Commentry by Niran Adedokun


Sometimes when in my own company, I wonder what leaders of other countries think about Nigerian leaders. One of those occasions came up last week when pictures of billboards erected in celebration of the "good fortunes" of Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State to have met and shaken hands with the United States' President, Barack Obama, went viral.

Without holding Okorocha in grudge for "celebrating" the rare opportunity of meeting the world's most important leader, I asked myself how disgusted Obama and his people would feel if this exhibition of self-importance came to their knowledge.

But Okorocha was not alone in this display of vainglory. The Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, took his gorgeous brand new wife with him. And she lit up every photo opportunity that the spouse had with her bright countenance. The governor must have been proud of himself for affording the entourage the privilege of the radiance of the presence of his helpmeet.

But it calls to mind the question of what these state governors learnt from the opportunity to travel with the president. Until now, none but Oshiomhole who has information about how much a particular minister stole from Nigeria under the immediate past administration, has told us what their state stands to gain from that trip in which they were on the President's advance party. They only came back to act like excited schoolchildren who got their first opportunity for an excursion.

In the course of the week, I pondered on what could be behind the decision of the President to travel with these governors, all of whom are incidentally from his All Progressives Party. Is it the protocol for heads of government to travel with governors? How many governors were on the entourage of Obama during his recent tour of Africa for example? Why did Buhari have such number of governors embark on this trip which is likely to have cost each of them tens of millions of naira in spite of the economic crunch that states currently face?

I then remembered the following words from Buhari's inaugural speech: "...relations between Abuja and the States have to be clarified if we are to serve the country better. Constitutionally, there are limits to the powers of each of the three tiers of government but that should not mean the Federal Government should fold its arms and close its eyes to what is going on in the states and local governments. As far as the constitution allows me, I will try to ensure that there is responsible and accountable governance at all levels of government in the country..."

Although I always wondered how the President hoped to achieve the level of monitoring that would guarantee the success that he anticipated in this speech, I was happy that he acknowledged the importance of states in the development of the country from the outset. The invitation of these five governors therefore appeared to me like an orientation on how the administration of our states would improve.

To clarify, I hold the position that states are the weakest links to effective governance in Nigeria. Although I accept arguments that the current revenue allocation formula in which the Federal Government receive 52 per cent of revenue accruing to the country detracts from the prospect of development in the rural areas, I am still unable to come to terms with the level of stunted growth in our states.

If we take the argument that the allocation formula is responsible for the situation of our states for example, anyone familiar with the clout of our governors will agree that effecting a review in the allocation sharing formula should not be so herculean.

For starters, most commissioners on the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission which is empowered by Paragraph 32 (b) Part I of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) to review the revenue allocation formula from time to time would have been nominated by the governors. In essence, any chance that governors of the 36 states subscribe to the review of this formula, would see the RMAFC initiate the process

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None

Dead brain. Nothing!

Hw 2 snap pishure

Brightology2:
Hw 2 snap pishure

and shaking of Obama.

Apc is a scam

ahaz:
and shaking of Obama.

Good question, how many American governors abandoned their duties, behave like school boys and followed president Obama on tour of African countries. Naija we have a long way to go......everyone playing to the gallery

drnoel:
Commentry by Niran Adedokun


Sometimes when in my own company, I wonder what leaders of other countries think about Nigerian leaders. One of those occasions came up last week when pictures of billboards erected in celebration of the "good fortunes" of Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State to have met and shaken hands with the United States' President, Barack Obama, went viral.

Without holding Okorocha in grudge for "celebrating" the rare opportunity of meeting the world's most important leader, I asked myself how disgusted Obama and his people would feel if this exhibition of self-importance came to their knowledge.

But Okorocha was not alone in this display of vainglory. The Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, took his gorgeous brand new wife with him. And she lit up every photo opportunity that the spouse had with her bright countenance. The governor must have been proud of himself for affording the entourage the privilege of the radiance of the presence of his helpmeet.

But it calls to mind the question of what these state governors learnt from the opportunity to travel with the president. Until now, none but Oshiomhole who has information about how much a particular minister stole from Nigeria under the immediate past administration, has told us what their state stands to gain from that trip in which they were on the President's advance party. They only came back to act like excited schoolchildren who got their first opportunity for an excursion.

In the course of the week, I pondered on what could be behind the decision of the President to travel with these governors, all of whom are incidentally from his All Progressives Party. Is it the protocol for heads of government to travel with governors? How many governors were on the entourage of Obama during his recent tour of Africa for example? Why did Buhari have such number of governors embark on this trip which is likely to have cost each of them tens of millions of naira in spite of the economic crunch that states currently face?

I then remembered the following words from Buhari's inaugural speech: "...relations between Abuja and the States have to be clarified if we are to serve the country better. Constitutionally, there are limits to the powers of each of the three tiers of government but that should not mean the Federal Government should fold its arms and close its eyes to what is going on in the states and local governments. As far as the constitution allows me, I will try to ensure that there is responsible and accountable governance at all levels of government in the country..."

Although I always wondered how the President hoped to achieve the level of monitoring that would guarantee the success that he anticipated in this speech, I was happy that he acknowledged the importance of states in the development of the country from the outset. The invitation of these five governors therefore appeared to me like an orientation on how the administration of our states would improve.

To clarify, I hold the position that states are the weakest links to effective governance in Nigeria. Although I accept arguments that the current revenue allocation formula in which the Federal Government receive 52 per cent of revenue accruing to the country detracts from the prospect of development in the rural areas, I am still unable to come to terms with the level of stunted growth in our states.

If we take the argument that the allocation formula is responsible for the situation of our states for example, anyone familiar with the clout of our governors will agree that effecting a review in the allocation sharing formula should not be so herculean.

For starters, most commissioners on the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission which is empowered by Paragraph 32 (b) Part I of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) to review the revenue allocation formula from time to time would have been nominated by the governors. In essence, any chance that governors of the 36 states subscribe to the review of this formula, would see the RMAFC initiate the process

to read more follow punch newspapaers on

dat you should shut up and mind your bizness.

kazmanbanjoko:
dat you should shut up and mind your bizness.

Let him go and shake Obama let us see, since he is in the same class with Rochas,

CharliParker:
Let him go and shake Obama let us see, since he is in the same class with Rochas,

no mind am.

op what did you learn in school?

shachris02:
op what did you learn in school?

More than what u obviously did

kazmanbanjoko:
dat you should shut up and mind your bizness.

Hope that was not for the OP cos if it was then.....
Anyway read between the lines. I reposted someone's write up and sited where I got the post

CharliParker:
Let him go and shake Obama let us see, since he is in the same class with Rochas,

Ignorance is really a disease

kazmanbanjoko:
no mind am.

Tst Tst Tst

kazmanbanjoko:
dat you should shut up and mind your bizness.

So they spent millions of dollars and we should not know what we got out of it? Question doing a survey which state are you from?

biafranqueen:
So they spent millions of dollars and we should not know what we got out of it? Question doing a survey which state are you from?

Pls ask them?