A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, Prince Paul Ikonne, has urged Governor Alex Otti to comply fully with the Supreme Court judgment granting local governments unfettered access to their statutory allocations.
Ikonne made the call on Tuesday during an interview on Television Continental (TVC), where he stressed that local government councils constitute a critical tier of governance and should not be undermined.
He also called on Governor Otti to work in concert with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure the effective implementation of local government autonomy, noting that the President has shown clear commitment to strengthening grassroots governance.
According to Ikonne, President Tinubu’s stance on the issue reflects sincerity and courage, particularly given the political influence wielded by state governors.
“You can see how passionate the President is about ensuring that local governments manage their funds and execute projects that directly impact the people,” he said. “It was refreshing to see him confront this issue head-on.”
Ikonne warned against politicising the President’s directive, arguing that party leaders have a responsibility to engage their members in governance reforms.
“If the President does not speak to governors within his party, who else should he speak to? This situation exposes a deeper challenge of constitutional obedience among some state governments,” he added.
Drawing comparisons, Ikonne pointed to states such as Lagos and Enugu, where local government councils are actively executing projects, including the construction of schools and healthcare facilities.
He expressed concern about the situation in Abia State, alleging that local governments there lack effective control over their allocations.
“Abia has 17 local government areas that receive billions of naira monthly. These funds could help cushion the effects of economic hardship if properly utilised at the grassroots,” he said.
Ikonne claimed that some local councils receive between ₦400 million and ₦500 million monthly, but alleged that chairmen are paid only a fraction for operations, limiting their ability to deliver projects.
He challenged the Abia State Government to provide transparency on how local government funds are utilised, adding that the situation has weakened grassroots development in the state.
Ikonne further expressed optimism that APC governors yet to comply with the Supreme Court ruling would do so following discussions at the party’s recent National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.
In response to allegations that the APC is using federal influence to pressure opposition governors into defecting, Ikonne dismissed the claims, attributing recent political realignments to internal dynamics within opposition parties.
He maintained that adherence to the Supreme Court ruling remains a constitutional obligation, not a partisan issue.
President Tinubu, at the recent APC NEC meeting, had lamented continued non-compliance with the Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy and warned that further action could be taken to enforce it if necessary.
