Currently, social media are awash with photographs of courtesy visitations by governors-elect. Most of these visitations are to their financiers or key political supporters. Even as you read this, one or two governors-elect might be currently undertaking courtesy calls.

This development doesn't inspire any confidence that these incoming governors will do things differently. Obviously, they erroneously believe that work starts from May 29 after inauguration ceremony.

It is important than the governors-elect realize that without a properly laid-out plan, programs and projects will be conceived and executed haphazardly without sustainable impact on the economic and social wellbeing of the citizens of their states. Governance is not all about awarding contracts for money guzzling projects. Things such as improving quality of education, increasing IGR, attracting young people to agriculture, making existing health facilities to perform better, etc. need critical brainstorming on current challenges and evaluation of strategies to solve the identified challenges. Everything is not all about spending money.

Now is therefore an excellent window of opportunity for governors-elect to engage in brainstorming, idea generation and strategy evaluation with development eggheads. Now is the time to articulate a functionality plan in readiness for May 29 when they will hit ground running with clear direction and targets.

Hope Abiodun can hear now

how does visitations stop planning?

If you have ever been elected or selected to lead or manage a company, institution or in this case govern a state as a newbie; you will know that if must succeed, you MUST consult far and wide (friends, enemies, fellow party members, opposition and the general public) in order to:

1. Avoid the mistake of your predecessors.

2. Learn new and diverse ideas as being an outsider and electioneering period wouldn't allow you much info.

3. Reconcile with your people.

4. Take stock of the community as you may not be disposed to do so as a leader or governor.

That being said, it's hard to hold brief for most Nigerian politicians. Most of their visits have shown they embark on it for fun and show off.

Sad.

Consistent poor performance by our governors show poor, little or no planning by these governors. There is no substitute for good planning.