Some Residents of Lagos State have condemned what they term imposition of candidates and manipulation of the outcome of elections in the ongoing Community Development Association, CDA elections in the State.
The State government had two weeks ago, announced the dissolution of the excos of all the CDAs across the State, only for it to announce the conduct of elections a week later.
Many Residents say the hasty call for elections does not give room for proper consultations and planning.
This coupled with the fees attached to the collection of forms for a non-salaried selfless community service they say are deliberate attempts to discourage genuine community workers from participating in the elections.
In Oshodi-Isolo local government for example, allegations of mischief are rife. Elections were disrupted in some CDAs due to perceived influence of some politicians.
In some other areas, tenure elongation and refusal to allow fresh hands to run the association after having been at the helms of affairs for sixteen years or more have led to major crisis and prevented elections from holding.
Mr. Adeboye, a contestant in one of the CDAs wondered why people will want to perpetuate themselves in a non-salaried position for years if they were not getting any benefit.
He accused some leaders of the CDAs of lack of accountability and outright mismanagement of the finances of the association.
In Lagos State, Community Development Associationa are regarded as the fourth tier of government.
The associations have brought government closer to the people and known to have embarked on many developmental projects including, employment of local security guards, repair of drainages, Public school development and construction of boreholes.
However, politicisation of the associations by the government many say is at the root of the current problems bedeviling the association across the State.
Confidence Okwuchi
