THE HYPOCRISY OF OUR DEMOCRACY AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTION.

The aphorism: "what is good for the goose is also good for the gander" has been severely punctured if it is interpreted in rela...

The aphorism: "what is good for the goose is also good for the gander" has been severely punctured if it is interpreted in relation to democracy as it stands today in many local governments in Nigeria with the continuing and blatant refusal of many State Executives to conduct elections for the third tier of Government.

On the return of democracy in 1999, the people's joy knew no bound, the expectations were undoubtedly high, democracy was to be guided jealously and consolidations were made at every quarters to ensure its preservation and sustainability.

Sadly and recently, it was been observed that parochial and personal interest have engulfed some state executives leading them to throw caution to the wind and move to annihilate the third tier of government by refusing to conduct the Local Government Election in gross violation of section 7 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999(as amended)

The said section provides thus;
"The system of Local Government by democratically elected Local government council is under this constitutuion guranteed; and accordingly, the government of EVERY state shall subject to section 8 of this constitution, ensure their existence under a law which provides for the establishment, structure, composition, finance and functions of such council".

Many state executives have gone to air to canvass the sentiment that it is as a result of the lack of needed funds or economic recession the country is currently facing that has informed their decision not to conduct the Local government election or plan doing so soonest.

While one only need to be a political neophyte to embrace and conceed to this puerile argument, i am compelled to distill this lone question in an attempt to logically appraise the aforestated reason by many state executives including Akwa Ibom state to justify their abrogation and gross violation of the constitution.

Does the conduct of Local Government election contingent on the availability of excess funds?
Lets take for instance, assuming as Govenor Ayodele Fayose's administration gradually winds up and the Federal Government or the President address the nation and inform the people of Ekiti state that the country is passing through a financial hard time owing to the drop in price of crude oil at the international market and as such governmental affairs will be grounded if the government neglect such staring fact to deep its hands into the nations treasury to conduct gubernational election in that state, and as a result, the Federal Government had written to the National Assembly and same have been approved for FG to appoint a caretaker Governor to take over the affairs of the state pending when the economy is resuscitated so election could be conducted.

Would this be a logical reasoning worthy of consideration and celebration?
Yet, this is akeen to the fate of our present Local Government (Akwa Ibom State) in the hands of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and the Executives today in this democratic dispensation which many political sychophant feel it's normal.

Let me state here categorically and for the record purposes that Political syncophancy cannot and has never saved any people. Special Assistants and Special Advisers to HIS Excellency should know when to step in and offer their services if a desire to salvage our future from decay is nursed otherwise a notion of tyranny, corruption, a calculated attempt to jettison our hard earned democracy and an indirect invitation to the rule by might may hold sway.