By Enyinnaya Appolos
DO NOT BE USED TO UNDERMINE DEMOCRACY IN ABIA STATE
Honourable Speaker and Distinguished Members of the Abia State House of Assembly,
I write to you as a concerned citizen and stakeholder in the democratic governance of our dear state. The sacred duty entrusted to you as lawmakers is to uphold and protect the democratic structures that guarantee good governance, accountability, and the will of the people. It is, therefore, both alarming and unacceptable that the executive arm of government, through the Governor, is attempting to truncate the legally established four-year tenure of the local government system and impose a self-serving reduction to two years.
Recall that before the last local government elections in November, the Governor introduced a bill seeking to alter the Local Government Law. Despite widespread public outcry, which rightly viewed the move as an attempt to undermine local government autonomy, the House passed a new law that firmly established a four-year tenure for elected chairmen, their deputies, and councillors.
It is, therefore, outrageous that the same Governor is now back, attempting to manipulate the system by reducing the tenure to two years. This is nothing but a desperate power grab. For the sake of democracy and the development of the local government system, you must resist this. Do not succumb to this undemocratic scheme. Reject it outright.
Let it be clear: any move to alter the tenure of elected local government officials is undemocratic, unconstitutional, and an affront to good governance. It is a calculated attempt to weaken the autonomy of local governments, erode the power of the people, and concentrate excessive control of the local government system in the hands of the executive. The House of Assembly must not make itself a willing tool in this blatant assault on democracy.
It is also important to note that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is making strong efforts to ensure that local governments in Nigeria operate independently as the third tier of government. The push for local government autonomy at the federal level is clear, and any attempt to undermine this progress at the state level is a direct attack on democracy.
Local governments are the closest tier of government to the people. They are the foundation of grassroots development, service delivery, and political participation. A stable, predictable, and democratic local government system is essential for sustainable development and effective administration. Any attempt to tamper with the existing four-year tenure, as currently enshrined in the law, would set a dangerous precedent and destabilize the governance structure in Abia State.
A careful review of the proposed bill already sent to the House exposes the executive’s clear intent to manipulate the local government system for its own advantage. Some provisions of the bill make this agenda undeniable, including:
- Tenure of Office of Mayor or Deputy Mayor (Clause 65) – The bill proposes a two-year tenure in the first instance, with an option for re-election for another two years. This is a direct violation of the existing four-year tenure and a deliberate attempt to weaken the authority of local government officials.
- Removal from Office of Mayor or Deputy Mayor (Clause 66) – The bill introduces a removal process designed to place elected local government leaders at the mercy of the executive, making them vulnerable to political victimization.
- Congress of Councillors (Clause 45) – The bill proposes that the Congress of Councillors be dissolved after just two years, creating instability and uncertainty within the local government system.
- Consolidated Account Management Committee (Clause 15) – The bill seeks to place local government funds under the control of executive appointees rather than elected representatives. This undermines local government autonomy and opens the door for executive interference in grassroots governance.
Honourable Speaker, Honourable Members, the people of Abia State are watching. Your primary allegiance must be to the people who elected you, not to an executive desperate to manipulate the system for selfish political gains. If you allow this undemocratic amendment to pass, you will not only betray the people but also reduce the House of Assembly to a mere rubber stamp for executive excesses.
I, therefore, urge you to stand firm and reject any attempt to tamper with the democratic structure of the local government system. The four-year tenure must remain intact. Any move to alter it must be dismissed in its entirety. The people of Abia State deserve a House of Assembly that will defend democracy, not one that will surrender to executive pressure.
History will remember where each of you stands on this issue. Will you stand with the people and defend democracy, or will you allow yourselves to be used as pawns in a political power game?
The choice is yours. Choose wisely. But remember, whatever you do today will be used to judge you tomorrow.
Enyinnaya Appolos
Isiko Village, Obingwa LGA, Abia State.
March 5th, 2025
