A former Director-General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr. Osita Okechukwu, says majority of the governors have failed woefully in the discharge of their duties since the advent of the current democratic dispensation.

Okechukwu, a founding member of All Progressives Congress (APC), said this on Tuesday in Enugu while reacting to the 26 years of uninterrupted democracy in Nigeria.

He said that many of the governors had failed Nigerians in spite of the huge federal allocations and increased internally-generated revenue (IGR) accruing to their respective states.

The APC chieftain also accused some of governors of conducting themselves like emperors, saying that this had affected the delivery of democratic dividends to Nigerians.

“In distilling the performance of our dear governors, it is safer to say that few in the last two decades had done exceptionally well; whereas majority of them have woefully failed the people.

“Most of the governors act as emperors and do not make a distinction between their interests and those of their states.

“They do not abide by the constitution or respect the balance of power with the other two arms of government – the legislature and the judiciary.

“The social contract between them and the people is always in the breach,” he said.

Okechukw said that it was regrettable that Nigerians, out of what he termed ‘long fatigue’, oftentimes transferred their aggression and hauled their blames on the president.

“They blame the president even for repair of local roads and primary health care centres in villages and communities in their states,” he said.

Okechukwu commended President Bola Tinubu’s vision to checkmate under-development in the states and, particularly in the geo-political zones, by setting up and funding regional development commissions.

“Yes, I’m of the considered view that the North-West, South-West, North-Central, South-South, North-East and South-East Development Commissions will not only propel regional development, definitely they are catalyst for grassroots development.

“In fact, some pundits have dubbed the development commissions as restructuring by other means.

“This is because members of the commission know better what each geo-political zone needs and the geo-political zone’s comparative advantage more than the minister whose landscape is the whole country.

“For instance, the South-East Development Commission, which one has more details about, if well-funded, will do well because the chairman, managing director and the executive directors were chosen from among our first 11,” he said.

On security, Okechukwu said that the Tinubu-led administration had done a lot to contain insecurity in the country.

He, however, said that more should be done, especially in the areas of food security and social services, such as education and health. (NAN)

 Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle, Executive Director Commercial and Environmental Development, South-West Development Commission (SWDC), has expressed  confidence in President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.

Ibikunle in an interview with newsmen, on Tuesday in Ibadan, described the president  as a master political strategist whose popularity had  continued  to soar across the country.

He dismissed claims of political unrest in the North as mere outcries from individuals whose personal expectations were unmet.

“The real northerners who determine election outcomes are not among those expressing grievances.

“Those making agitating are only doing so because they didn’t get what they expected,” he said.

Ibikunle further dismissed the political relevance of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Kaduna governor, Nasir El-Rufai in the current political landscape.

“Atiku is no threat to President Tinubu. He has defected several times and failed in his presidential ambitions.

“As for El-Rufai, he’s more of a technocrat than a politician and holding a former governorship position doesn’t necessarily make one a political heavyweight.”

Ibikunle said that President Tinubu was firmly in control and deeply strategic in his leadership style.

“When he assigns a political task, four other people you don’t know are working with you, observing and reporting. That’s how deep his political playbook runs,” he said.

The executive director said that President Tinubu’s political base has expanded since assuming office.

“Before he became president, the South-West was 70-30 politically. Now, he controls the entire region,” he said.

Ibikunle allayed fears of possible imposition of one-party system in Nigeria, saying the president won’t impose such as a democrat.

“President Tinubu is a democrat who will never impose a one-party system, but the majority naturally supports him.

“Tinubu is God-ordained and came fully prepared for leadership,” Ibikunle said.(NAN)

Mr Sam Onuigbo,  former House of Representatives member for Ikwuano/Umuahia South/North, says President Bola Tinubu remains  an indisputable beacon of Nigeria’s democracy.

Onuigbo said  this in an interview in Abuja on Tuesday,  ahead of  Nigeria’s   commemoration of Democracy Day, slated for June 12.

He saluted President Tinubu’s bold and patriotic sacrifices during the days of National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), in the fight for democratic governance.

“Tinubu is an indisputable beacon of democracy. He joined NADECO in  making sacrifices for Nigeria to restore democracy.

“In 1999, he was elected governor of Lagos  State and he brought hope and transformation through democratic leadership and positioned the state as a mega city in the whole world,” he said.

The ex-rep, who is also member,  representing South East in  the North East Development Commission (NEDC), lauded Tinubu for sustaining Nigeria’s democracy.

According him, Tinubu sustained efforts in building blocks to build democratic platforms that benefitted other states of the nation.

Onuigbo said that Tinubu’s role in entrenching democratic tenets remained unequaled.

He commended Tinubu for working tirelessly to  enthrone  successive democratic governments not just at the state levels but at the Federal level.

“This is a man who worked for the emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari and some state governors and patiently waited till 2023 to ascend the presidency.”

Onuigbo, therefore,  urged the southeast in particular, and Nigerians at large to ensure continuity by re-electing Tinubu , come 2027.

He expressed satisfaction with Tinubu’s economic reforms, saying  they were hinged on enduring and long term effects.

Onuigbo,  who reiterated the need for Tinubu’s re-election, said it  was necessary for him to continue his good works.

He explained that  removal of fuel subsidy is now yielding results with increased revenue being injected into the economy.

Onuigbo, particularly, expressed gratitude to Tinubu for creating  the South East Development Commission (SEDC)  aimed at addressing  devastations of the civil war.

He described SEDC as a panacea to age long marginalisation of the southeast since after the civil war.

The lawmaker, however, advised the leadership of SEDC to judiciously manage their resources  to develop the zone.

He said: “There is need to reposition our agriculture, need for integrated railway line for the entire  southeast to boost commercial and entrepreneurial activities.” (NAN)