This is, perhaps, the best time to be governor of a state in Nigeria. Each state governor receives several billions of naira as monthly allocations from Abuja. For this, all manner of adulation is being poured on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. But, despite these huge receipts, most Nigerian states are decrepit, and the masses are deeper in penury than they were ten years ago. Chai!
The Godswill Akpabio-led Senate is using a sledgehammer on Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. But why?
Governors and the opium of huge FAAC allocation
In what can be described as a curious case of “robbing Peter to pay Paul”, the Federal Government has, since the removal of subsidy, channelled more allocations to the state governors in a manner that has now made the state chief executive officers have so much excess money as to think themselves on top of the world.
Despite the huge allocations, the governors have failed to allow the resources to positively impact the lives of the people in the states.
While the allocations have increased to multiple billions, the necessary infrastructure is not being provided. Many states are yet to pay the N70,000 minimum wage.
Many of the governors today brag about too much money, and some of them openly praise President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the huge monthly haul, but they have not shown mercy on the poor masses.
It appears that Nigeria has returned to the military era under Yakubu Gowon, when it was said that the then head of state bragged that “money is not Nigeria’s problem, but how to spend it” is.
Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has now found delight in pouring encomium on Tinubu at every turn, yet the roads in Edo are death traps.
Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has repeatedly sung the praise of the President, saying that the increased allocation was responsible for the huge projects he has been able to execute in the state.
Read also: Nigeria’s states face heat over soaring FAAC funds
Observers said that it was the huge allocations that drove him to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from his original party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Almost all the governors today are beside themselves with happiness over the bottomless pit allocations they receive.
Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State, while speaking recently at an event, said, “Some of us as governors will tell you, Mr President, our allocation has tremendously increased. If not for the removal of the fuel subsidy, the Kaduna State government would have been stagnant today.
“So, we want to thank you. But most importantly, all the money we are getting as a result of the sub-nationals, we are happy to channel the resources towards infrastructure development, particularly roads and health care, as well as agriculture for some of us in Northern Nigeria. And we want to thank you, Mr President.”
Despite these testimonies, citizens across the country have continued to complain of the lack of government presence in their communities. The argument has been that the huge allocation is not trickling down to the people by way of amenities.
Some Nigerians are even saying that the huge allocations are largesse from President Tinubu to woo the governors to his party. Even the body language of the state governors suggests that Tinubu cannot do wrong as long as the huge allocations continue to roll into their coffers.
Many have also alleged that the huge allocations to the states and the impoverishment of the citizens amounted to “divide and rule” in the country.
Read also: Windfall without works: N12trn FAAC revenue in 7 months fails to lift infrastructure
The thinking is that it is the governors that really matter for the president as far as the issue of re-election is concerned, particularly in Nigeria of today, where the vote of the electorate does not count.
Today, there are speculations that many more governors of the opposition may cross-carpet to the ruling party as a show of gratitude to the president for “over-indulging them” with the resources that belong to every citizen.
Even among the few performing governors on the opposition platforms, it is being touted that some of them are now political hermaphrodites, as they pay dual allegiance to their parties and to the broom organisation. This has fuelled speculations that some of the governors on the PDP platform may not recontest on their original platforms in 2027, as the Tinubu aroma of huge allocation seems to have charmed them.
While the governors are having the best of times, the misery of the people is worsening. Where is the safety net that Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala spoke about recently? There is no net, not to mention the safe one!
All the interventionist programmes have been too little and too late. They are not making the desired impact. Perhaps, they are only addressing party members in the manner of the trader money that featured in the Buhari era.
An angry citizen complained openly the other day, saying, “I have not seen anybody around me who said he or she has been impacted by the empowerment programmes. This is not denying that something is going on, but they have been too infinitesimal to address the multidimensional poverty in the country.”
Just a few days ago, the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) shared the sum of N2 trillion among the three tiers of government and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The state governments received N660.349 billion. This has been the pattern since the subsidy was removed, yet the masses are languishing in penury and lamenting.
Remembering the Nepal episode
The Nepal episode that saw the impromptu resignation of Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli should be a warning to Nigerian politicians.
Oli was forced out with some other government officials on Tuesday following violent protests in many parts of the country. The country reached a tipping point following a policy banning social media and allegations of widespread corruption.
That same Tuesday, France’s Prime Minister, Francois Bayrou, tendered his resignation after suffering a confidence loss in the Parliament.
These may sound distant. But the world is now a global village. People are comparing notes and borrowing a leaf. Every day for the thief, but one day for the owner of the house.
Read also: Nepal reels from deadly protests as army takes control of the streets
While Nigerians are not advocating for the destruction of government property as was done in Nepal by the protesting residents, it must be emphasised that pushing the people to the wall in the manner that is being done in Nigeria presently has telling consequences.
The Parliament building was set on fire after the PM was forced to resign. Those in power must be very careful about what policies to implement. We see politicians in Nigeria who have no known means of livelihood living like kings.
In Nigeria, people are literally taking care of everything, from the provision of power, water, security, education, and healthcare to everything else. The question then is, what does the government do for the people?
Things are getting messier, and the anger is palpable on the street. Politicians are too busy to notice it. What is the role of the government to the people? Nigerians are not asking for too much. Yet, they are not receiving anything. This is why the citizens of Nepal moved in anger. Those in places of authority must help Nigeria to avoid any impending ‘Ides of March’.
Senate’s sledgehammer on Natasha
In what seems a joke taken too far, the leadership of the Senate has denied Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s return to the upper legislative house after she has served out the six-month suspension.
Natasha had written to the leadership of the Senate to say she was ready to resume. But the Senate said she was not resuming until the court cases were dispensed with.
This is simply an overreach and impunity taken too far.
Are they saying that the suspension is being extended or what?
Read also: Where is Natasha?
The Senate, which is the highest law-making chamber in the country, must be seen to be reasonable and avoid childish behaviour. The refusal is wrong and excessive. The Senate leadership has not made it easy for the court proceedings to commence, as they continue to distract the court.
The senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is not an employee of the Senate president. To that extent, Godswill Akpabio cannot be acting as if he is reeling out a vendetta. Natasha needs to be allowed to represent her constituency.
When impunity gets to the point where the court has been ridiculed, it is unfortunate. It is wrong for anybody to deny a people their representation. The people of Kogi Central must be allowed to have their democratic voice.
The six months that the Senate stated have expired; there should be no further delay in recalling her and allowing her to resume representing her people. This culture of cherry-picking by the Senate must be discouraged by all means. It is very unfortunate.
It is also curious that the case has continued to drag on unnecessarily. The judiciary must redeem itself from the perception that it now exists in name, not in action. The entire world is watching.
