After more than two decades of intense legal battle, the Supreme Court of Nigeria has finally landed a crushing blow on all the 36 state governors, including Seyi Makinde of Oyo state, over their refusal to grant financial autonomy to the 774 local government areas in the country.
Justice Emmanuel Agim, a member of the panel who delivered the court’s lead judgment, held that it is illegal for the state governments to tie local government’s survival to their apron strings, adding that such impunity and illegality undermine rural development and continue to impoverish the people. The judgement was delivered on Thursday, July 11, 2024.
‘Birds of the same feathers’
While the rest of the country exploded in an uproar over the heartwarmingly exciting verdict, in Oyo state, the news has been mixed: both the governor, Seyi Makinde, and the Speaker, ‘Debo Ogundoyin, have publicly opposed local government autonomy, not just in words but by a carefully calibrated, and gingerly calculated plots, plans, and actions.
For Ogundoyin, his recent outburst over local government autonomy quickly sparked heated debate, sending chills up the spines of his rural people, with speculations and suggestions flying around the state that the underdevelopment of local governments by the current administration is a deliberate tactic. “We widely debate whether local government autonomy is the solution to these problems, and I’m certain that this debate will continue until we determine the type of holistic governmental system we choose to adopt,” he remarked at a function. “Do we adopt a federal system of government or a government that will retain more powers at the center?” he queried.
As the chairman of the conference of speakers of state houses of assembly in Nigeria, Rt, Hon. ‘Debo Ogundoyin wields considerable influence. But his contentious remarks on the misappropriation of funds, accountability, transparency, and control, should financial autonomy be granted to the local governments irked not only his critics but his supporters. In less than 24 hours of echoing that sentiment, critics fired the speaker with bullets from their hearts, punching his argument in the eye for lacking substance and ‘steeze’’. Dismissed and discarded with facts, critics took the speaker to the cleaner, exposing his double standard and hypocrisy.
Back to GSM. In the buildup to the 2023 election, Governor Makinde boldly and confidently told listeners at one of the gubernatorial debates that he does not believe in three federating units, a remark that underscores his resistance and refusal to local government autonomy. “I have the pen in my hand, and I will never sign for any local government autonomy in Oyo state,” Makinde declared at the debate held on 22 Feb 2023.
‘How Governors Underdeveloped LGAs’
When Walter Rodney penned the influential and critically acclaimed ‘How Europe Underdeveloped Africa’ to chronicle the evils of colonialism and imperialism, he had no idea his message would influence African leaders in reverse order. Instead of fostering development in their homesteads, most African leaders have mastered the art of under-developing their domains. In Nigeria, state governments have equally stifled the development of all the 774 local governments against various extant laws. Apart from controlling their legitimate entitlements, they equally dictate who gets what, when, and how, regardless of whose ox is gored in the local politics.
‘big Win. Cautious Optimism
While the first legal blow has landed on the overbearing cheeks of state governors, it is important to know that one electrifying punch will not down the giants. More will be needed, very quickly. Simply put, a financially autonomous local government without concomitant political autonomy will end up a ruse. Like a powerful thunderbolt, the Supreme Court verdict over the financial autonomy of local government areas might have jolted the governors, but like a cat with nine lives, they will definitely mount a comeback.
While the people are allowed to bask in the glow of the latest and long-awaited Supreme Court verdict, it is instructive and important to know that more verdicts will be needed to get to the promised land. Anyone who expects the governors to fold their hands over this verdict is probably new to Nigerian politics. Powerful and surreptitious options abound at the disposal and arsenal of the governors to reverse the victory from the backdoor.
‘a relieve to state governors, not so’
Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq, Kwara state governor, while briefing state house correspondent shortly after meeting the President, Bola Tinubu, said the supreme court ruling over local government autonomy was a welcome development, adding that the verdict is a relief from the financial burden to state governments.
He said that governors are happy with the devolution of power with respect to local government autonomy, saying that it will help reduce and relieve the burden on state government. He said people don’t know how much the government expends in bailing out local government, particularly with the payment of salaries, among others. But typical of a Nigerian politician, his pretentious remarks betrayed and contradicted the position of his government and others against local government autonomy. Talk of doublespeak.
‘Supreme Court, and Seyi Makinde’
I have painted the picture of Governor Seyi Makinde’s disposition to the local government autonomy with a view to telling you that he is no stranger to violating court orders. He has done it in the past and may do it again if the people allow it. Look for the ALGON Vs Seyi Makinde case in 2021. Despite the supreme order declaring the sacking of Oyo council chairpersons as illegal, the governor went ahead to delay their entitlement for years.
A little over five years as the Governor, the 33 local government areas in Oyo state under Seyi Makinde have struggled and grappled with scores of existential threats. Apart from the political emasculation Makinde’s administration has subjected the LGAs to, he has also starved them of their legitimate allocations. With brazen impunity, he acted more like an ‘emperor’ than a democratically elected governor: A valid reason to be cautious with the Supreme Court ruling.
For people in Oyo, given the precedents of the governor and his government to the plights of the rural dwellers, it is important to stay vigilant as the governor launches another round of political witch-hunt on the councils. That he pays workers regularly is not unconnected to withholding local government allocations.
In sum, apart from holding council chairmen to account, we must also not rest on our oars in calling their attention to the deplorable conditions of our roads, health care facilities, schools, and other critical infrastructural facilities under their belts if we all desire a more vibrant rural economies that will advance their respective developmental strides, the likes of which is seen in Lagos state.
OYO101 is Muftau Gbadegesin’s opinion about issues affecting the Oyo state and is published every Saturday. He can be reached via @GbadeTheGreat on X, muftaugbadegesin@gmail.com, and 09065176850.
