Cross Riverians calls for conduct of local government polls
Some Cross Riverians have called on Governor Bassey Edet Otu to conduct local government elections in the state to usher in a democratically elected administration at the third tier of government.
Speaking to newsmen in Calabar on Tuesday 6, February 2024 in an interview, Mrs. Eme Ita Offiong, the women leader of “Sweetest Prince Project 2023 APC Support Group and an Executive of CAGRAM, Cross River State Chapter” stressed the need for the conduct of local government elections as soon as possible in the state. According to her, this would allow the rural people to enjoy the benefits of democracy through infrastructural development like construction of cottage industries, educational institutions, health centers, roads among others.
Also corroborating, a pioneer chapter chairman of the APC in Odukpani local government area, Chief Bassey Okon noted that since local government system is closer to the people, the rural populace should benefit from the dividends of democracy if the Governor heeds this clarion call by political and APC stalwarts in the state for the conduct of Elections into the local government councils currently administered by Head of Administrators as place holders since the vacation of the democratically elected Chairmen and councilors in June 2023.
The Local Government Administration is the beginning of governance which creates opportunity for the people in the rural areas to participate in government as well as reap the dividend of democracy.
Agitations by the Cross River State Chapter of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) and a cross section of Cross Riverians have demanded for immediate conduct of election at the grassroots level to ease administration and relinquish grip of power.
Recall the National Assembly last year, granted full financial and administrative autonomy to all the 774 local council authorities across Nigeria by amending section 124 of the nation’s constitution.
The section provides a consequential provision for the making of the local councils, a full third tier government without undue interference from the state governments.
But the newly ammended document sent to States Houses of Assembly for approval is stucked as majority of the states declined accent.
By: Archibong Emmanuel
(Snr. Reporter)
