Society Gists

By Wale Adedayo

Governors of the six South-West states rose from a meeting on Thursday and released a communique, which among others sought to dictate the modus operandi of the proposed South-West Development Commission. What a nerve! What a shame!!

May Olodumare continue to bless Mr. President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his steadfast commitment to Nigeria’s development and sure determination to ensure that the Yoruba nation regained its lost glory by being given its due share in the resources of the Nigerian Federation. Tinubu met a rot on the assumption of office. And, more than 80% of this rot stems from the inability of our Governors to faithfully carry out their responsibilities to the people who elected them.

But for the poor performance of state Governors, what is the need for these Regional development commissions? The Governors have destroyed the local government system, which remains the best vehicle to bring developments to the grassroots. It was the reason Tinubu approached the Supreme Court to compel funds to be released to this most important Administrative Tier of the Nigerian federation.

The idea of establishing Regional Development Commissions (as an independent regional development bloc) arose from State Governments’ failure to ensure the practical and sincere development of their States, particularly the abandonment of their respective Local Governments.

That the Governors are still fighting the financial autonomy granted to the local governments despite the consequential Supreme Court judgement shows their insincerity.

If I were Tinubu, I would direct the Attorney General of the Federation to prepare and send an appropriate bill to the National Assembly to scrap all State Governments for the Regional/Local Government Governance structures only.

The Governors are “jokers in proper governance,”….just gallivanting all over the place without real development in any of their states (except for Lagos State which has shown a semblance of administrative consciousness).

The proposed South-West Development Commission is a Federal Government Agency as an independent development cluster, will have its Federal Budget. It should not be allowed to run as the Oodua Group and be strangulated by the hawks, who buried our local government system. Yes, cooperation between Federal Agencies and the States, being sub-national units of the Federation is essential for smooth development. But the Aluwala should not extend beyond the elbow, as it will become Ghusl, not Wudu for prayers anymore!

The Federal Government should give the SWDC Chairman the latitude to choose their headquarters and not allow the commission to be subsumed by these hawks like they currently run the Oodua Group. Having failed in their respective States, the Governors are fishing for relevance anywhere. The issue of a headquarters for the SWDC is none of the business of these busybody Governors. It is already settled by legislation in the Bill establishing it.

It appears that the National Assembly already suspected their intention, hence necessary provisions have already been made. Afterall, the North East Development Commission, South East Development Commission, Niger Delta Development Commission already exists. Did anybody hear the respective State Governors talking carelessly or doing busy bodies on these statutory organisations?

Since these Commissions are creations of the National Assembly, the Senate President through a motion from the hallowed Chambers, should publicly implore Mr. President to call the respective State Governors to order for them to steer clear of the Development Commissions.

The Governors are real enemies of the people. They want to hijack the last hope of Nigerians. in fact, the EFCC should be called in to commence Forensic auditing of each State Government (especially those outgoing in 2027) in anticipation of their stepping down.

By the way, where were these Governors when the plans for the South-west Development commission were being put together? As a former Baale of Okeliwo would say, “Obe ti jena, Aderun ma nela!” The soup is ready, the mouth-impaired wants to savour its taste. The Governors have failed to develop their states. This is why these development commissions are being set up to take development to the door steps of our people. The same inept Governors should not be allowed to pollute the waters of the commission.

South-West Governors should let the South-West Development Commission be. These Governors should bow their heads in shame that Abuja is coming in to help where they have serially failed!

Hon. Wale Adedayo, a former Chairman of Ijebu East Local Government, Ogun State, wrote from Ijebu Ife.