The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Anambra State Council, has called on the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo to conduct local government elections in the state without further delay.
The state chairman of the Union, Dr Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, made the call on Thursday during his opening remarks at the October general meeting of the Union held at its Secretariat, in Awka, the state capital.
He said it was regrettable that Soludo had shown no evidence of democratizing the local government system in the state since he assumed office on March 17, 2021 as required by the constitution.
He said there were needs for the grassroots to have the feel of democracy, stating that the people at the rural areas should be given the sense of belonging by allowing them the opportunity to participate in democracy.
He called on the media to hold the government accountable to ensure that good governance, extends to local government areas of the state.
According to him, the media in the state should uphold its core mandate of holding government accountable at all times so as to enthrone quality governance in all ramifications.
Odogwu said “If you visit all the local government council in the state, there is nothing to show that there is any presence of government activities there.
“We must hold the government accountable as our core mandate. We must live up to our calling as the eyes, ears and mirror of the society”.
The last local government elections in the state were conducted in the twilight of the tenure of the ex-governor of the state, Peter Obi, in December 2013 after the one conducted in 1998 by the military administration.
Emmanuel Ukoh
