By okey alozie
Hopes that the much touted Community Government Council elections billed to take place this weekend will not have emerged even as the operations of the pet project of Imo State Government, CGC, is witnessing a messy affair with about N30m, said to be missing from the coffers of the supervising ministry, the ministry of Community Government Council, CGC.
Trumpeta learnt that the lid was blown open on Tuesday when the governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha met with the CGC officials from all the autonomous communities of the 27 LGAs of the state at the Ahiajoku centre even as the Governor used the opportunity to shift the date for the election earlier scheduled for Saturday March 1 2014
The suspected fraud rocking the ministry was confirmed when the commissioner for CGC, Chief Val Mbamala raised the alarm by accusing the permanent secretary (names withheld) in charge of the ministry, of running the ministry ineffectively within the period she was in charge without a designated commissioner.
According to the commissioner, instead of getting one million in their respective accounts, over 15 autonomous communities received above N2m as development funds while several others are yet to get their payments promised by the state government since CGC debuted with the Okorocha government. Mbamala claimed that these payments were made when the woman perm sec took charge before he was appointed.
It was learnt that the various amounts meant for the (605) autonomous communities were made available during the time of Ugochi Nnanna Okoro (Mrs) but were gradually disbursed when she left and the perm sec took over affairs of the ministry.
According to the commissioner, the double payments and missing monies caused the delay in payment to communities who are yet to receive their N1m development fund counter fund after the mandatory N250, 000 committed by the CGCs.
Our correspondent who observed the proceedings at Ahiajoku Centre noted that the revelations about the missing millions came at the backdrop of lamentations and complaints from several autonomous communities who are yet to receive their millions after paying N250,000 to the state government.
Further revelations indicated that there was alleged mismanagement and incomprehensible discharge of funds when the commissioner opined that, “the six months the perm sec took charge was an error and the place is now in financial mess”
Trumpeta was also informed that it was during the era of the perm sec that the Executive Secretaries of the CGC erroneously received allowances from the body prompting the Governor to publicly condemn the act and regard the payments as fraudulent during one of the public functions of the CGCs.
Attempts to reach the perm sec on the allegations and complaints from the communities proved abortive as at the time of this report.
Meanwhile, the CGC election scheduled to hold on Saturday March 1, 2014 may now hold in a new date of March 8, 2014.
Government House sources revealed that Ezeship crisis in some autonomous communities buoyed by the lack of awareness, review of Government liaison officers structures and appointment of those that will monitor and conduct the elections in the (637) communities, were the major reason for the postponement in date.
During the meeting with all the stakeholders of communities in Imo at Ahiajoku Convention Centre New Owerri which took place Tuesday, Governor Rochas Okorocha announced that he will change the structure of the GLOs and upgrade their status for things to work out well in communities.
Speaking further, the Governor said it is regrettable to discover that most of the present GLOs are poor men and women who cannot even meet up with their daily financial responsibilities at home talk less of Rescuing people from their place.“I regret making poor people GLOs” Governor Okorocha lamented.
The Governor therefore directed all the commissioners to inaugurate a council of GLOs in their various Local Government areas as a matter of urgency, adding that those who are not capable should be replaced immediately without delay. He said after inauguration which is expected to take place today and tomorrow at various Local Government Areas of the state, the next thing is to release provision of their funds including plate numbers of vehicles, identity cards and other incentives.
He warned them not to use their positions to defraud people in the communities, adding that a GLO should be seen as the eye of the Government in the various communities and should be a person that can be trusted with public fund.
He maintained that gone are the days when a man who has no car or reasonable means of livelihood will come out to claim that he is a GLO. “You have to rescue your self before rescuing others” Okorocha explained.
The Deputy Chief of staff Imo Government House, Chief Gerry Okolie who also spoke at the meeting disclosed that the GLOs will be in-charge of the Election.
He directed that it is their responsibility to monitor all stages of the election and make sure that it is free and fair in all the places. According to him, there will be no consensus candidate.
He added that the election will be based on option a four (A4) to make sure that a popular candidate wins in each community without minding weather the person is PDP or APC faithful.
In response, the GLOs expressed disappointment on the way things are done in the state. According to them the Royal fathers are not carrying them along in the affairs of the CGC.
Therefore they demanded that the Ezes should stand as symbol of Authorities in their communities and not to function in the running of the activities of the communities. The GLOs further accused the Ezes of sabotaging the present Government led Governor Rochas Okorocha.
One of the contractors and a GLO member from Orlu zone who spoke to pressmen immediately after the meeting at Ahiajoku said he has not received any cash as allowance since he started functioning as GLO. He added that he is poor today because he sold his properties including cars to execute a road contract and up till now he has not received any kobo,
He frowned at the statement made by Governor Okorocha describing some GLOs as poor.
Trumpeta gathered that the presentation of manifestoes of all the aspirants of the CGC election will take place at various communities by morning of Friday February 28th, 2014. During that period, those standing for the election are expected to address members of their communities and convince them on why they should vote for them. It will also be a period of assessment and account including debate after which the community will then know those that will contest in the election.
