State governors should stop behaving like shylock landlords and emperors
Amid our current economic challenges, it has become obvious that all hands must be on deck as we search for lasting solutions. It does not matter what our political interests and affiliations might be; what we have on our hands calls for patriotism, collaboration and sense of national pride. Hunger and anger go hand-in-hand, and the last thing we want is a mob action in any part of the country arising from starvation, malnutrition and hunger in the land.
The mob has no mind of its own and it is usually characterised by a breakdown of law and order: violence, looting, brigandage, and a general sense of insecurity. Pockets of protests that are meant to be peaceful are sometimes hijacked by hoodlums.
On Sunday March 3, it was reported that some residents in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, looted a warehouse belonging to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) over the current economic hardships in the country. The warehouse, according to the reports, is located in the Karimo Phase 3 region, Abuja.
President Tinubu and state governors must as a matter of national emergency prevent the looming social unrest over hunger and unemployment.
Some people would argue that the mismanagement of our economy over the years resulting in our current hardships is all part of life’s rich tapestry, but I disagree. With the increasing misery index around us compounded by the run-away inflation of goods and services, what can state governors do to make a difference in their respective states? What did they do with the initial N2 billion intervention fund for each state which the federal government disbursed?
Clearly, only those who have access to privileges – family members, former colleagues, old school mates, political and business associates, girlfriends, and concubines – are the ones smiling because they have been ring-fenced from the “pandemic of empty pockets.” This is a phrase popularised by Reuben Abati, former presidential spokesman and anchor of “The Morning Show” at Arise News. When you don’t have money in your pocket, what do you do?
In an article published in May last year, I challenged state governors to think outside the box and make their states centres of innovation, production, excellence and economic opportunities. Do our governors understand the meaning of multi-dimensional poverty?
More Nigerians are slipping into the poverty bracket daily, not knowing where the next meal will come from. Most families are heavily dispossessed, distressed and depressed as a result of the unbearable economic hardships. If you want to buy yam or pepper or tomatoes, you are told the price changes daily because of the volatile forex market.
If we look at the size and population of our states, most of them are the equivalents of some of the 54 countries in Africa. For example, Cape Verde that created upsets at the last Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) hosted and won by Cote d’Ivoire, has a population of 598,682 people, according to UN official statistics.
Others examples are Sierra Leone (8,791,092), Liberia (5,418,377), Mauritania (4,862, 989), Eritrea (3,748,901), Gambia (2,773,168), Botswana (2,675,352), Gabon (2,436,566), Equatorial Guinea (1,714,641), Mauritius (1,300,557), and Seychelles (107,660).
In the UN report, Nigeria was listed as having 223,804,632 people as the most populous nation in the continent. Coming after Nigeria was Ethiopia (126,527,060) with Egypt (112,716,596) at the No. 3 position.
Let no one deceive you, we are still the giant of Africa. Isn’t it evident from the population data above that some of our local government councils can also stand alone as countries? Truth be told, most state governors always underperform because they find it difficult to separate politics from governance. They are also very selfish.
Now, if our state governors are serious about developing their local economies where they currently operate like emperors, they can borrow from the Lagos State model where there has been continuity in terms of transformative leadership from one administration to the next.