The. Executive Chairman of Ukwuani Local Government Council, Barr Chiamaka Solomon Possible Ajede, PhD. has complied with a court order compelling him and the Treasurer to the Council to publish monthly revenue and expenditure records from July 2024 to date, following a suit filed by Ward 19 Councillor Chukwuemeke Victor Kenneth of Ezhionum. The order, issued earlier this month, gave the council 14 days to disclose the financial records.
Speaking after presenting the documents today, the Council Chairman said the administration had acted in line with its commitment to the rule of law, while defending its record against what he described as persistent criticism.
“This our government is the most criticized government, even though we are trying our best to be ahead of other local governments in Nigeria,” Ajede told reporters. “This government is the most distracted government, but we will continue to look at the welfare of the Ukwuani people who have voted us to lead them.” he added.
The two-time Council Chairman urged constituents to engage in objective criticism, saying, “The people of Ukwuani should continue to criticize objectively. They should criticize the government, but they should do so with facts, and without the intent to bring down the local government. The truth is that the local government is not hiding anything. The local government belongs to all of us.” he stated.
Ajede said the council had previously presented income and expenditure reports at the legislative arm and held an extraordinary town hall meeting to give an account of its activities, even without a court order. He noted that 19 of the 20 councilors representing Ukwuani’s wards had acknowledged the administration’s work.
“For the record, there are 20 councilors in the legislative arm, and these councilors represent the 20 district wards in Ukwuani Local Government. Nineteen of them have seen what we have done, and said yes, this government is trying.” he said.
On the legal action, the Chairman stated that going to the court is an attempt to embarrass the government that we are leading, but said the council complied to avoid unnecessary conflict. “Because we are legal practitioners and a government that believes in the rule of law, we said there’s a need to re-represent the process. Otherwise, what we’re doing today are things we’ve repeatedly done in the past.”
He advised that future requests for information should follow due process under the Freedom of Information Act before proceeding to court, saying, “If there are genuine things you want us to do, come under the Freedom of Information Act and request it, and we will give it to you. If that’s not done, you’re at liberty to go to court. But you don’t just wake up and proceed to court.”
Ajede reaffirmed that the council would continue its practice of presenting the performance of the previous budget before introducing a new one, a procedure he said had been followed since 2021.
“We are not at war with anybody. We are at peace with ourselves, and we will continue to do the right thing,” he said.
The chairman concluded that his administration would maintain open channels for scrutiny and dialogue with critics, whom he described as fellow Ukwuani people whose concerns deserve to be heard.
