Finally 2018 Sacked Chairmen Draw Battle Line With Uzodinma
…Meet With Imo Cp
… Re-affirm Vow To Resume Work Nov 30
…Do Not Take Laws Into Your Hands, Govt Warns
2018 sacked Local Government chairmen and councilors appear to have drawn a battle line with Imo State Government over their insistence on resuming work at the twenty-seven local government councils of Imo by November 30.
This is even as they yesterday submitted letter to the Imo State Commissioner of police Isaac Akinyode where they intimated him on their resolution to go back to the office on November 30.
Speaking to the commissioner, the acting chairman of the 2018 ALGON and the executive chairman of Ngor-Okpala, Obinna Chinwe informed the C.P that as law-abiding citizens of Imo state, they had decided to go back to their offices in accordance with the Federal High Court judgement which hitherto re-affirmed their positions as the chairmen councilors.
He pointed out that since the other party which is now the Imo State Government had until the time of this report not appealed against the said judgment, they are left with no other option than to obey the contents of the judgment which is still subsisting.
2018 ALGON members who were elected under the regime of former governor Rochas Okorocha were suspended by the Ihedioha led administration through the Imo State House of Assembly led by the immediate former, Speaker, Rt. Hon. Chiji Colins.
The said suspension which abinitio was said to be six months was extended to another six months by same Ihedioha led administration.
On assumption of Uzodinma’s office by January 2020, the embattled chairmen heaved a sigh of relief thinking that with Uzodinma, an APC man, they would be brought back to serve out their tenure but the reverse became the case as the said Uzodinma who is of same APC appeared to have continued from where Ihedioha his predecessor stopped.
Governor Hope Uzodinma was said to have assured the embattled chairmen and councilors that his administration would not engage them in any legal battle on his assumption of office but that promise was not kept as the State Government did not only engage them in a protracted legal battle but also appointed Interim Management Committee Chairmen and Councillors to man the affairs of the Local Government Councils pending when the Government would be ready to conduct another council election.
However, if the 2018 Local Government Chairmen and councilors succeed in taking over the councils on the 30 of November Uzodinma would discharge the Interim Management Committee at the councils
Meanwhile, Imo State Government has warned the embattled chairmen and councilors the implications of taken laws into their hands.
In a release signed by the Attorney General of Imo State, C.O.C Akaolisa and made available to Lead, Government charged the chairmen to wait for the out come of their matter in both High Court, Appeal and Supreme adding that as a Government, they must obey court orders and as well protect the rights of citizens.