Uzodinma Risks Impeachment, Dares Presidency, Orders Elected LG Officials To Leave(Photos)

...Dags To Takeover LG Councils

Uzodinma

The constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria section 7(1) of 1999 as amended states as follows:

"The system of Local government by democratically elected local government council is under this constitution guaranteed; and accordingly, the government of every state shall subject to section 8 of this constitution, ensure their existence under a law which provides for the establishment, structure, composition, finance and functions of such councils".

On the strength of the above stated section of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria, the constitution has guaranteed a system of local government by democratically elected local government council and it is enjoined on the government of every state to ensure their existence. 

Imo state is not exempted. By the same constitutional provisions, caretaker committees can not superintend over Local government council administration. 

The Imo state local government law number 15 of 2000 as amended which enables Imo state Governor to suspend democratically elected local government council officials and appoint a caretaker committee by a resolution of the state House of assembly is in breach of section 7(1) of the 1999 constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria as amended, thereby is a nullity as Justice Clara Bata Ogunbiyi; Justice of the supreme court of Nigeria declared in the case between elected local government council chairmen vs Ekiti state government in December 2019.

It is pertinent to restate that section 1(1) of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended emphasizes the supremacy of the constitution wherein it state:

"This constitution is supreme, and its provisions shall have binding force on all authorities and persons throughout the federal republic of Nigeria".

One wonders why the new governor of Imo state; Chief Hope Uzodinma who has served as a federal lawmaker and just 2 days ago swore an oath to defend and protect the constitution of Nigeria, went ahead to ask democratically elected Imo state local government council chairmen, vice chairmen and councillors from the same political party of his; All progressive congress (APC) to leave their offices to allow directors of administration and general services (DAGS) in the 27 local government councils head the council affairs, which is contrary to the provisions of the same constitution he swore to protect and defend barely 32 hours ago. 

During an interview with a member of Imo state house of assembly this morning in Owerri, the lawmaker (name withheld) said, "the supreme court in a judgement concerning local government council chairmen and Governors ruled that no State Governor or house of assembly has the powers to sack or suspend democratically elected local government council chairmen, vice chairmen or councillors. 

And to back same ruling, the attorney general of the federal republic of Nigeria who is the chief law officer in Nigeria in a three page letter directed that the 36 state governors should comply with the supreme courts ruling as it concerns elected local government council officials".

The lawmaker who is a member of the peoples democratic party (PDP) from Owerri zone also said the meeting held by him and 19 other colleagues of his suggests that the new governor complies with the supreme courts ruling and directives of the attorney general of the federation by allowing the 2018 elected local government council officials who has about 18 more months to complete their 3years tenure continue their constitutionally assigned duties or he (the governor) will be impeached for gross misconduct.

"Orlu zone can not continue cheating other zones of the state like this. If the governor is impeached, his deputy who is an Owerri zone man will take over and the state will return to status quo as 20 of us will then join APC immediately" the lawmaker added. 

Recall that the former illegal occupant of the governor's seat; Chief Emeka Ihedioha issued an order suspending democratically elected local government council chairmen, vice chairmen and councillors in the 27 local government council areas for six months at the same time just because they are of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and appointed interim management committees which are unknown to the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria.

The supposed six months suspension of the Imo LGA officials elapsed in December 2019 and today these democratically elected local government council officials returned back to their offices following the appeal court judgement gotten in favour of the elected local government council chairmen on Imo state against the Governor and house of assembly with another supreme court judgement on the same matter alike in Ekiti state, a letter from the attorney general of the federation and the final supreme court ruling on Imo Guber tribunal which saw Chief Hope Uzodinma declared as the Governor of Imo state.

The big questions here are why is Chief Hope Uzodinma disobeying the supreme court judgement on local government autonomy, the attorney general of the federation?

Why is he dashing the hope of APC faithfuls who saw him as the man that will unite the party...?

In a chart with one of the executive vice chairmen of a local government council in Imo state, he said that they can not fight the Governor whom they have all celebrated as their own. 

A document below:

He said they done an official letter to him to see reasons why he should allow them remain in their offices and work cordially with him in order to move the state forward. "Our governor must as a matter of urgency give deaf ears to ill advice", he added.