Skip to main content

LEDAP calls for impeachment of failed governors, and probe ex-Governors of Enugu, Abia, Benue, Plateau, Zamfara and Akwa Ibom states

Press Release
Wednesday June 24 2015, 4.51pm

Lagos, June 24 2015: The Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP) today calls on the Houses of Assembly of Osun, Ondo, Oyo, Imo and Edo States to commence the impeachment of their State Governors who are unable to pay salaries of their civil servants for financial recklessness and profligacy. President Mohamed Buhari’s regimes must immediately open transparent and independent investigations into the misuse of public funds, including huge sums of money borrowed from the capital market by the ex-Governors of Benue, Enugu, Rivers, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Plateau and Zamfara States.

The failure of these states Governors to pay salaries of their civil servants, who constitute less than 2 per cent of the population of the states, shows a total failure of governance and profligacy on the part of the Governors. The monthly allocations from the Federation account is more than enough to meet the basic governance obligations of the states, because it is far above the monthly wage bill of the states. It is also more than enough to meet the cost of maintaining basic utility infrastructures of the states. The reason why these states claim they can no longer pay salaries of workers is because they have been diverting public funds to their private estates.

It is a national shame that a Governor will remain in office even when his administration is unable to meet the basic obligations of government, which is payment the salaries of its workers. Yet, the Governor and his hangers-on continue to live ostentatious lifestyles and build estates around the world. The citizens of these states must rise up and demand for accountability. Their elected representatives must do that now.

A state government should as a matter of good governance build economic base for internally generated revenue. States like Osun, Ondo, Akwa Ibom, Ekiti, Enugu and Edo are rich in agricultural resources and have no reason to depend on the federal government for payment of salaries of their workers. Osun state is a haven for cocoa farming and a modest investment in that area could make the state an exporter of cocoa within few years. The Republic of Cote d’Voir depends mainly on cocoa exports for its national revenue and it is one of the richest in the CFA monetary sub region. Rather than invest in agriculture, the state Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbosola, corruptly spent billions of naira on bogus and unsustainable ventures such as buying toy computers for school pupils, who are not even getting quality basic education. Benue state is once a source of food supply to all southern Nigeria. A committed and upright state Governor could have invested in the farming of the core products the state is known for, and would not depend on Abuja for fiscal viability. Rather than do that, the ex-Governor spent most of his eight years in office and state resources attending social parties and other profligacy, despite shutting down public schools for more than one year because of failure to pay workers’ salaries.

 Most of these failed states governments are neck deep in debts. Some have borrowed over 20 billion naira from the capital market with moratorium of repayment extended beyond their tenure in office. Other domestic and international debts eat into their monthly federal allocations. Without sufficient internally generated revenue, there is no way these states can remain viable. It means that for many decades to come, the states will remain in debt. These heartless Governors have mortgaged the future and destinies of generations yet unborn by virtue of their bare greed. They cannot be allowed to go scot-free.

It is appalling that most of the borrowed funds were misused or out-rightly embezzled by the ex-Governors and their cohorts. The purposes for which the loans were collected were not carried out and many of the funds ended up in private bank accounts or through doggy capital projects.  Yet, these states are unable to pay salaries of workers. What is more criminal than this?

LEDAP tasks the new regime of President Mohammed Buhari to redeem its campaign promise of tackling corruption, by immediately opening transparent, independent and professional investigations into the finances of these failed states that are unable to pay workers’ salaries. The regime must go beyond EFCC and ICPC, because as we have said on several occasions, these anti-corruption bodies have not been able to show any results to Nigerians that they are committed to the fight against corruption. Despite widespread corruption in high places across the country, EFCC and ICPC have not been able to successfully prosecute and convict any highly placed politically exposed person in the seven years since the conviction of Bode George and his sentence for paltry two years imprisonment for stealing billions of Naira. All pending corruption charges against ex-Governors are either being dismissed in the courts or they are stalled or plea-bargained off. This regime cannot run its anti-corruption agenda with such unproductive agency. We must remind President Buhari that Nigerians voted for him and his deputy on the basis of their anti-corruption credentials, and the Nigerian civil society will not accept any excuse for the regime’s failure in this regard.

--
Chino Edmund OBIAGWU
National Coordinator
LEDAP - Legal Defence & Assistance Project

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

ABEL DAMINA IS NOW FROM ITU LGA OF AKWA IBOM STATE

Owing to his steadfastness and commitment to reorienting the minds of the people of Akwa Ibom State since the late 80's through sound Gospel teachings, Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State has directed that a certificate of origin from Itu Local Government Area be issued to Dr. Abel Damina to henceforth authenticate his stay in Akwa Ibom state as an indigene. Governor Udom, Speaker Onofiok Luke with Abel Damina's family Governor Emmanuel said this yesterday at the Silver Jubilee m arriage anniversary of Drs. Abel and Rachel Damina which took place at the Power City International, 98 Nwaniba road, Uyo Nigeria. The occasion which was beamed live on Facebook, YouTube and on Kingdom Life Network, the Satellite TV Station operated by Abel Damina Ministries with an estimated international audience of 150 million. The Governor who was visibly elated to be in attendance as the special guest of honour, was accompanied by members of the Akwa Ibom State Ex...

BUCCANEERS WARNS PYRATE CONFRATERNITY, THREATENED A SHOWDOWN

BUCCANEERS WARNS PYRATES CONFRATERNITY It's no news that the pyrates confraternity has been throwing shots at the buccaneers confraternity on media at any given opportunity.The last was at Professor Wole Soyinka's 80th Birthday when the capone of pyrates confraternity was interviewed on Am express in his speech he labeled the Buccaneers confraternity as a (Secret Cult). But the buccaneers have said "Enough Is A Enough!" And wrote an open letter to the pyrate confraternity and the general public stating their cause and what the buccaneers confraternity stands for. This piece was written by:  Barrister Femi Osibanjo Grand Eye Buccaneer Confraternity Read Piece below: Dear All, It has become necessary to address you once again. This Brotherhood is a private membership only Association or Friendly Society, which does not seek to compete with any organization, Fraternity, Sorority or Club. For this reason, we will not seek to respond to any...

AKWA IBOM CHILD RIGHTS LAW

The Akwa Ibom State Child Rights Law The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Godswill Akpabio, on 5th December, 2008 signed the child rights act into law to protect the growth of perceptual, emotional, intellectual, and behavioural capabilities and functioning during childhood of Akwa Ibom children under 16 years. The law protects the Akwa Ibom child from birth to adolescence and up to 16 years such that the child is afforded the necessary protection and assistance so that it can fully assume its responsibilities within the community. Child development becomes notable from the emergence of speech at one to two years of age. 2 to 7 years is early childhood where the child uses symbolic thought and language to manipulate their environment. 7 to 12 is late childhood and marks the beginnings of logic, involving the classification of ideas and an understanding of time and number. 12 up forms development of empathy, the ability to appreciate the feelings and perspectives of others. An...