JAGISTS

Last night, governors fought to defend themselves against President Muhammadu Buhari’s claim that they steal money from the local government.

It will be recalled that the President had claimed in many forums that the country’s local government administration had been undermined by governors, who he frequently accused of stealing funds from the federation account.

The President reiterated the charge yesterday at a gathering held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja for participants in the Senior Executive Course 44 (2022) of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS.

However, governors who responded to the President’s direct accusation yesterday claimed they were not involved in the misappropriation of funding for local governments.

Governor of Benue State Samuel Ortom, David Umahi of Ebonyi State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, Solomon Lalong of Plateau State, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, and Governor of Rivers State Nyesom Wike are among those who responded.

However, attempts to get other governors to respond by press time last night were unsuccessful.

Speaking at the event, President Buhari used a personal encounter with an anonymous governor to highlight the fraudulent activities carried out by some governors in the distribution of funds intended for the management of local councils.

According to him, it beyond comprehension how certain governors amassed funds on behalf of council areas in their states just to distribute half of those funds to the council chairmen, who would further deplete the remittance by stealing it.

President Buhari compared the incident to the issue of lack of integrity in the character of many people holding positions of authority like governors and chairmen of local governments, saying that such actions are reprehensible and spoke of the height of corruption in the nation.

According to him, if the Federal Government sends N100 million to a state government, N50 million will be handed to the chairman along with a document that he will sign confirming that he received N100 million.

“The governor will keep the remaining funds and distribute them as he sees fit. The local government chairman will then choose how much must be spent on salaries. Development is doomed. He will give money for the salaries and pocket the remaining sum. This is what is taking place.

You cannot claim that the individual who was carrying out these acts was educated because this is Nigeria, a dreadful place. He was an experienced and licensed lawyer, nevertheless he took part in this kind of corruption.