to such an extent that no tangible projects can be attributed to local government authorities. This situation, he argued, contributes to a broader disillusionment among citizens regarding the Labour Party’s governance in the state.
The APC chieftain’s allegations cast a shadow over the financial management of local government councils in Abia State, raising questions about transparency and the adherence to established legal frameworks for autonomous governance.
