Going by the time table as released by the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC). December 19th, 2020 will present another opportunity to activate people oriented grass root leadership across the 17 LGAs in Abia State.

The Local government administration which dates back to the pre-colonial era is unarguably the most important arm of government in any democracy, this tier of government is created with the ultimate goal of bringing government closer to the people at the grassroots.

Regrettably since the return of the current political journey in 1999 due to weakness of the constitutional foundation and the contradictions created by the 1976 reforms, the local government administration has remained an idea in search of relevance with governors refusing to conduct council elections but will rather appoint caretaker committees and by so doing become in-charge of the funds that is accrued to the councils, this third tier administration which was designed to accelerate grassroots development and enable the local population participate and hold those in power accountable for their governance roles has been stripped of all the enablement necessary for rural development by the state governors aided by the legislators with the backing of the constitution as amended.

Where states choose to hold elections they handpick candidates and announce them winners using the instrumentality of states electoral commissions thereby discouraging serious and interested contenders with capacity to deliver and at same time killing the spirit and colours of electoral contest in local government elections.

Even in this state of deliberate usurpation of functions by the states necessitated by the constitutional amendment of 1999 that gave state governors near absolute control over the affairs of local governments which has denied the rural population the much desired development, I have seen some Transitional Committee and elected council chairmen deliver good and responsible performance using the funds and apparatus available to them.

I have seen Hon. Jerry Uzosike as a TC Chairman build shopping complex, renovate schools, undertake rural water projects, road reconstruction and human capital development projects etc., Hon. Ginger Onwusibe during his time as TC chairman and later elected chairman took up and completed audacious projects such as rural electrification, building of class room blocks, mini stadium, grading and asphalting of roads, rural water projects and youth empowerment projects, I also saw Ike Anyatonwu within his short time as TC chairman Isiala Ngwa South take up rural electrification projects, training and empowerment of youths, road rehabilitation, agricultural and security projects etc., how can Aba South LGA ever forget the giant strides of Hon. Okezie Erondu who during his time as TC chairman, introduced all year round rural road maintenance and ensured that all roads in Aba remained motorable, Hon.Chidebere Nwachukwu also left an indelible imprint in infrastructure and human capital development during his time as Umuahia North LGA Chairman.

During their time these men mentioned, through their performance proved that poor leadership is not endemic in our local government administration.

And that was why I became excited seeing the crop of aspirants who had indicated interest to be part of the local government administration across the 17 local government Areas in Abia state, given the pedigree of Emetumba, Chief Ike Anyatonwu there is no doubt in my mind that Isiala Ngwa South will witness massive turn around in rural development if elected as the council chairman, it is cheering enough to know that Ofor Osisioma, Chief Christian Kamalu, a grass root political heavy weight who had impacted positively on the youths and has also invested huge human and material resources towards the development of Obioma Ngwa,is in the fray to lead the development of his local government from the front, the ever tested and trusted Hon. Okezie Erondu, a great politician and a man with unquenchable taste for good governance, infrastructural and human capital development is also in the race for the chairmanship of Aba south LGA.

A prolific writer, the highly intelligent and cerebral Mr. Ugochukwu Johnson is also in the race to change the political and developmental story of his LGA and bring the dividends of democracy nearer home to Ndi Umunneochi, Hon. Chief Ifeanyi Madu ( Ifecosky) is an entrepreneur and a popular name in Abia politics, Chief Ifeanyi Madu had also indicated interest to run for the chairmanship position in Umunneochi LGA in the December council elections.

Mr. Tony Williams, a politician and an entrepreneur has joined the growing number of those who want to chairman Obingwa LGA, Chief Emmanuel Egwu, an entrepreneur, a businessman and politician is in the race and determined to clinch the Umuahia South LGA chairmanship seat, Mr. Kelechi Apugo has indicated readiness to be the mayor of Umuahia North LGA, Chief Lucky Johnson an international businessman, an entrepreneur and philanthropist is now ready and willing to heed to the call of Isuikwuato youths by picking his nomination form for the chairmanship position of Isuikwuato LGA, Engr Onwuka Samuel Agbai, an experienced investment banker and astute politician is in the race to bring development to Ohafia LGA.

All these great and noble Abians have the competence, resources, passion, reach, contacts ,capacity and are mentally and physically qualified for the job, but my worry is, can our so called political stake holders be patriotic enough to do away with mediocrity and allow the wish of the people prevail?
If these set of persons who have set standards in their different fields of endeavour and career lines are allowed free playing ground by ABSIEC and the so called stake holders become magnanimous enough to allow the wish of the people prevail, I have no doubt in my mind that development will push down through the rural communities and the rural populace will begin to enjoy the dividends of democracy.
For our grassroots politics to prosper we must as much as possible do away with mediocrity and foisting of unprepared and emergency leadership on the people.

Aguoru
Writes From Umuahia