The Growth and Development of Idemili North Local Government Area (1996 – 2010)

The Growth and Development of Idemili North Local Government Area (1996 – 2010)

Abstract of The Growth and Development of Idemili North Local Government Area (1996 – 2010)

Local government administration in Nigeria has witnessed significant changes. The core of the reforms and development was to provide and bring government closer to the people. No doubt, to achieve this, there is need for leaders with a visionary sense of direction, who are willing to carry out purposeful programmes for the benefit of the masses. These leaders must be willing to serve the people and selflessly put the people ahead in their administration. The study of administration in Nigeria has received commendable attention from scholars over the years and Idemili North Local Government Area is one of the local governments that has reforms and changes in administration. Just like any other local government, it has the capability to develop and benefit its citizens. This study deals with the administration of Idemili North Local Government Area from 1996-2010. Local government administration and its impact on the people is obviously a factor to reckon on with in the history of political administration in Nigeria. This is why a study of this nature is essential. Although the local government was created by the military in 1996, it was not until the start of civilian rule in 1999 that the core of its development process began. Such development in the local government has revolved around the key sectors of agriculture, human development, health, trade and transportation. This work thus is a contribution to the history of Nigerian government administration albeit of the grassroot level. By adopting both the qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, this work examines the various facets of administration of Idemili North LGA as well as the efforts of various local chairmen at bringing development to the area. While narrating certain strides made by the administrators, it also examines the administrative deficiencies of these leaders as well as the factors that hindered full dividends of democracy in the local government. The study adopts inter disciplinary approach and relied on oral interviews, government documents, archival materials and relevant secondary text for information. In the end, the work provides a launching pad for assessing grassroot administration and development as well as opens up doors for further important but yet to be studied areas of Idemili North LGA’s history.

Chapter One of The Growth and Development of Idemili North Local Government Area (1996 – 2010)

Introduction

Background to the Study

Local government administration in Nigeria exists to fill a gap which the national government is too remote to fill. It tries to bring the dividends of government closer to the people at the grassroots. Local governments over the years have gone through various reforms and developments. As a tier of government, Nigerian local governments have left a mark in history not because of its efficiency and effectiveness but because of the many and varied changes it brought in its wake in Nigeria. Idemili North LGA is undoubtedly an integral part of administration at grassroot level.

The evolution and development of modern local government in Nigeria could be traced back to the British colonial era. Due to the heterogeneous nature of Nigeria, the British merged different regions of the country for easy and “efficient” administration. The North had good administrative machinery upon which the British grafted an effective local government structure.1 A series of ordinances set up a definite pattern of local government based on the Native Authority System in the North that allowed the Emirs, among other things, to pay officials and impose taxes on the people. In the East, the story was a little different as indirect rule was imposed, but “the Aba Women Riot of 1929 exposed the short-comings of the indirect rule system in the East and led to radical

review of the system.”2 In 1950, the British system of local government was introduced in the East with the Eastern Region Local Government Ordinance. In 1952, the West 1followed suit.3 It was not until 1954 that the North absorbed elected members into the native administration following pressure from the “young elements.”4

After Nigeria regained her independence in 1960, the federal government of Nigeria, adopted different forms of local government as respective regions became responsible for the structures, legislation and operation of local government under their jurisdiction. It was in 1976, that the Federal Military Government led by General Olusegun Obasanjo reformed the local government system. As expected, “the 1976 reform established a uniform single tier, all-purpose local council throughout the

country.”5 After The Reform, the 1976 and subsequently the 1999 Constitutions gave local governments legal backing. The provisions of the Constitution made clear of the relationship between state government and local government on the one hand and the federal government on the other hand. The constitution also spelt out categorically the responsibilities of local government, thus making local government a “constitutional expression.”6 Local government created was to cater for the social needs and aspirations of those at the grassroots and would be “judged by its success in providing

such services.”7 In spite of the enormous reforms and impact of Idemili North LGA on the people of the area, there has been no detailed historical account of the growth and development in the LGA.Thus, the need for this research on Idemili North LGA of Anambra State from 1996 – 2010.

What exists as Idemili North LGA was part of Idemili LGA until October 1st, 1996 during General Sani Abacha’s regime, when the local government was split into two to form Idemili North and Idemili South LGA. The name Idemili was derived from Idemili river. The river has its source from Agulu Lake in Aniocha LGA and it flows through most

communities in the area. Idemili river flows into River Niger at Iyi-Owa in Onitsha.8 From October 1, 1996, Idemili North became one of the twenty-one local government councils in Anambra state. Ogidi community which was headquarters of Idemili LGA still retains her status in the present Idemili North LGA. Idemili North LGA is bounded in the North by Oyi LGA, in the South by her sister LGA, Idemili South, in the East by Njikoka LGA and in the West by Onitsha North LGA. Ten communities make up the local government namely: Abacha, Abatete, Eziowelle, Ideani, Nkpor, Obosi, Ogidi, Oraukwu,

Uke, and Umuoji.9 “These communities are linked by ancestral and cultural ties.”10 The local government has twelve political wards. Each community has one except for Ogidi and Umuoji communities that have two apiece.

Idemili North LGA occupies an expense of land of about 43.756 square kilometers. According to the 2006 census, the population of the local government stood at 431,005, of which, 219,223 were male while 211,782 were female.11 The local government constitutes about 10.30 percent of the total number of inhabitants in

Anambra state.12 Increase in population is alluded to the local government’s proximity to the commercial city of Onitsha and Anambra state policy in the last decade, to decongest Onitsha. With that, some markets have been transferred to some communities in the local government. These include, the Electrical Spare Parts market now located at Obosi, the Building Material market now at Ogidi, the Bakery Material partly located in Ogidi and Ogbuike (Ogbuike is in Oyi LGA). There are other markets like the New Motor Spare Parts Market in Nkpor, the Old Motor Spare Parts in Nkpor and Obosi. Apart from these major markets, each community that forms part of the local government has their own local markets that have continued to serve their needs and to assist inter-group relations. The major markets in Idemili North are also a source of revenue generation which if properly utilized could have gone a long way in fostering development. “Rural-urban migration”13 has made workers, traders and artisans reside in some of the communities like Nkpor, Obosi, Ogidi and Umuoji, where they commute to their various business areas.

There is no doubt that there are avenues for development in Idemili North LGA. Hence, this work sets out to analyses the overall performance of the administrators of the LGA and examines how their administration had either speed up or derailed development in the area from 1996 up to 2010.