There are growing concerns that some governors in the country are overseeing their states from locations outside their respective states. Some of these governors are alleged to govern their states from the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, or even from abroad. This practice has raised complaints from residents and stakeholders who believe that the absence of these governors from their states goes against the principles of good governance.
According to a report by The SPRINGNEWS most of these governors do not delegate their authority to their deputies but instead make decisions for their states remotely, even though the constitution mandates a governor to ensure the security and protection of lives and property within their state. They are not expected to be absent from their state for more than two weeks, as they serve as the Chief Security Officer of their state.
The PUNCH’s report highlights the five governors who have been identified as the worst culprits in this regard.
- Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (APC) Governor AbdulRazaq also serves as the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum. The opposition party in the state, the PDP, claims that he has been rarely present in the state since assuming this role. The party’s chairman, Babatunde Mohammed, expressed concerns over the governor’s absence and its impact on the state, including the improper use of security vehicles meant for local security.
- Gombe State Governor, Mohammed Inuwa Yahaya (APC) Governor Inuwa Yahaya, who also serves as the Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum, has been criticized for not designating his deputy as an acting governor during his absences.
- Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto (APC) Residents of Sokoto State have called on their governor to spend more time in the state and be present with the people, as his predecessor was also accused of spending excessive time outside the state.
- Zamfara State Governor, Dr. Dauda Lawal (PDP) Governor Lawal has been criticized for spending very little time in Zamfara State since his inauguration, which is a source of concern for residents, especially in the context of the security challenges faced by the state.
- Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello (APC) The situation in Kogi is somewhat different, as Governor Yahaya Bello has recently been spending more time in his state, particularly in Lokoja. This shift in his approach is noticeable after he lost the APC presidential ticket, leading to a more active involvement in state affairs and campaign activities.
In summary, there are concerns regarding governors governing their states from outside their jurisdictions, which some believe hinders good governance and their ability to address critical issues in their states.