Anambra LG elections: Stakeholders push for good governance at grassroots

Stakeholders in Ayamelum Local Government Area (LGA), Anambra state, Thursday, vowed to mobilise action towards ensuring that winners of the September 28, 2024 council polls would be credible and trustworthy to deliver dividends of democracy at the grassroots.

Speaking at a townhall meeting organised by the Justice Development and Peace Caritas (JDPC) Nnewi in partnership with Enough is Enough (EiE) Nigeria, the people regretted that lack of basic amenities and total absence of government’s presence draw their development backward while impacting negatively on their agricultural produce.

The President General, Umuerum community, Hon. Alphonsus Obiekezie, while speaking at the occasion on behalf of other president-generals, lamented that their roads were not motorable, adding that challenges posed by lack of power supply and intimidation of his people by security agencies, also affect them badly.

On his part, Mrs Chinyere Okafor, from Omor town, urged the populace to shun vote buying and other forms of electoral malpractices by voting wisely for a credible council chairman and counselors capable of addressing their plights as well as taken others to the governor where the need arises.

In a remark, the Director, JDPC Nnewi Diocese, Rev. Fr. Ben Chima Okolo, explained that the JDPC was determined to improve grassroots governance through its My Local Government Project (MYLGA) which was geared towards sensitising the populace to hold the government accountable.

Contributing, the state coordinator of MYLGA project, Mr Onyekachi Ololo, added that the project was also aimed at advocating for the creation of an Office of the Citizens (OOTC) Help Desk across Local Government Areas in Nigeria with a view to sustain communication and relationship between the people and government.

Earlier, the representative of Enough is Enough Nigeria, Mr Usen Asanga, while explaining that the project was being implemented in six states of the federation, including Anambra state, hinted that it successful implementation would help to involve the citizenry in decision making, achieve accountability and good governance.