From George Onyejiuwa, Owerri
African Democratic Congress (ADC) has challenged Governor Hope Uzodimma-led All Progressives Congress (APC) government to conduct local government election if he thinks his party is popular at the grassroots.
ADC also said lack of democratic governance at the local government level in the state has retarded the development of rural communities with alarming increase in the rate of poverty and crimes.
A statement, yesterday, by Chilos Godsent, national vice chairman (South East), said: “The African Democratic Congress has challenged the Uzodimma-led government to conduct local government areas election if he means well for the Imo youths and if he also thinks APC is popular at the grassroots.
“ADC threw this challenge because it knows a democratic local government system in Imo has the capacity to economically and politically empower over 10,000 youths of the state, including rapid development of rural communities and drastic reduction in crimes.
“We recognise that democratic local government system will enhance the leadership capacity and competence of the youths who will emerge as council chairmen, deputy council chairmen, councillors and supervisory councillors etc.”
“The ADC wish to align itself with the popular opinions in the state that a democratic local government system will drastically reduce insecurity and crime rates because some of the youths who indulge in these organised gangs and crimes may be doing so because of joblessness, unemployment and hardship currently ravaging our nation and state.
“It is unfortunate and unacceptable to note that since the past 16 years, previous and present governments of Imo State have used local government care-taker-committees, transition committees and sole administrators as a conduit pipe to arbitrary and recklessly enhance their looting of the local government funds.
ADC is committed to lead the struggle for regime change in Imo State.”