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Coalition Accuses Soludo of Undermining Supreme Court’s Ruling on Local Government Autonomy

Published by Tope Fakinlede on October 26th, 2024.

Coalition Accuses Soludo of Undermining Supreme Court’s Ruling on Local Government Autonomy

A coalition of Civil Society Organizations, known as the Save Nigerian Democracy Group (SNDG), has accused Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo of attempting to undermine the Supreme Court’s ruling that granted financial autonomy to Local Government Areas (LGAs).

In a statement issued on Friday in Abuja, the group claimed that Soludo’s push for the Anambra State House of Assembly to pass legislation contradicting the Supreme Court’s decision constitutes an attack on the Constitution.

The statement, signed by coordinator Cornelius Ajagbe, noted that this behavior appears to be a recurring issue for Soludo, who has also been criticized for dismissing a prior Supreme Court ruling that recognized Chief Edozie Njoku as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

The SNDG described Soludo’s actions as undemocratic and counterproductive to President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to foster grassroots development through financial empowerment of local governments. They expressed concern over Soludo’s focus on legislation instead of addressing pressing security challenges in Anambra.

“It is alarming that Governor Soludo believes the third tier of government should not function. His assertion that granting financial autonomy to LGAs would lead to chaos is troubling,” the statement read.

The coalition accused Soludo of egotism, suggesting he views himself as above the law, even questioning the authority of the Supreme Court. They criticized his ongoing attempts to challenge the Supreme Court’s judgment regarding the leadership of APGA, highlighting that Njoku has repeatedly been affirmed as the rightful chairman.

The SNDG further condemned Soludo’s reluctance to accept the outcome of the APGA leadership issue and urged him to prioritize the welfare of the state over personal ambitions.

They noted that, despite the challenging global economy, President Tinubu’s decision to allocate 10 percent of the federation account to the federal government while leaving 90 percent for states should encourage governors to respect local government funds.

“However, some governors remain fixated on these funds, demonstrating a troubling greed that hinders local development,” the statement added.

The coalition’s dissatisfaction is reflected in posters displayed in various locations across Abuja, including the Three Arms Zone and Federal Secretariat, highlighting their protest against governors’ resistance to local government progress.