The successful conduct of local government elections in Anambra State, more a decade after the exercise was last conducted, depicts the capacity by the Chukwuma Soludo administration, to keep promises made to the people.
The Anambra State Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN, Surveyor Obi Emeka Chukwudi gave the view in a chat with TNC correspondent in the aftermath of the exercise held across the state last Saturday.
Governor Soludo in his inaugural speech on March 17 2022 after he was sworn in for his first term as governor, promised to conduct local government elections in the state within two years.
Thirty months after he came into office, the local government elections were conducted in the state by the State Independent Electoral Commission, ANSIEC.
According to Obi, the conduct of the election portrays the governor as a leader committed to keeping his social pact with the people.
Obi also noted that with the inauguration of the Local Government officials, democracy will be deepened at the grassroots and communities will begin to feel the direct impact of government again.
He tasked the newly-elected Local Government Executive Chairmen to get to work immediately and ensure that they drive the kind of transformation the people at the local level have been yearning for.
The NYCN boss also harped on the need for the Council bosses to partner with the NYCN to float youth empowerment programmes that will impact the lives of the young people in the communities.
“As a council, we are happy with the conduct of local government elections after over a decade. This is very dear to us and we commend the governor for keeping his word.
“We are not expecting anything less than development and lasting solution to the teething challenges facing the grassroots people including insecurity, lack of infrastructure, poor youth inclusion, among others.
“The elected council chairmen have no excuse than to fulfill their promises to the people,” Obi maintained.
The Anambra youth leader observed that Anambra youths by their participation in the Local Government Elections, have shown that they have the capacity to actively pray their role in the state and nation’s political arena.
He acknowledged that majority of the chairmanship and councillorship candidates across various political parties were youths, while the voters also were mainly youths,
According to him, the development shows political maturity among Anambra youths and portrays a bright future for the state.
"We are pleased with our youths’ level of participation. Across all political parties, youths were well represented and I tell you, Anambra State will be better for it, because we are breeding a generation of politically-conscious youths who will take over the reins of power in future,” Obi enthused.