As the present bad time takes its toll on the populace, governors are increasingly coming under strident criticisms from some senior citizens and groups who accused them of failing to provide social amenities. In this report, KUNLE ODEREMI writes on the development vis-à-vis the prevailing socio-economic realities across the country. IN about 35 days from now, Nigeria will mark 63 years as an independent country.
It was on October 1, 1960 that Nigeria was removed from the shackles of British colonialism. Part of the beauty and ecstasy of the freedom the people enjoyed then was the high quality of leadership that took over from the colonial masters. The regions were the fulcrum of economic growth and development.
But the joy was cut short by the military intervention into the political space. It had hinged its intervention on accusing the civilian governors of gross abuse of office. With the arbitrary carving out of states from the four regions, the military multiplied the layers of administrative structures.
It heralded a regime of military governors and administrators at the state level, with multiplicity of ministries having civilians as commissioners. The scorecard of that seeming diarchy largely left much to be desired. The semblance of a rekindled hope was witnessed between 1979 and 1983 in the second republic, as some governors shone brightly in terms of good governance.
In 25 years of unbroken civil rule since May 1999, many governors have served at the state level. .