Prominent All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain from Dunukofia Local Government of Anambra State, Pharmacist Chinedu Ikeagwuonwu Klinsmann, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in what he described as the brazen attempts by Governor Chukwuma Soludo to circumvent the Supreme Court’s landmark judgment on Local Government (LG) Autonomy.

Klinsmann’s plea follows the controversial signing of the Anambra Local Government Administration Law 2024, which many legal and policy experts, have criticized as a direct affront to the autonomy of local governments affirmed by the Supreme Court.

In a statement, Klinsmann cautioned that if Governor Soludo’s actions are allowed to stand, it could create a dangerous precedent that other Governors may follow, undermining the progress made by the Federal Government and the Supreme Court in granting full autonomy to the 774 local government areas in Nigeria.

If Soludo’s scheme succeeds, we will be back to square one, and local governments will once again fall under the stranglehold of state governors,” Klinsmann asserted.

The APC chieftain called on Nigerians to rise up with their full force to resist any Governor attempting to undermine the autonomy of LGs.

He warned that such attempts must be met with unwavering opposition.

Any Governor who seeks to contravene the Supreme Court’s judgment on LG autonomy is an enemy of the people, and should be treated as such,” Klinsmann urged.

He reiterated that LG autonomy is one of the most critical issues facing the nation, one that directly impacts grassroots development and the everyday lives of citizens.

He argued that it is on issues like this that Nigerians should be ready to protest en masse, even at the risk of their lives, because the autonomy of LGs is where a significant solution to Nigeria’s developmental problems lies.

Clever his argument may appear, the Supreme Court’s judgment is final and binding.

“The July 2024 judgment, delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, categorically affirmed that local governments must receive their allocations directly from the Accountant-General of the Federation, without any interference from state governments. The Court’s decision rendered the longstanding practice of state governments withholding or controlling LG funds via joint accounts as illegal and unconstitutional,” Klinsmann argued.

Klinsmann emphasized that no state law, including the recently enacted Anambra Local Government Administration Law 2024, can override the judgment of the Supreme Court.

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He described Soludo’s law as “ultra vires” and a clear violation of the Supreme Court’s ruling. “Soludo’s action is nothing short of impunity. It is a calculated attempt to weaken the financial independence of Anambra’s local governments, and it must be resisted at all costs,” he said.

Klinsmann elaborated on the far-reaching implications of the Supreme Court’s July 2024 ruling, which declared the financial autonomy of local governments.

The Court, according to Klinsmann, held Governors can no longer receive or control funds allocated to local governments, and that the joint state-local government accounts, previously used by governors to siphon off LG funds, are now null and void.

“Justice Agim, delivering the lead judgment, affirmed that direct allocation of funds to local governments is essential for promoting justice, efficiency, and accountability in local governance,” he noted.

The APC chieftain further stated that the Supreme Court also declared the appointment of caretaker committees by state governors to run LGs as unconstitutional, null, and void. The ruling reaffirmed that local governments must be administered by democratically elected officials, not political appointees who serve at the pleasure of governors.

He called on Nigerians to remain vigilant and hold their state governors accountable. “The Supreme Court has done its part by delivering justice. Now, it is up to us, the people, to ensure that no state governor undermines this victory for local government autonomy,” Klinsmann said.

In response to Governor Soludo’s claim that his new law does not contravene the Supreme Court’s judgment, and that the State Government still has a role in overseeing LG finances, Klinsmann argued that Soludo’s attempt to maintain control over local government allocations through a state joint account is a direct contradiction of the Supreme Court’s clear directive.

“Soludo’s Anambra Local Government Administration Law is an attempt to revive the unconstitutional joint accounts that the Supreme Court has abolished, through the back door” Klinsmann alleged. He noted that Justice Agim’s ruling emphasized the need for a “progressive interpretation” of the law, stating that since paying LG funds through the states has not worked, the funds must be paid directly to LGs.

“What Soludo is doing is an affront to the autonomy of the 21 local governments in Anambra State, and a direct attack on the progress we have made in strengthening grassroots governance,” Klinsmann declared.

Reiterating his call on President Tinubu and the Federal Government to ensure the immediate implementation of the Supreme Court’s ruling in all 36 states, including Anambra, Klinsmann urged the President to use his influence to prevent any state governor from undermining the autonomy of local governments, stressing that such actions are detrimental to national development and the delivery of essential services at the grassroots level.

Nigerians must resist any attempt by state governors to hijack local government autonomy. Our local governments are our lifeblood, and their independence is non-negotiable,” Klinsmann asserted. “The Supreme Court has spoken, and no degree of argument can overrule its decision.”

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