Prof Peter Umeadi was All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) presidential candidate within the 2023 common election and former Chief Decide of Anambra State. On this interview, he speaks on the powers of governors in Nigeria and its implications on the nation’s democratic growth, amongst different points, ANAYO EZUGWU writes
Governors appear to overbearing powers within the polity that they determine presidential election outcomes in addition to management the native governments. What are the implications of this to the nation’s democracy?
Sure, the governors of states of Nigeria wield and use incompatible powers in deciding the end result of political workouts. They sponsor their cronies as delegates to elect candidates.
Chances are you’ll be nominated or elected by your ward as a delegate however on the D-day, you method the accreditation desk solely to discover a completely different passport {photograph} in opposition to your title. You might be advised that you’ve got entered the flawed corridor to vote for the candidate.
You protest that it’s you standing earlier than them and so they sign legislation enforcement officers and bouncers to manhandle you and push you out of the road. You and those that chosen you might be disenfranchised.
That’s coming from the governor who has sworn to uphold the structure and work for a free and truthful election. The governor holds on to state funds meant for the native authorities councils. All they do is pay salaries to workers and spend the remainder with out recourse to the councils.
In addition they gather and maintain and spend monies from entities beneath the constitutional management of the native authorities councils, from abattoirs, markets, motor parks to public conveniences.
The physique of administrative legislation developed round native authorities who management levies, charges, charges and permits, together with who will get what grants, phrases, period, tenure, termination, interval and processes.
The grouping of governors is so headstrong that the unreported judgement of the Supreme Court docket in Swimsuit No. SC/CV/343/2024 delivered on July 11 on native authorities autonomy didn’t cage them. They bandied collectively and obtained a delay within the execution of the judgement. Thereafter, they took a gaggle {photograph} with the President to point out their power.
Even you’d have seen the rash of native authorities elections hurriedly put collectively to proceed receiving the income allocations which the native governments gained. The sitting governors are profitable all of the native authorities seats, together with councillorships wherever these questionable elections have been held.
Keep in mind that the Judiciary Workers Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) gained their case filed on part 121 (3) of the Structure and monetary autonomy for the judiciary. The governors refused to implement it.
JUSUN went on strike. The mainstream media misplaced a chance there to prominently be part of the battle in opposition to the governors. These will not be democratic. We have to put a cease to them.
The governors ought to launch their grip on the polity and permit the need of the folks to be realised. It’s time for them to chop their coats in response to their garments. For the press, I might say your questions are higher late than by no means. I, nonetheless, warn that it might take many extra hammering on the nail to drive it in.
Is that this the norm in different democracies for sub-national entities to band collectively?
Assuming you might be referring to governors of states in Nigeria bandying collectively, the reply isn’t any. It’s a attribute discovered solely in Nigeria and for all of the flawed causes.
There’s nothing flawed with the governors of specific events assembly in teams. Right here, we now have conferences of Northern Governors and Southern Governor, and the six geographical zones have their governors’ boards too.
Partisan politics are run primarily based on political events. Part 21 of the Electoral Act 2022 supplies for each political social gathering to submit an inventory of candidates to sponsor on the elections.
Case legislation says that social gathering primaries and presentation of candidates are inside issues for the social gathering, it doesn’t say it ought to be hijacked or given to the very best bidder.
There is no such thing as a want for the dichotomy. They’re in opposition to the folks. The governors come collectively to oppose points, that are seen to alleviate the dwelling circumstances and requirements of the folks.
They oppose the minimal wage, judiciary, Home of Meeting, native authorities and monetary autonomy. Even inside a political social gathering, they create teams of governors. In different democracies, one will get elected and stays in energy primarily based on benefit.
Expertise certainly ranks excessive in qualification for political workplace. It’s your efficiency and supply of democracy dividends which advocate you for one more time period, not the corporate you retain.
We now have seen Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and Rishi Sunak come and go as prime ministers of the UK. Kier Starmer is in now. These actions are features of democracy. The ballots are revered.
The outcomes are clear and embraced and the polity strikes on. Right here, extra certified opponents are eradicated solely on the bottom that they aren’t governors.
At one time, it turned a fad for the retired governors to maneuver on to the Senate. In different democracies, you might be rewarded or rejected in response to your earlier efficiency.
The governors ought to launch their grip on the polity and permit the need of the folks to be realised. It’s time for them to chop their coats in response to their garments
Does this phenomenon have any constructive influence when it comes to checks and balances on the chief on the centre or is it for egocentric political curiosity?
The president, vice-president, Senate president and Secretary to Authorities of the Federation are all former governors.
A majority of the ministers are former governors but you don’t see them in entrance explaining the insurance policies of their ministries to the indignant public as their counterparts do the world over.
Right here, all questions are directed to the president. The media anointed the frontline of the presidential marketing campaign in 2023 and paraded former governors.
Peter Umeadi of APGA, Adewale Adebayo of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Omoyele Sowore of African Motion Congress (AAC) and Chris Imumolen of Accord weren’t governors however all had profound issues to say about the right way to change our polity. We didn’t have the coercion that the governors deployed.
There are teams of governors’ wives, audio system of Homes of Meeting, Attorneys Basic of states, and secretaries to state governments, all working for the governors to stifle opposition and sink all individuals who will not be in authorities looking for political energy.
All these are attainable since our persons are impoverished and acquired over with funds, which are supposed to care for them within the first place.
And I’ll ask you: If the governors band collectively to help the centre, the place would the centre discover the need to name the governors to order? I perceive and consider in enlightened selfinterest. Nevertheless, these will not be what we see the governors pursuing, after they come collectively.
Please comply with and like us:
