Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
Some stakeholders in Ayamelum Local Government Area in Anambra State have called for a transparent and fair local government election to tackle the issue of bad governance at the grassroots.
The stakeholders, including community leaders, activists, and concerned residents, voiced their discontent with the current state of affairs and emphasised the need for immediate action to address the challenges facing their area.
During a Townhall meeting organised by Development Partners, Justice Development and Peace Caritas (JDPC) Nnewi, in collaboration with Enough is Enough (EiE) Nigeria, the participants raised various concerns that include inadequate road infrastructure, lack of support for agriculture, unreliable electricity supply, and transparency issues in governance.
They also highlighted issues about the lack of problem-solving leadership and reported instances of intimidation by security forces.
Ngozi Obieze, a youth leader, lamented the underdevelopment of Ayamelum despite being a significant food producer in the state. She urged her fellow community members to exercise their voting rights wisely in the upcoming local government election and called on the state government to ensure the election process is conducted fairly to allow for the election of competent leaders.
Chinyere Okafor, a teacher from Omor town, emphasised the importance of adopting a governance approach that addresses the essential needs of the residents. She suggested that the community should articulate their challenges and expectations to guide the actions of the incoming leaders effectively.
Hon Alphonsus Obuekezie, the President General of Umuerum community, decried the harassment faced by his community members from long-serving security personnel.
He highlighted infrastructural deficiencies, such as poor road networks and lack of electricity, which hindered economic activities despite the area’s status as a major rice producer.
The President General praised JDPC and its partners for their efforts to promote grassroots governance and urged them to expand their initiatives to neighboring council areas.
In his remarks, Rev Fr Ben Chima Okolo, the Director of JDPC Nnewi, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to enhancing grassroots governance through the MYLGA Project.
He stressed the importance of citizen participation in democratic processes and indicated JDPC’s dedication to advocating for good governance at the local level.
The Coordinator of MYLGA Project in Anambra state, Mr Onyekachi Ololo, explained that the project is advocated through Community Champions with the aim to bridge the gap between local government and the citizens at the grassroots.
He called for the creation of an Office of the Citizens (OOTC) Help Desk with an Officer where citizens from Ayamelum LGA can readily report issues of insecurity, human rights violation, health and education.
“The desk will also serve as an interface to share ideas and ask questions, create an environment where citizens and the local government authorities work for the collective benefit of the community,” Ololo said.
Earlier, the representative of Enough is Enough Nigeria, Usen Asanga, said the project is currently being implemented in six states and in three LGAs in Anambra.
