Former Kenyan President Raila Odinga’s hilarious Nigerian corruption story which has stubbornly refused to depart from the global viral space aptly depicts the incredible depth of Nigerian political corruption, and indeed the ridiculous state of its Local Government Councils (LGs). To use the words of Raila Odinga, “hundred per cent” of the monies and resources accruing to the LGs are despicably and brazenly diverted and cornered. Consequently, LGs in the country are practically dead. As in other states, Benue LGs have been overgrown by weeds, taken over by ghost workers, and perfectly secured by sextons. The LGs’ inhabitants on the other hand are merely undergoing funeral obsequies. Despite this very obvious, severe and thoroughly embarrassing situation, some Benue “leaders” are still advancing the traditional atrocious politics as usual.
For the benefit of hindsight, Governor Alia’s pragmatism came into play with his unprecedented pry into the affairs of the LGs as soon as he took over the mantle of leadership of the state which channel was advertently or inadvertently opened by the LGs chairmen themselves. At the tail end of the former Governor Samuel Ortom’s administration, the chairmen had gone to court to restrain the in-coming Alia government from “tampering” with them which demonstrated that something was fundamentally wrong – a clear interpretation of the analogy of the evil man running when nobody is pursuing him. The governor’s closer look at the books of the LGs made him turn to the state assembly for the resolution of some identified critical gaps – an act many have observed holds the potential to positively redirect the course of LG governance in the state.
Although Governor Alia himself, has taken some fundamentally wrong steps such as the historically unprecedented suppression of the Idoma ethnic group in political appointments and the conversion of his deputy into an errand boy rather than a valuable partner, one cannot deny his pragmatic action this particular time aimed at resurrecting the state LGs. On the average, N160 million goes to each local government in Benue State every month. But the LGs are as dead as ever. The disposition of the governor to come to grips with the despicable state of affairs in the LGs therefore represents a clear demonstration of godly and moral expectations.
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Two things are enormously encouraging amid the present happenings relating to Benue LGs. The first is the degree of a seemingly frank appraisal of the situation of the LGs by the state executive and legislature. The other is the impressive determination of the state executive and legislature to sincerely commit to their resurrection. With these seemingly impressive, thoughtful and accountable actions in Benue, maybe, one can say better days are ahead. The third tier of government in Nigeria today is an area crying for rejuvenation if not revolution.
Onjefu Okidu wrote from Ilorin, Kwara State
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