Reinstated chairmen of the 27 local councils in Imo state have boycotted a scheduled meeting with the state governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha.
The Chairmen operating under the auspices of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Imo State chapter, had insisted they won’t attend the meeting which was scheduled to hold today at the Government House, Owerri, due to improper invitation.
In a release signed by the Chairman AND Secretary, Mrs. Ruby Emele and Chief Enyinnaya Onuegbu, respectively, the council chairmen said they were yet to receive official invitation from the State Chief Executive.
The council bosses took exception to their address by Okorocha as former council chairmen and berated the efforts of the state government to scuttle their reinstatement as ordered by the court.
If the state government wants to invite us to a meeting in future, it should do so in writing indicating our official status, date, time and venue of the meeting, the release stated.
Pointblanknews.com gathered that the situation has led to a hide and seek game between the state government and the reinstated chairmen.
The state government in a release signed by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Jerry Okolie and his Information and Strategy counterpart, Mr. Chinedu Offor, directed senior officials of the council workers in the state to continue attending seminar workshops while the junior ones are to report to the Community Government Council offices.
Pointblanknews.com further gathered that the situation frustrated the reinstated council bosses who resumed work with the backing of policemen, as the 27 council secretariats are deserted due to the absence of workers
The reinstated chairmen have also alleged threat to their lives through anonymous phone calls and frustrations from the state government to carry out their duties.
Recall that Okorocha, who returned from an economic trip abroad, had invited the reinstated council bosses to a parley.