Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, today unequivocally declared that his administration is ready to conduct the long-awaited local government elections.

He made the declaration during a meeting with local government chairmanship and councillorship aspirants from all the political parties in the state. The meeting which was held at the Government House Conference Hall in Awka had over 300 aspirants from the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Labour Party (LP), among others, in attendance.

The group with the umbrella name ofMovement for the Conduct of Local Government Election
(MCLGE), was led by its Coordinator, Comrade Ositadinma Obi.

During the meeting that lasted well over one hour, Governor Obi told the aspirants that he is ready for the election, as money was already budgeted for it in the 2013 budget.

It would be recalled that Anambra State House of Assembly had approved N400m for the state Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) in the 2013 fiscal appropriation. However, Obi assured the agitators that if the money mapped out for the election would not be sufficient, he is ready to make it up.

He said: “Money will not be the problem of ANSIEC; if we have money for roads and other projects, money cannot stop the local government election in the state. Let me assure you that government of Anambra State is a member of this group; local government election is over due in Anambra State. Let this not end in government house: Go to ANSIEC and tell them to fix a date for everybody to go to the field for a free, transparent and fair election. This government will support it.”

The governor further said that he wanted to conduct the election in 2009, but some people came up with an allegation that because he was gunning for second term, that he would manipulate the
election.

“The way you want this election conducted is the way I want it because I have benefited from free and fair election in this state. The problem is not government; you should go and liaise with ANSIEC. It is desirable, important and good. Go and bother ANSIEC; they have the budget this year, they are in control the money is there,” Obi said.

Earlier, the leader of the group, Comrade Ositadinma Obi, said they came to tell the government their minds concerning the non-conduct of local government elections, adding that without the election, there would not be any governorshipelection in the state.

He stressed that as a leader, he would put his life on the line to actualise the yearnings and
aspirations on his group.

According to the MCLGE Coordinator: “We are not happy that the local government election has lingered, but we are not here to apportion blame on Governor Obi, Sen. Chris Ngige, Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju or anybody; all we are asking is, let this thing be done. Your Excellency, we want you to liaise with ANSIEC to give us the time table for everybody to start preparing, denying the people of this state grass root government for 13 years is criminal.”

•Photo: Governor Obi.