It’s no secret that governing in Nigeria has often felt like an optional endeavor, with leaders at all levels – local, state, and federal – seemingly given free rein to do as they please, or nothing at all. This uncomfortable truth was starkly highlighted by a former governor in a South-West state, who candidly admitted that governors enjoy a “perverse liberty” to run their administrations on a whim. While this sentiment wasn’t entirely new, its pronouncement by a sitting governor gave it undeniable weight, laying bare the deeply ingrained issue of accountability (or lack thereof) in Nigerian governance. For too long, the genuine welfare of the populace has been an afterthought, relegated to the sidelines while a culture of performative governance and self-serving priorities has flourished. This discretionary power has allowed some leaders to genuinely invest in their communities – building roads, schools, hospitals, and implementing social welfare programs – while others have simply looked away, feigning busyness as their constituents languished. This pervasive attitude has bred a cynical expectation among Nigerians, where even the most basic improvements in living conditions are celebrated with exaggerated fanfare, a testament to how rare genuine commitment to public service has become.
In a landscape where true dedication to improving people’s lives is a rare gem, and where powerful individuals seem constitutionally empowered to act with nonchalance, those few leaders who choose a different path deserve significant recognition. These are the individuals who buck the trend of self-interest and token gestures, genuinely striving to uplift their communities amidst significant challenges. One such exemplary figure is Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, the governor of Borno State. Despite the relentless devastation wrought by insurgents, Zulum, an educator and engineer, has spearheaded an astonishing array of over 2000 projects in less than seven years of stewardship. His initiatives span critical sectors like education, infrastructure, housing, health, and rural electrification, alongside numerous grassroots welfare programs across all 27 local government areas of Borno. His tireless efforts in rebuilding and revitalizing a state ravaged by conflict highlight a profound commitment to his people, transforming the seemingly optional duty of governance into a concrete reality of progress and hope.
Similarly, Mohammed Umar Bago has been a transformative force in Niger State, particularly through remarkable improvements in road infrastructure across Minna, the state capital, and all 25 local government areas. His achievements extend beyond roads to touch spheres such as health, education, social infrastructure, and agriculture, where he invested in over 1000 heavy-duty farming equipment to bolster farmers’ livelihoods. Another governor earning commendation is Ademola Nurudeen Adeleke, who has initiated unprecedented developments in Osun State. His interventions, characterized by their scale, quality, and reach, encompass general infrastructure, healthcare, community development, and grassroots empowerment programs. The spirit of transformative leadership is also evident in Alex Otti’s efforts in Abia State, with the groundbreaking Geometric Power Plant now energizing Aba and nine other local government areas. Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State is making waves with the N195.3 billion Port Harcourt Ring Road project, while Peter Mbah is delivering significant advancements across Enugu State. Even in Kano and Edo States, governors Abba Kabir Yusuf and Monday Okpebholo, respectively, have demonstrated admirable and revolutionary stewardship, showcasing that dedicated and impactful governance is indeed possible within the Nigerian political landscape.
Despite these commendable individual efforts, the state tier of government, positioned between local councils and the federal government, largely remains a significant source of disappointment. Accounting for a substantial 40% of the gross accruals from the federation account, states have often failed to effectively channel these resources for the benefit of their citizens. Instead of empowering local councils, many states have clung to funds, effectively joining the federal government in perpetuating a cycle of underdevelopment and stagnation. This is precisely why any noticeable deviation from this familiar narrative of neglect and underperformance instantly captures attention and generates excitement. The widespread disappointment stemming from state governance underscores the criticality of leaders like Zulum, Bago, Adeleke, Otti, Fubara, Mbah, Yusuf, and Okpebholo. Their proactive approaches and tangible achievements offer a stark contrast to the prevailing inertia and serve as a beacon of what dedicated leadership can accomplish, highlighting the urgent need for a more widespread adoption of responsible governance practices at the state level.
While the federal government, with its control over more than half of the national resources, arguably holds the greatest potential for national transformation, its approach has often favored grand, isolated projects that benefit a select few. Dry ports, expanded waterways, superhighways, and mega-airports, while impressive, often serve as monuments to the super-rich, patricians, and parvenus, rather than genuinely catalyzing growth that benefits the critical mass of neglected poor. For decades, the federal government has struggled to develop a humane formula for driving grassroots progress, leading to a profound development void. This void, where nearly 200 million Nigerians are ensnared in multidimensional penury, is precisely what the states, as the tier closest and most significantly empowered to the people, should be filling. However, a majority of states continue to be plagued by managers whose conception of governance remains stuck in archaic eras, prioritizing superficial, cosmetic shows that barely touch the actual needs and genuine wishes of their constituents. The question then arises: if the federal government has faltered in steering the largely agrarian economy away from ultra-elitism, should states be complicit in this systemic failure?
Until a fundamental constitutional adjustment enforces a minimum, tolerable level of performance from all executive officeholders, Nigerians are seemingly condemned to endure a system of “false governance.” This pervasive state of affairs has reduced public administration to a mere charade, where leaders are often blatant pseuds, more concerned with appearances and political maneuvering than with genuine service. Amidst this lamentable aberrance, the din of politics—left, right, center, up-and-down—persists, often overshadowing the real issues at hand. In such an environment, any political group that chooses not to play politics with the lives of the people is akin to a moral miracle. Yet, even in the few states where genuinely transformative governance is taking root, those who previously had opportunities to make a difference, but chose to reduce individuals’ lives to mere pawns on the chessboard of politics, are now attempting to derail progress. These individuals, often adversaries of frank progress, are actively opposing the re-election of successful governors like Ademola Adeleke and Siminalayi Fubara, labeling their efforts as “self-succession.” However, the common people, whose votes hold the ultimate power of renewal or non-renewal, are increasingly aware of their adversaries and seem more ready than ever to make their voices heard at the ballot box, ensuring that true progress and dedicated leadership prevail.