From Joe Effiong, Uyo
Akwa Ibom State Government has explained the rationale for the dissolution of two local governments, saying it was based on public outcry against transition chairmen of the affected councils.
Last week, the state government dissolved Itu and Ukanafun local government transition committees while transition council chairman for Ukanafun, Mr. Abasiono Udomfu, has since been detained by the Police.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Political, Legislative Affairs and Water Resources, Mr. Ekong Sampson, said the state government had to intervene in the matter to save the councils.
Sampson told newsmen, yesterday, that whenever a local government transition committee is found operationally dysfunctional, the governor could, in his wisdom, intervene to restore sanity to the system.
He, however, urged local government transition committees to strive to maintain peace in their domains, adding that peace is the ingredient used in assessing the performance of each council.
“Any local government council that cannot maintain the peace will have to be saved from itself, in the public interest,” he said.
Asked if the state would conduct local government election, Sampson assured that “Governor Udom Emmanuel, being a committed democrat, will support the State Independent Electoral Commission to conduct free and fair local government elections.
He advised those clamouring for local government elections to devote some energy to identify and encourage capacity in local government administration.
“As a former local government chairman, I understand the enormous challenges in local government administration, you have to promote the emergence of quality hands to pilot the affairs of councils,” he said.