•••May Declare Support for Ubah Ahead 2025
By Kamsi Anayo, Awka
The immediate past councilors, under the umbrella of “Solution Pioneer Councillors”, have decried their alleged abandonment by Gov. Chukwuma Soludo after their “abrupt removal” from the office.
It would be recalled that Soludo-led All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) government recently reshuffled the Transition Committee Chairmen across various local government areas, appointing new ones and ward councilors, with a few of the previous councilors reappointed, while others were “dropped”.
Some of the councilors who spoke under condition of anonymity, said that their removal was unexpected , while the process was inconsistent with what they were initially told.
According to them, they were told that there would be a seamless transition and reappointment process, but the process contradicted what they were initially told, as they “were unceremoniously removed without any prior notice”.
They also said that there was no proper compensation or acknowledgment of their services, as even their entitlements were not paid, and the promise of financial compensation made to them was not fulfilled.
They also highlighted what they described as some of the risks they faced during their tenure, especially in area of insecurity, claiming that it is disheartening to be ‘discarded like that’ without due recognition for their efforts and sacrifices.
“Even during the peak of insecurity in the state, when many local government headquarters were being attacked, most of us were still working, risking our lives, especially in the seven local governments with the highest rates of violence and security challenges then.
“So, it’s disheartening for us to be treated this way after all our sacrifices,” one of them said.
The ex-councilors served about one year and eight months in office.
The source said that while the governor had earlier promised them audience and interaction, when they wrote to him to express their grievances; that the promise is yet to be fulfilled.
They added that even their subsequent sincere attempts and humble efforts to meet with the Governor , have all proved futile, as his aides appear to be blocking and sabotaging each step they take towards that.
They further added that the discontent has led to them considering declaring their support for Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah or any other aspirant of their choice, ahead of the 2025 governorship election in the state.
Dr. Alex Obiogbolu, Special Adviser to the governor on Political Matters, however, said he was not aware of any such grievances by the ex-councilors
According to him, the only people he was aware, at certain point, reached out to him to express their concerns, were former political appointees, most of whom eventually declared their support for Soludo.
