As the Lagos Red Line commences fully, I wonder if we have functional governments in most other states. Because, I get online and see Nigerians from these states complaining bitterly about Tinubu not giving them what it is the responsibility of their state governments to give them.
It is not Tinubu’s fault that your state doesn’t have good roads and a rail system. In case you don’t know yet, the Aguiyi Ironsi-style unitary government from Abuja or Lagos is now dead.
Just as obtains abroad, Lagos State has demonstrated that most development is local, rather than national or global, by building several Independent Power Projects, roads, bridges, railways, a port bigger than the Federal Government’s port and is now planning an airport.
What is your Governor doing? The other day, I saw one fellow who calls himself a Governor dancing Gwo, Gwo, Gwo, Ngwo at a time miscreants were burning down a Local Government Headquarters secretariat in a state of which he is supposed to be the Chief Security Officer.
Meanwhile, yhis Governor’s state has no railways, good roads, or independent power projects. Tomorrow, people from that state will go on X to blame Tinubu for their situation.
Incidentally, this particular state now receives 67% more in federal allocation under Tinubu than during Buhari’s unfortunate tenure. Their state wage bill has not increased. He is not paying the new minimum wage (which Lagos has been paying since February, even before it was passed into law). Besides Gwo, Gwo, Gwo, Ngwo, what has been achieved?
Many Nigerians are natural complainers. One of their most recurring complaints in this particular state is that the Federal Government has not given them a river port.
This state receives more federal allocation than Ondo State, yet Ondo is building a $1 billion port. Without boasting and bragging. Meanwhile, in areas where we have one or two people with weakness for boasting about their wealth and abilities, they are waiting for the Federal Government to build them a port. Their money is better spent on a loss-making brewery.
I repeat, ‘It is not Tinubu’s fault that you don’t have good roads and a rail system in your state.’
Your state reflects the type of leaders you have in your State Government House. The impact of the Federal Government on your state is minimal. It is limited to interstate roads and railways, internal security and law enforcement, in conjunction with your state government, and if your state is a border state, then maintaining our borders.
All other things, such as power provision, are either the responsibility of your state government or the private sector, of which the Federal Government has only a regulatory role to play.
In case you do not know it, Lagos streetlights are powered by Lagos State’s IPP.
The problem began when Major General Aguiyi-Ironsi promulgated Decree Number 34 on May 24, 1966, which effectively ended regionalism, seized control of all resources, including oil (all resources, including oil used to belong to the regions before Ironsi’s decree), and domiciled them in his military government.
In the fifty eight years since that misadventure, the regions (now states) have slowly regained their powers since 1999. That excuse is like a stick a blind man uses. But now that democracy has healed him of his blindness, it is time for the states to throw away their sticks and get back on their feet again.
Reno Omokri
Gospeller. Deep Thinker. #TableShaker. Ruffler of the Feathers of Obidents. #1 Bestselling author of Facts Versus Fiction: The True Story of the Jonathan Years. Hodophile. Hollywood Magazine Humanitarian of the Year, 2019. Business Insider Influencer of the Year 2022.
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