A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and candidate for the Moro state constituency, Kwara state during the 2023 general elections, Hon. Prince Ademola Adegbite, has emphasized that democratically constituted local government administrations is a catalyst to socioeconomic development in the grassroots areas.

Speaking with the Tribune Online in Ilorin on Wednesday, Hon. Adegbite said that a democratically elected local government administration is capable of driving agricultural growth, social infrastructure, healthcare, education and as well bring the government closer to the people.

This, he said, would also invariably ease the state government of certain governance pressure.

The PDP House of Assembly candidate, who criticized the Kwara State House of Assembly for passing into law the Local Government Electoral bill, described it as unacceptable.

“It is retrogressive and unacceptable at this material time when the local government administration ought to be playing a critical role as the third tier of government.

“This bill should have been rejected in its entirety knowing fully well that it is against the wish of the generality of Kwarans.

“As a strong advocate of the third tier of government with a full knowledge of importance of local government at the grassroots, I would have done everything humanly possible to make sure this kind of bill does not see the light of the day if I was elected into the 10th Assembly.

“Members of the Assembly should have been courageous enough to reject it because it has dwarfed the growth and development of Kwara state since the inception of this administration.

“The Executive Governor, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, should lead by example as the Chairman of Governors Forum to set the ball rolling and conduct a free, fair and credible Local Government election worthy of emulation across the country.

“The present economic narrative will be better off if an election that will bring into office democratically recognized executives in the 16 councils is put in place.

“This is a clarion call to all well meaning Kwarans to rise to the task and salvage all of us from this draconian bill because as it stands Kwara state rank second to Kogi in food inflation. We have never had it this bad.

“We deserve better and a democratically constituted LG will drive agricultural growth, social infrastructure, healthcare, education and bring the government closer to the people which will invariably ease the state of certain pressure”.