In Nigeria, the 1999 Constitution mandates that the security and well-being of citizens is the primary purpose of government (Section 14, subsection 2(b)). Any government that fails to meet this expectation has fallen short of our national values. 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a seasoned administrator and pro-people advocate, inherited a burden of mis-governance, and has embarked on massive reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidy, to free up resources for development. Despite the initial pain, this decision has increased cash availability to governments at all levels.

Sadly, in spite of controlling 47% of federal allocations, state governors have not effectively utilised these resources, leading to continued governance challenges. President Tinubu has extended an olive branch, urging governors to work together to address food security, economic relief, and other critical areas. 

He has approved the National Construction and Household Support Programme, pledging support for agricultural productivity, economic strengthening, and urgent economic relief.

While the president’s efforts are commendable, some state governments’ profligacy and mismanagement of federal allocations hinder progress. Entrenching accountability at all levels of government is crucial for true development and stability. The Presidency has responded to criticisms from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, accusing him of making groundless allegations and raising issues divorced from reality.

Let me establish the basis for accountability in governance. The section of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution that says security and well-being of the people shall be the primary purpose of government is Section 14, subsection 2(b). In essence, this section holds the government responsible for prioritising the safety and well-being of the people and creating an environment that promotes their overall quality of life. 

Against the backdrop of the foregoing provision, any government that’s not leaving up to the expectations of the electorate has ran foul of the nation’s grundnorm. Being a seasoned administrator, technocrat and a pro-people advocate before he took office as president, Tinubu came prepared to turn the tide of mis-governance. 

Leaders learning on the job lack strategic initiative. The serial failure of the past left huge burden for Tinubu to inherit. And like an administrative architect, he had to embark on massive reforms with some, inflicting pains on Nigerians and livelihoods. A time-tested saying has it that, “No pain, no gain.”

Graciously, the removal of fuel subsidy has resulted in phenomenal increase in cash available to government at the three levels of the Nigerian federation, such that has never been seen before. Money is said to be the engine of development. Ironically, in our case, the more money that is made available, the more the people slide into poverty and hunger.

For the benefit of hindsight, the reason for the removal of fuel subsidy  was because it was frought with corruption. Subsidy had dug a huge hole on government purse. It was against this backdrop that President Tinubu took this painful but bold decision to free-up resources for government to be able to fulfil the mandate of Section 14, subsection 2(b).

Alas, despite the fact that state governors control both the state and local governments’ share of federal allocations which amounts to over 47 percent of accruals to the federation accounts, governance  have continued to suffer. Unfortunately, some Nigerians finds it convenient to hip every blame on the president, even the provisions that are in the concurrent list. 

That said, President Tinubu has demonstrated leadership by extending the olive branch. More so, one finger cannot kill a lice, hence the need for synergy to ensure the security and wellfare  of Nigerians. On the flip side, Tinubu is president and governors are governors of their various states because the country is peaceful. This necessitates the need for  cooperation between the various levels of government.

In demonstrating this obligation, President Tinubu has urged state governors to work together to meet the needs of citizens, particularly in the areas of food security and economic relief. Trust me, a country of 230 million people that cannot feed itself is seating on  keg of gun powder. As Bob Marley sang a long time ago, “a hungry man is an angry man.” This underscores Tinubu’s call for governors to commit to food security. 

To achieve this, he has approved the rollout of the National Construction and Household Support Programme, which includes the prioritisation of key road infrastructure projects and the provision of financial support to states and local governments.

The president has also emphasized the importance of boosting agricultural productivity, strengthening the economy, and providing urgent economic relief to Nigerians. He has pledged to provide the necessary support to states to achieve these goals, including the mechanization of agricultural processes, the provision of high-quality seedlings, and solar-powered irrigation facilities.

However, the president’s efforts are being hindered by the profligacy of some state governments, which are mismanaging federal allocations and interventions. 

To achieve true development and stability, Nigeria must entrench accountability at all levels of government. The president’s efforts to ensure that local governments receive federal allocations directly from the federation accounts are commendable, but more needs to be done to ensure that funds are managed prudently and effectively.

Despite the efforts he is making, the President Tinubu administration has come under intense criticism from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who accuses the government of causing pain, despair, and hunger among Nigerians. The PDP presidential candidate mischievously alleged that Tinubu’s economic policies are uninformed, arbitrary, and chaotic, and that the government is blaming its predecessor for the country’s economic woes. But the presidency has fired back, accusing Atiku of making groundless allegations and raising issues divorced from reality.

I strongly agree with the presidency that Atiku’s criticisms are not grounded in logic, and his claims about the shrinking private sector and multinational companies leaving Nigeria are not supported by facts. The presidency also noted that Atiku’s policies during his presidential campaign were similar to those of Tinubu, and that he did not offer any better alternatives.

Vice President Kashim Shettima has also weighed in on the matter, stating that the Tinubu administration does not blame the previous government for its decisions. He emphasised that the government understands the reasons for the steps taken by the previous administration and is working to address the country’s economic challenges.

Shettima also pointed out that Nigeria’s economy was in a dire state when Tinubu assumed office, with a debt-service-to-revenue ratio of 111.18% and a subsidy regime that was draining the country’s resources. He stated that the government had to take bold steps to address these challenges, including removing the subsidy and harmonizing exchange rates.

With Atiku’s outburst coming simultaneously with the recent allegations that the State House spent over N3.7 billion on vehicles and tyres in just 10 days, it is quite clear that the opposition is at work. The aim is to spark outrage and project  the Tinubu administration as being frivolous in spending despite the current economic hardship.

Curiously, Atiku was an integral part of an administration that presided over the affairs of Nigeria when crude oil was in abundance. That administration and subsequent PDP administration have still not explained how N11 trillion electricity funds were squandered.

I urge Nigerian to ignore the frivolous allegations that the State House spent over N3.7 billion on vehicles and tyres in just 10 days an see it for what it is: a ploy to create bad blood between the Tinubu administration and the citizenry just to score cheap political gain. 

Instead of shelving politics and quest for power aside, join hands with the government in nation building, the opposition has refused to be cured of post-election trauma. And Atiku who claims to be the opposition leader-in-chief is busy overheating the polity with falsehood as if he can be able to escape prosecution if the anti-graft agencies decide to open past cases of corruption.

Anytime you listen to the criticisms of these self-acclaimed opposition leaders on their adopted broadcast media, it is hardly for listeners and viewers to ascertain their own political future. They keep demonstrating incompetence while trying to instigate Nigerians with their cheap lies from fake sources for analysis. 

They make frail attempts to convince Nigerians with negative narratives about the government. Curiously, non of them has something serious to show for the benefit of the Nigerian masses. If it is true they really love our country, by now most of them would have joined hands with President Tinubu to move the country forward. Although we are still patiently waiting the EFCC, ICPC DSS, NIA, and the courts to act fast to save our country from the hands of these  public looters who move around with chartered flights, making mockery of the common man.

Nigerians need opposition leaders who support the leadership for the overall benefit of our nation. It for this reason that well-meaning citizens must applaud President Tinubu’s charge to governors on good governance. It is a step in the right direction, but it must be accompanied by a commitment to accountability and transparency at all levels of government. 

Nigerians must demand accountability from their leaders, both past and present,  and work together to achieve true development and prosperity. The synergy between the president and governors is a powerful idea whose time has come, and together, they can ensure the security, welfare, and well-being of Nigerian citizens.