Moses Idika, a prominent chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi State, has labeled the state of the Local Government Administration as “hopeless.” His comments come as a human rights group, Justice, Human Rights Protection and Defense Organization (JHRPD), urges federal anti-corruption agencies to scrutinize the state’s financial activities of the 13 Local Government Chairmen.
Idika, while assessing the one-year performance of the 13 Council Chairmen, described their tenure as “illegal and criminal.” He stated, “In the first place, a court has ruled that the current leadership of the 13 LGAs in Ebonyi State are not validly elected. The continued stay in office of the 13 Council Chairmen is an illegality, and every money spent must be accounted for at due time.”
He further criticized the joint account system, calling it a criminal avenue for misappropriating funds. “The idea of a joint account is criminal, and that’s the avenue through which the allocation of the LGAs is frittered away,” Idika said.
Idika lamented the absence of basic social services in all the local government areas. “In all the LGAs in Ebonyi State, there are no single social services going on, no water projects, no sanitation, no educational programmes, just nothing going on,” he declared.
JHRPD, in a statement released to journalists in Abakaliki, the state capital, echoed Idika’s concerns. The group’s Director, Silas Akubuiro, said that the inability of anti-graft agencies to perform their duties has led to rampant embezzlement of government funds.
Akubuiro noted, “It is unfortunate that in Ebonyi State since the inception of the last administration, the local government system has been a conduit pipe in which the council Chairmen and the government embezzle local government funds with the illegal joint account policy.”
The human rights group also highlighted the dire conditions in the rural areas, citing lack of water, healthcare, and electricity. “Because of lack of water, Ebonyi people in the rural areas are dying as a result of cholera outbreaks, women and children die in droves at the rural areas because the health facilities are not working,” Akubuiro stated.
He further lamented the state of primary education in rural communities, saying, “Go to places like Ohaukwu, Ishielu, Afikpo South, Afikpo North, Izzi, Ezza North, and many others, the state of the primary school children is so pitiable.”
Both Idika and JHRPD are calling on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences (ICPC) to investigate the financial activities of the 13 Local Government Chairmen to ensure accountability and prudence in the use of federal allocations.
As the state grapples with these allegations, the calls for transparency and accountability grow louder, putting pressure on anti-graft agencies to act swiftly.
