African Democratic Congress (ADC) has challenged Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State to conduct local government elections if he means well for the youths and also thinks that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is popular at the grassroots.
The party made the challenge yesterday through a statement by its national vice chairman for South East, Chilos Godsent.
He said ADC threw the challenge knowing fully well that a democratic local government council system in Imo State has the capacity to economically and politically empower over 10,000 youths of Imo State, including rapid development of rural communities and a drastic reduction in crime and criminality.
He said that ADC recognised that the democratic local government council system will enhance the leadership capacity and competence of the youths who will emerge as council chairmen, deputy council chairmen, councilors, supervisory councilors.
“Furthermore, ADC wishes to align itself with the popular opinions in the state that a democratic local government system will drastically reduce insecurity and crime rates in the State because some of the youths who indulge in these organized gangs and crimes may be doing so because of joblessness, unemployment, and hardship that is currently ravaging our dear nation and state. That is why they say that an idle mind is the devil’s workshop.
“It is very unfortunate and unacceptable to note that since the past 16 years now previous and present government of Imo State has used local government caretaker committees, transition committees, and sole administrators as a conduit pipe to arbitrarily and recklessly enhance their looting of the local government council funds. ”
According to him, ADC is committed to lead the struggle for positive regime change in the state.