President Tinubu Rewarding State Governors for Mismanagement

A fierce critique has emerged from Salihu Luman, a former National Vice Chairman (Northwest) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as he accuses President Tinubu of rewarding state governors of Mismanagement.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Luman accused many state governors of diverting monthly allocations meant for development to personal use.

His indictment centers not only on the governors but also on President Bola Tinubu’s administration, which he claims is “rewarding state governors for doing the wrong things.”

Funds Increase but Accountability Falters

Luman acknowledges that since President Tinubu took office, funds allocated to states have improved.

However, a significant number of governors allegedly use these resources for personal enrichment rather than meaningful state development.

Despite the surge in funding, citizens have not witnessed corresponding improvements in infrastructure or public services.

A key feature of Luman’s argument is that the funds meant for development have instead become a tool for political patronage and corruption.

Most governors, he asserts, operate with increasing arrogance, shielded by a lack of accountability mechanisms.

“There is no accountability from them.

They convert public resources as if it is their personal property,” he said.

Tinubu’s Role Under Fire

The former APC official who has since defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) laid part of the blame on President Tinubu.

He condemned the president for rewarding these governors who mismanage public funds instead of enforcing strict oversight.

“Yes, the president has said the right thing, but what is he doing to ensure that governors do what they need to do?

What I see is that he rewards them for doing the wrong things,” Luman stated.

This critique comes amid ongoing debates about fiscal management at the state level under the current administration.

While President Tinubu’s government has increased monthly allocations to states, controversies linger over actual utilization and transparency.

Growing Arrogance Among Governors

Luman warned that until the party’s structure is no longer subordinated to the whims of governors, this culture of corrupt entitlement will continue unchecked.

The lack of accountability fuels arrogance among governors, who often ignore their responsibilities to their constituents.

“They continue to be unaccountable and see public resources as their personal stash,” he emphasized.

Instead of ensuring governance improvements and compelling governors to deliver dividends of democracy, Tinubu’s administration, according to Luman, prioritizes broadening APC’s political base by encouraging defections from opposition parties.

This strategy, he argues, undermines service delivery and good governance.

Political Recruitment Without Accountability

The former APC vice chairman was particularly critical of the recruitment and political strategies employed by the ruling party.

He said that the APC seeks to increase numbers by recruiting politicians first without requiring accountability or performance standards.

“When your recruitment policy is blindly informed by the desire to bring people into your party without conditions that ensure accountability.

You get politicians who are more interested in holding power than delivering services,” he said.

Luman’s defection to the ADC suggests his deep disillusionment with APC’s internal governance and its approach to state-level leadership.

Growing Evidence of Mismanagement

Supporting Luman’s assertions, recent reports reveal rampant mismanagement of federal allocations by some local governments and state administrations.

For example, Edo State received over N8 billion monthly in local government allocations, yet many councils led by opposition politician’s show little developmental progress.

State Governor Monday Okpebholo highlighted this paradox while commending President Tinubu for his commitment to grassroots development.

However, Okpebholo expressed frustration at the mismanagement by local government officials who reportedly siphoned significant sums without benefiting the people.

The federal-state financial dynamics remain contentious.

State governors often resist direct federal payments to local governments, fearing loss of control.

This tug-of-war impedes transparency and allows funds to be diverted unchecked.

Consequences for Democracy and Development

The allegations paint a grim picture of governance in Nigeria’s federating units.

When elected leaders treat public funds as personal property, democracy’s foundational promise delivering public good is betrayed.

The people suffer poor infrastructure, decayed schools, and inadequate healthcare services.

The ongoing pattern of rewarding mismanagement under the guise of political alliance threatens to deepen public distrust.

Citizens increasingly see government officials as self-serving elites rather than representatives who serve their interests.

Calls for Reform and Accountability

Luman’s blunt critique adds pressure on President Tinubu to turn words into actions by instituting robust accountability mechanisms.

Genuine development requires more than increased allocations; it demands transparency, oversight, and political will to punish offenders regardless of party affiliation.

Public expectation is high for Tinubu’s administration to distinguish itself by reforming governance at all levels.

Without decisive steps to hold governors accountable for the use of resources, the cycle of corruption and underdevelopment will persist.

This article reveals the controversial political dynamics under President Tinubu’s administration.

Highlighting the persistent problem of governors diverting public resources with apparent presidential complicity.

The Nigerian people deserve transparent governance and urgent reforms to ensure their hard-earned allocations translate into real development.