Former Director-General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr. Osita Okechukwu
A former Director-General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr. Osita Okechukwu, has criticized the majority of governors in Nigeria, saying they have failed woefully in their duties since the country’s return to democracy 26 years ago.
Okechukwu, a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), made this statement while reacting to the country’s democratic milestone.
According to Okechukwu, despite receiving huge federal allocations and increased internally-generated revenue (IGR), many governors have failed to deliver 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,” he said.
Okechukwu lamented that most governors conduct themselves like emperors, disregarding the constitution and the balance of power with the legislature and judiciary. “Most of the governors act as emperors and do not make a distinction between their interests and those of their states,” he noted.
However, Okechukwu praised President Bola Tinubu’s initiative to establish regional development commissions, saying it would propel grassroots development and allow each geo-political zone to tap into its comparative advantages.
“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,” he said.
While commending the Tinubu-led administration for efforts to contain insecurity, Okechukwu emphasized the need for more action, particularly in areas like food security, education, and healthcare.
“More should be done, especially in the areas of food security and social services, such as education and health,” he urged.
NAN
