SUBMISSIVE FLATTERY: Detrimental To Effective Governance

How many of us truly know what our State and Local Governments are doing? Many times, we are inundated with exaggerated stories and pictures that overhype the government's achievements, often neglecting basic issues. Under Nigerian democracy, media personnel have become obstacles to the achievement of good governance by excessively magnifying government achievements, thereby undermining the integrity of data and figures.

The submissive flattery that surrounds political leaders is detrimental to effective governance. Sycophantic democracy leads to dysfunctional governance, plain and simple. It is imperative that we hold our elected representatives accountable and ensure transparency in how they plan and allocate our resources.

There is a pressing need to focus on the prudent utilization of financial resources and prioritize uncovering financial abuse, waste, and fraud by civil society. Many inadvertently perceive Nigeria as a unitary state, overly criticizing the federal government while overlooking the roles of state and local governments, which are equally crucial. Local Government Areas (LGAs) play a significant role in governance.

Following the introduction of a floating exchange rate and subsidy removal, the revenue accruing to States and local governments nearly doubled. However, despite this increase, there has been little improvement in benefiting the masses, particularly in Delta State, which receives the highest revenue allocation from the federation account.

While some states implemented palliative relief measures such as purchasing buses, increasing salaries, and providing bonuses, Delta State only provided a nominal payment of ten thousand for three months to workers without addressing the broader issues of transportation and public welfare.

Infrastructure development has been sluggish, with road projects stagnating for months without progress. The lack of intervention from elected officials exacerbates the situation, leaving roads in disrepair and posing dangers to motorists.

It doesn't seem like much has changed throughout the State. The Ughelli-Asaba road is all motion without movement. Over the past six months, the contractor in section C has remained in the same spot between Emevor and Owhe. In the same period, the other contractor in sector A has remained in the vicinity of the Ogwashi-uku River. There is only motion without movement, just turning around. Several months after media aides took pictures of a contractor on the Eku-Abraka road, motorists are still facing no relief, either on the state road or the federal road that crosses these communities. On the Osubi-Orerokpe road, they cut gullies and left them to become death traps. The roads in and around Warri and Effurun remain deplorable. BEDC has become moribund across the State, and we have not seen any statement or intervention from those we elected to lead.

Shout "renewed shege" when your governor is 100 percent in it. Oben road through Alifikede, Ewvreni-Uwheru, or Umutu-Nsukkwa roads can’t be passed or you can't go out at night in Abraka, because of kidnappers. And the State and Local Governments are holding back on Federal Allocations, which they convert to dollars and use to pursue their outlandish tastes. At the end of the day, people do not receive anything. 

Despite the prevailing hardships, various institutions and leaders have remained silent or complacent. These include churches, traditional rulers, the intelligentsia, and even labour unions, which have failed to advocate for their members' welfare effectively.

Everybody is acting as the good guy in front of the State government. There is a greater level of guilt among labour unions. Sadly, they have forgotten what their purpose is and the duty they owe to their members. Access to Labour leadership has become an avenue to negotiate personal benefits. In today's society, greed has become the greatest challenge. Greed and the lust for money have destroyed the quest for the common good. It is time our civil society leaders stood up for the common good.

 Citizens need to hold the state government accountable and demand answers for their actions or inactions. It should be emphasized that the state government plays a significant role in determining the quality of governance experienced by citizens. Its actions directly impact their daily lives. Therefore, it is crucial to address issues at the State level rather than blaming the federal government.