By polycarp Ifeanyi, Onitsha
As Supreme Court of Nigeria continues to receive accolades on the recent judgement on local government autonomy, an industrialist, Chief Johnson Okolo has joined his added in commending the apex court for the sound judgement.
Chief Okolo who is the Chairman of industrial cluster, Awada Obosi in Idemili North local government area of Anambra State in an interview with newsmen in Onitsha described the judgment as a landmark one which he said if the autonomy of local government was fully implemented that it would attract progress and development down to the grassroots.
He said that court has actually delivered its judgement and issued directives but that to implement it would be a hard nut to crack, even as he contended that corruption in Nigeria would truncate the implementation.
“I believe it would be the same corrupt people who are in the governance that will still oversee the local government.
“So, they must devise a means to make sure that the development of the local government will not be possible. They will look a way to build one kilometer road at the cost of 100 kilometers road, “he added.
According to Chief Okolo, if there is no appropriate measure to checkmate corruption in Nigeria, any law or directive would be bunkum, saying that corruption was the greatest challenge in Nigeria.
” If the Governors are using the local government fund very well, there is no need for the judgement. If they are doing things in such a way they are supposed to be done, there would be no need for the judgement of the Supreme Court, ” he said.
The renowned industrialist reiterated that Nigeria has no problem in promulgating laws but how to implement them was a great task. He noted that Nigerians should adequately tackle corruption very well before anything could properly work out.
” Many people in Nigeria are feeding on corruption. So, corruption is a serious virus in Nigerian system. The only way Nigeria could survive is to eradicate corruption, first from the public office holders. They would implement the court directives but the same corrupt practices in the State House and by the State Governors will still resurface in the local government system.
” Now, let me even tell you, before you become a local government Chairman, there may be two agreements on how to handle the funds. Some people will go to the extent of engaging shrine and swear on how to handle the funds even before the local government Chairman is elected.
“So, Implementations could be physically observed but internally the same people will be there. There might be election in the local government but the same corruption would not allow the right person to be elected, “Chief Okolo concluded.
