By Bello Gideon (SIWES student, AAPOLY)
Inhabitants of the North have raised concerns about the absence of their elected governors who prefer governing from places like Abuja and abroad, according to Arewa PUNCH.
The Governor of Gombe State, Mohammed Inuwa Yahaya, who also leads the Northern Governors’ Forum, and AbdulRahaman AbdulRazaq, the Governor of Kwara State and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, have been criticized for being among the worst offenders in this regard.
Kogi, Sokoto, and Zamfara state governors are also accused of frequently being away from their states.
This situation has drawn strong criticism from residents and stakeholders, who argue that it goes against the principles of good governance.
Nafiu Bala, a governorship candidate from Gombe State, pointed out that the continuous absence of state governors negatively affects good governance.
He emphasized that governors, as Chief Security Officers, have a legal duty to be present in their states to ensure the security of lives and property. The current insecurity situation in the country makes it even more critical for governors to stay in their states.
Furthermore, Bala expressed concern about the failure of these governors to delegate their powers to their deputy governors, as required by law for the effective governance of their states.
He also criticized the practice of not handing over to the deputy governor during their absence.
Cliff Stanley, a social critic, and advocate for good governance, argued that Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s frequent absence due to his role as Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum has led to a lack of focus on governance in Gombe State.
Stanley pointed out that many important state functions and moments requiring the governor’s attention are handled by the Secretary to the State Government in his absence.
Musa Maishanu, the Global Pan-Africanism Network North East Regional Coordinator, emphasized that the continued absence of governors hampers good governance, describing it as unfortunate. Despite attempts to reach out to the governor’s office, there has been no official response.
In Kwara State, opposition parties have criticized Governor AbdulRahaman AbdulRazaq for spending minimal time in the state since becoming the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.
They have raised concerns about the lack of oversight of projects and interaction with the people, which they believe has led to mismanagement of security vehicles intended for local security use.
