By Dare Akogun
Former speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Ali Ahmad, has advised President Bola Tinubu to be cautious of potential retaliatory lawsuits from state governors against the Supreme Court victory on full local government autonomy.
Mr Ahmad, in a statement on Monday, advised the president to be cautious of other hostile actions from those unhappy with the apex court’s verdict.
He added that history will remember Mr Tinubu for his efforts in reforming the local government system.
“With Nigeria’s support for granting full financial autonomy to local governments across the nation, the people say, ‘God save the president’.
“However, I caution President Tinubu to expect retaliation lawsuits and other hostile steps from the governors. A reformer must expect that change is never easy, and it often creates discord. But posterity will be kind to the LG reformer that Tinubu is,” Mr Ahmad said.
The former speaker also urged Mr Tinubu to initiate and transmit a one-item emergency executive bill to the National Assembly to enable INEC to conduct local government elections.
He said such a bill must be treated in isolation, and legislative work must be concluded within a few weeks.
Mr Ahmad said the Third Schedule to the constitution should be reviewed by the nation’s electoral umpire to organise elections for local government areas.
While commending the Supreme Court judgement on the local government’s financial autonomy, Mr Ahmad also thanked Mr Tinubu and the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), for reigniting hope of a working Nigeria.
He said the historical judicial intervention is of inestimable value, comparing it to the legislative adoption of the principle of “necessity” in saving the soul of the country.
“By this action, the AGF and Mr President have rekindled the hope of Nigerians that Nigeria can still work. Personally, it gives me hope that more quality people will take an interest in active politics,” he said.
Mr Ahmad encouraged senior citizens to actively participate in politics and run for local government positions in their communities to bring much-needed governance closer to the people.
He said that liberating the local government from the control of governors has been an enduring challenge, resisting numerous constitutional amendment exercises, presidential executive orders, and decisions of the Supreme Court.
The federal government instituted a case against the 36 state governors, with the apex court giving a judgement regarding the status of the third tier of government.
The Supreme Court stated that it is illegal and unconstitutional for governors to continue to receive and seize funds allocated to LGAs in their states.
(NAN)
