₦airaland Forum

Judging from recent political events, it is getting evidently clear that our governor and Senators have lost some power and influence.

The 1999/2003 produced the most powerful set of governors Nigeria have ever produced in terms of putting the government at the center on their toes.
Tinubu as governor of Lagos state challenged the federal government head on.
Orji Uzor Kalu as governor of Abia state did not give the Federal government any breathing space. He went on to float a brand-new political party (PPA) and installed two governors with his new party (Abia and Imo governors).

You dare not declare a state of emergency on Gov. Odili, even the appointed administrator will not risk stepping his foot in Rivers state for fear of the unknown.
Gov. Fayose was removed as Governor, He did not retire to his mansion and ask his supporters to continue supporting Obasanjo's Federal govt. that removed him, rather he sought asylum in Orji Uzor Kalu's govt. house in Abia state and was launching missiles from their till he reclaimed his mandate.
Gov. Peter Obi was sacked twice by individuals heavily connected to Aso rock, he did not go home to sleep, rather he fought gallantly to reclaim his mandate.
Gov. Victor Attah of AkwaIbom state built an independent power plant when he felt the FG generated power is not enough for AkwaIbom state development effort, the FG fought him (on grounds that power generation is on the exclusive list) and he fought back gallantly, he did not go about announcing endorsement for OBJ second term bid to curry Favour from him.

In those days, federal government visit state government houses to lobby state governors to support FG policies, today state governors are reportedly visiting Aso rock every now and then like sycophants.
All in all, the state powers are shrinking while the central government is getting more powerful. This trend is not good for our democracy and quest for true federalism.

I dont think so

It is simple. Those powerful governors produced in those years have directly and indirectly come together to constitute the federal power in Abuja. And as the saying goes, he who kills by sword does not allow people with swords to cross his back.

You raised a very valid set of points

Those daring Governors have constitutes a power bloc in Abuja.

Ironically, all these are a fall-out of a less independent Judiciary & INEC.

James Ibori
Chimaraoke Nnamani
Idris Wada
Lucky Igbinedion
Alimodu Sheriff
Bukola Saraki
Etc.
Men mount then
Na small small boys dey now apart from
Gov. Uzodinma and maybe Soludo, I don't think any other governor can look Tinubu eyeball to eyeball. Unfortunately, the two are pro-Tinubu

Sycophants are the ones occupying leadership positions.

DeJoeee:
Judging from recent political events, it is getting evidently clear that our governor and Senators have lost some power and influence.

The 1999/2003 produced the most powerful set of governors Nigeria have ever produced in terms of putting the government at the center on their toes.
Tinubu as governor of Lagos state challenged the federal government head on.
Orji Uzor Kalu as governor of Abia state did not give the Federal government any breathing space. He went on to float a brand-new political party (PPA) and installed two governors with his new party (Abia and Imo governors).

You dare not declare a state of emergency on Gov. Odili, even the appointed administrator will not risk stepping his foot in Rivers state for fear of the unknown.
Gov. Fayose was removed as Governor, He did not retire to his mansion and ask his supporters to continue supporting Obasanjo's Federal govt. that removed him, rather he sought asylum in Orji Uzor Kalu's govt. house in Abia state and was launching missiles from their till he reclaimed his mandate.
Gov. Peter Obi was sacked twice by individuals heavily connected to Aso rock, he did not go home to sleep, rather he fought gallantly to reclaim his mandate.
Gov. Victor Attah of AkwaIbom state built an independent power plant when he felt the FG generated power is not enough for AkwaIbom state development effort, the FG fought him (on grounds that power generation is on the exclusive list) and he fought back gallantly, he did not go about announcing endorsement for OBJ second term bid to curry Favour from him.

In those days, federal government visit state government houses to lobby state governors to support FG policies, today state governors are reportedly visiting Aso rock every now and then like sycophants.
All in all, the state powers are shrinking while the central government is getting more powerful. This trend is not good for our democracy and quest for true federalism.

You may not agree with me but it's not about the governors, it's about the Judiciary esp Supreme Court. I wouldn't want to explain further but if you have been in Nigeria over the last 30 years and followed Nigerian judiciary now and then you'd understand better.

Things have changed but people don't seem to realize that democracy is fast deteriorating in Nigeria esp independence of each arm of govt compared to the past.

Walai:
James Ibori
Chimaraoke Nnamani
Idris Wada
Lucky Igbinedion
Alimodu Sheriff
Bukola Saraki
Etc.
Men mount then
Na small small boys dey now apart from
Gov. Uzodinma and maybe Soludo, I don't think any other governor can look Tinubu eyeball to eyeball. Unfortunately, the two are pro-Tinubu

You are right about the list of strong governors ...

But I don't think soludu or uzodima you listed among the current governors can go head to head with the federal government though.

Ibori was champion of the resource control cause.

The present crop of governors are push overs.

I think it's probably because the president has become more powerful!

I quite agree with you somehow, but our state governors are getting too lazy and cowardly and it's affecting every other arm of govt. because the lesser the governors' power, the more powerful the President and of course a powerful President will pocket the judiciary and the Legislature.
Yesterday I was reading about the 1999 Senate procedures, and I made a shocking discovery. The then Senate President (Sen. Evan Enwerem) was impeached simply because He lined up with the service Chiefs to see off President Obasanjo who was travelling abroad. Like He was accused of being subservient to the Executive which is a letdown to Senators and the Office he represents.
Can the present Senate replicate that? your guess is as good as mine

id911:
You may not agree with me but it's not about the governors, it's about the Judiciary esp Supreme Court. I wouldn't want to explain further but if you have been in Nigeria over the last 30 years and followed Nigerian judiciary now and then you'd understand better.

Things have changed but people don't seem to realize that democracy is fast deteriorating in Nigeria esp independence of each arm of govt compared to the past.

I mentioned the two with reason
I'm not a fan of Gov. Uzodinma but I think he has paid his dues in Nigerian politics, as far back as ,2000/2001, he was a member of PDP BOT and he defected to AD to contest governorship and fought PDP gallantly. He gallantly fought IPOB as a governor without panic or much noise.
I don't think he will be afraid of Tinubu if he is to be in opposition.Gov. Uzodinmma is brutal bro, ask Imo people.

Gov. Soludo is a Senior man when it comes to Nigerian politics but I can't confirm his guts when it comes to fighting powers that be.

brain54:
You are right about the list of strong governors ...

But I don't think soludu or uzodima you listed among the current governors can go head to head with the federal government though.

Ibori was champion of the resource control cause.

The present crop of governors are push overs.

I think it's probably because the president has become stronger!

DeJoeee:
I quite agree with you somehow, but our state governors are getting too lazy and cowardly and it's affecting every other arm of govt. because the lesser the governors' power, the more powerful the President and of course a powerful President will pocket the judiciary and the Legislature.
Yesterday I was reading about the 1999 Senate procedures, and I made a shocking discovery. The then Senate President (Sen. Evan Enwerem) was impeached simply because He lined up with the service Chiefs to see off President Obasanjo who was travelling abroad. Like He was accused of being subservient to the Executive which is a letdown to Senators and the Office he represents.
Can the present Senate replicate that? your guess is as good as mine

The Senate President today can't be impeached because of such issue or any other issue at all provided he's with the president but if he falls out of line, he'll be impeached without commiting any crime. If he goes to court, he can never win.

Judiciary has lost its independence therefore the executive has become so powerful. Any other person who doesn't align with the president is bound to go down and the judiciary will endorse it. Reason why there's no powerful governor or legislator again.

OP..

You missed a very vital issue.

The only reason for everything you have said is EFCC.

EFCC has become a weapon for witchhunting former governors.

It is not about corruption or no corruption.

Now, Governors are scared that an enemy as President can totally chase them down with EFCC.

Obasanjo created this monster. EFCC does more harm than good. As a nation, we could get rid of corruption collectively. But you see this EFCC ,it will cause more people to be smarter in their corruption. In fact t, nepotism is a major offshoot of EFCC, because if I cannot steal enough for my family, then I'll employ them into office to help themselves. Wike employed over 3000 Mandate Secretaroes at the same time few weeks to election. EFCC cannot hold him to it because that wasn't financial crime. But it was a smart way to officially and nepotically pay your campaign managers to do the needful.