Valentine Ozigbo has alleged that Governor Chukwuma Soludo replaced trade union leaders and president generals of town unions with touts and hirelings for his second term ambition.
A former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ozigbo said Governor Soludo has no respect for the rule of law and promises he made to Anambra citizens during his inauguration.
The proposed governorship candidate for the Labour Party in Anambra gubernatorial election in 2025, said this on Tuesday, May 21, while condemning lack of elected officers at the local government levels in the state.
“Gov. Soludo lied to Ndi Anambra about LGA elections,” Ozigbo said; adding “during his inaugural speech, the Governor of Anambra, Prof. Soludo, promised to conduct local government elections within two years. He had even pledged to do so immediately during his campaign.”
The special adviser to Peter Obi, said the former CBN governor, Soludo, preferred recruiting his “cronies and political foot-soldiers” to implementing Section 7(1) of the 1999 constitution.
He further alleged that Soludo has been utilizing funds allocated for local governments to support his political structures for his second term re-election.
Instead, he has now decided that APGA political operatives will nominate names for him to handpick leaders for each of the 21 local government areas.
READ ALSO: Race to 2027: Atiku, Obi merger rattles APC
“Contrary to section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution, Prof. Soludo has opted to recruit his cronies and political foot soldiers to administer the local government areas. This allows him to utilise funds allocated to these areas to support his political structures believing that will help him secure his re-election.
“These undemocratic maneuvers have also been witnessed in the way trade unions and other critical sectors have been mismanaged and replaced with touts and hirelings. In this way, the election of the President General of town unions has been compromised in many towns and the choice of the masses is blatantly thwarted,” Ozigbo said.
Ozigbo added that Soludo’s stance against the choice of Ndi Anambra on local government election, trade unions and town union leadership, and the rule of law was against the promise he made on his swearing day. “And if promises have been made, why break them?” He asked.
“The rule of law is everything in governance! A proper LG election is crucial to strengthen democracy and allow people at the grassroots to choose their leaders. In turn, the masses will be able to hold the elected accountable.
“I, therefore, believe that Gov Soludo should be reminded that he has failed to live up to set expectations and social contract with Ndi Anambra,” he added.
