TD OWERRI, Imo State — Dr. Ugorji Okechukwu Ugorji, Odoziobodo Mbaise, has opposed the appointment of Interim Management Committee (IMC) chairpersons and Sole Administrators (SOLADs) in local government areas.
Ugorji described the practice as undemocratic and a reversal of democratic progress.
Ugorji, in a statement, said leaders and communities must choose to move forward rather than return to systems that undermine elected local government administration.
He argued that if democratic and progressive principles are to be upheld, elected Local Government Area chairpersons and councillors should not be replaced with appointed officials performing similar functions.
“There is no right way to do the wrong thing,” Ugorji said, insisting that the appointment of IMCs and SOLADs does not represent democratic progress.
Opposition to Appointed Local Government Administrators
Ugorji recalled that his first ideological struggle in government involved his opposition to IMC chairpersons and SOLADs.
He accused them of destabilising communities through what he described as the ill-advised appointment of “President Generals.”
He maintained that an appointed President General cannot legitimately be regarded as the President General of a community.
Ugorji argued that such positions should emerge from the people rather than government appointments.
According to him, the same principle applies to local government administration.
“An appointed IMC Chairman or SOLAD is not the ‘first citizen’ of any local government area,” he said.
Ugorji further argued that the concept of “first citizenship” carries with it an obligation of integrity, uprightness and responsibility to the community.
Ugorji Calls for Rejection of Appointed Positions
The Mbaise leader said Nigerians should work towards a point where men and women possess sufficient political consciousness and patriotism to reject appointments that, in his view, undermine democratic institutions.
He urged citizens and political leaders to place democratic principles above political expediency and resist measures that could weaken elected local government structures.
Ugorji specifically appealed to the Imo State governor, whom he described as “the people’s governor”.
He asked him to reject any advice that would take the state backwards through the appointment of IMCs or SOLADs.
“I call on the people’s governor to reject any advice to go backwards,” he said.
He maintained that appointing IMCs or SOLADs is neither progressive nor democratic, stressing the need to preserve elected representation at the grassroots level.
Ugorji’s comments come amid ongoing debates over the administration of local governments and the importance of elected officials in strengthening democratic governance at the grassroots.
