The Chief Political Adviser to the Governor of Imo State and Head of the Political Bureau, Chief Perry Opara, has strongly defended Governor Hope Uzodimma’s directive mandating elected Local Government Chairmen to reside in their respective council areas.
Chief Opara dismissed the criticism by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as an unnecessary politicization of a directive designed to strengthen governance at the grassroots level.
“Common sense alone makes the governor’s directive valid and commendable,” Chief Opara asserted, emphasizing the practicality and necessity of the governor’s decision.
Drawing parallels with practices at higher levels of government, he explained, “The President of Nigeria resides in Nigeria and only travels abroad when necessary. In the same vein, governors reside in their states and only travel to Abuja or other places when there is a need.”
Chief Opara took issue with the practice of local government chairmen abandoning their constituencies to live in Owerri, describing it as counterproductive.
“I do not see any justification for local government chairmen, who canvassed for votes among grassroots dwellers, to now cluster in the state capital instead of being on ground to serve the people,” he stated emphatically.
While acknowledging concerns raised by the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Chief Opara agreed with the ALGON Chairman’s appeal for the renovation and proper security of government lodges and facilities for council chairmen.
“The call for better living and working conditions in council areas is reasonable and deserves attention,” he noted, adding that these issues should not detract from the core responsibility of serving the people directly.
The Chief Political Adviser called for constructive opposition, urging political actors to focus on meaningful contributions rather than baseless criticism.
“Opposition is superb when criticisms are factual and aimed at developing and progressing the state. Anything short of that is simply political noise,” Opara noted.
Highlighting the importance of proximity to constituents, Chief Opara explained that local government chairmen could better understand and address the needs of their communities when they live among them.
“When chairmen reside within their council areas, they will be able to feel the pulse of the people, interact with them regularly, and attend to their pressing needs in real time,” he said.
Chief Opara further underscored the example set by Governor Uzodimma, who balances his presence in Imo State with necessary trips to Abuja to advocate for the state’s interests.
“If the governor can travel to Abuja only when necessary to make important submissions for the benefit of the state, then it is only logical that local government chairmen do the same—reside with their people and only come to Owerri when the need arises on behalf of their constituents,” he argued.
Addressing the ADC’s criticism, Chief Opara described it as politically motivated and lacking substance.
“This directive is about service delivery and accountability. It’s unfortunate that some choose to twist it into a political narrative rather than support efforts to bring governance closer to the people,” he stated.
The Chief Political Adviser also reiterated the governor’s commitment to providing the necessary infrastructure to make council areas more conducive for local government officials.
“Governor Uzodimma is already working to improve facilities in council areas. However, that shouldn’t be an excuse for chairmen to abandon their primary responsibility,” Opara stressed.
Chief Opara urged all stakeholders to prioritize the interests of the people and work collaboratively to enhance governance.
“This directive is not about politics; it is about effective leadership. The time has come for local government officials to lead by example and stay rooted in their communities,” he said.
