ELECTED 27 local council chairmen (on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party) in Imo State Thursday protested against the appointment of 27 new sole administrators by Governor Rochas Okorocha to direct the affairs of the local councils in the state.
They were led by the chairman of Association of the Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Mrs. Rubby Emele and secretary, Enyinna Onuegbu; the body's Legal Adviser, Cyprian O. C. Akaolisa, among others, at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre, Owerri.
They insisted that the governor erred in law by appointing sole administrators about two days ago when their tenure was running as announced by Court of Appeal's ruling in Owerri last year.
Emele regretted that the governor came to office and announced their sack when they had the mandate to serve, stressing that the case was still in court with the ruling of the Appeal Court that the governor should not appoint another set of people to replace them.
The ALGON boss regretted that the judgment of the court was not complied with, leading them to go through all kinds of financial difficulties. She said that if any thing happens to them, the present government should be held responsible.
"Whatever happens to us, this administration should be held responsible," Emele maintained.
Onuegbu insisted that they had resolved never to vacate their offices for any body from the governor until the matter was determined finally by the court.
According to Onuegbu, since assumption of office, the governor has received a total of N120 billion from the Federal Government as allocation that accrued to the councils, adding that the state government should be asked what the money was used for.
Akaolisa said they would prosecute the matter to logical conclusion, urging that the resolution of the ALGON members not to vacate their offices in the councils should remain until the case was finally determined.
Akaolisa said the last administration of Ikedi Ohakim left N26.27 billion in office for the incumbent.
Okorocha had on Tuesday, through Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Anthony Anwukah, sent a list of 27 sole administrators to the House of Assembly for the screening and approval of appointment, to replace the council chairmen.
The Guardian