By Innocent Onyeukwu
The controversial Community Government Council election scheduled to hold on December 15, 2012 may not take place inOwerriMunicipality, following plans by the five villages that make up the area to boycott the polls.
Imo Trumpeta learnt that stakeholders in the area are angry with Governor Rochas Okorocha for not fulfilling his promise to “allocate” a Community Government Council (CGC) to each of the five villages in the area.
It will be recalled that Governor Okorocha had promised Owerri indigenes that each of the five villages in Owere Nchi Ise will be keyed into the rescue mission, by way of elevating each village with a CGC status.
Also, it was gathered that when Owerri Community Assembly (OCA) Executives led by its President General, Chief (Dr) Christian Oneaya Anukam, visited Governor Okorocha at Government House, Owerri, the Governor was said to have re-affirmed his promise, assuring that Owerri people will not be cheated in the CGC template.
Some stakeholders in Owerri who spoke on the issue rendered why the municipality is being denied of such status, when a Local Government such as Nkwerre has six CGC Components spread across each of the villages in the area.
Speaking to Imo Trumpeta on the present developing, Owerri Community Assembly (OCA) President General, Chief Christian Anukam, said it is regrettable that the State Government has reneged on its promise. He said each of the five villages/community in Owerri were expecting the Governor to fulfill his promise, only for such expectation to be shattered with the recent publication by Government indicating that Owerri is entitled to one CGC slot.
He said “It is only inOwerriMunicipalitythat has one CGC slot across the state. All the 26 LGAs, except Owerri, have more than one CGC slot. We are not accepting it. As the landlord of the government, we are entitled to dividends of democracy-which Owelle is sending to the grassroots. If the state government falls to reverse its action, we will boycott the CGC election in Owerri Municipal”.
