A Coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) under the auspices of Save Nigerian Democracy Group (SNDG) has raised alarm over what they described as the insidious actions of Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State as regards Supreme Court judgments.
The coalition, which comprises of the Nigerian Democratic Movement, Civil Disobedience Institute, Campaign for Greater Nigeria, No Alternative to Peace Initiative, and Advancement of Freedom and Rights of Citizens, was led by Cornelius Ajagbe, Valentine Isuku, Maxwell Owobokiri and Ephraim Aintonje.
They expressed dismay that despite attempts by the President Bola Tinubu’s administration to navigate Nigeria away from its current economic and financial quagmire through organic rural development that will drive the national development index by supporting the Supreme Court in the landmark judgment that gave full financial autonomy to the Local Government Councils, Soludo has fought back through the state legislature.
The coalition feels that it was particularly to mitigate Soludo that the National Security Adviser, NSA, Nuhu Ribadu created a new Directorate and appointed Lami Chinade, as the Director of the newly created State Liaison Directorate in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) whose duty is primarily to ensure that LG funds are not tempered with under any guise.
The coalition said it was regrettable that Soludo rather than face the insecurity issues in Anambra, has resorted to leading an ill crusade by sitting on appeal over a Supreme Court Judgment on LG autonomy.
“It is truly baffling that Gov. Soludo feels that the third tier of government should not exist. More worrisome is the fact that he could muster the courage to state that granting financial autonomy to the LG would lead to chaos,” the Coalition said in a statement signed by Cornelius Ajagbe, Coordinator, SNDG.
“Soludo’s self-concession and narcissistic demeanor are the reason why he sees himself as all-knowing. Hence, even the Supreme Court Judgement should be subject to his pettiness. Soludo’s disdain for the Presidency is legendary.
“Perhaps, omniscient posture and grandstanding explain why he has wasted state resources in a fruitless attempt to rewrite the Supreme Court Judgment on APGA leadership against Chief Edozie Njoku who has been serially and countlessly declared the rightful National Chairman of APGA.
“Gov. Soludo’s inability to accept defeat on APGA leadership issue, tame his ego and bind the brokenhearted exposes him as a man who is in perpetual pursuit of selfish and self-serving interests.
“Having wasted a humongous amount of Anambra State funds to unseat Chief Edozie Njoku, the National Chairman of APGA, Soludo has targeted the LG funds to fund his reelection.
“Driven by his antithetical and antisocial behaviors, Soludo led a group of Governors to initiate the scraping of the EFCC.
“While the global economy isn’t at its best, it is pertinent to note that President Tinubu willfully decided to take 10% from the federation account, whilst leaving the States with 90%. This is contrary to what we are used to before now. Ordinarily, this move should impel State Governors to look away from the LG funds.
“Despite all these gestures by the Presidency, some Governors have their eyes stuck on LG funds. This insatiable greed and the brazenness to bring down the law to achieve this impunity is what we are up against. “
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