Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has hailed the Supreme Court’s ruling on local government autonomy, calling it “great and final.” The governor also attributed his inability to conduct local government elections in Anambra to ongoing litigation, despite his campaign promise.
Governor Soludo made these remarks while addressing State House correspondents after a closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu and other governors at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Soludo emphasized the importance of the Supreme Court’s decision, stating, “The Supreme Court is supreme; it is the final authority, and I’m a democrat. I believe in the rule of law. Once the Supreme Court has spoken, it has spoken.”
He further highlighted the need for resources to reach the grassroots and the importance of promoting accountability and transparency in the utilization of public funds at all levels of government.
President Tinubu had earlier remarked that the judgement would ensure that “only those local officials elected by the people… will control the resources of the people.” However, Anambra State has not held council elections for nearly a decade.
Governor Soludo explained, “When I was elected into office, that was one of the things I promised our people… We’ve just passed the Independent Electoral Commission law of Anambra state and we’re putting together the institutions to be able to organize that.” He noted that ongoing litigation has stalled the elections, but the state is working to resolve these issues.
Meanwhile, Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu stated that the governors have accepted the Supreme Court judgement in good faith. “I believe that the judgment is taken in very good faith. All Nigerians should be happy about it,” he said. Governor Otu also met with President Tinubu to discuss security and boundary issues in Cross River State, advocating for increased military presence and surveillance to ensure safety in the region.
