LG Autonomy: Ex-Presidential Candidates View Apex Court Verdict Differently

As the Supreme Court judement on local government autonomy reverberate in the polity, two former presidential candidates, Adewole Adebayo and Omoyele Sowore, as well as a former federal lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani have expressed divergent views on the judgement.

While Adebayo was hopeful about the import of the judgement, Sowore and Sani were not optimistic about the attainment of the desired intention.

Reacting to the verdict, Adebayo, the 2023 presidential candidate Social Democratic Party (SDP), said “I fully endorse today’s Supreme Court judgement in FGN vs 36 States.

“States are mere post offices for mailing LG funds, and having been caught pilfering LG funds, they can be bypassed via direct payment. Governors have to be Governors of their States not Chairmen-General of LGAs,” Adebayo posted on his X handle.

However, the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate in 2023, Sowore, said the judgement would remain ineffective as long as governors still install their minions in the councils.

He said, “As long as Nigerian state governors control the State Electoral machinery, ruthlessly rig Local Government elections and install their minions (minimes) in the LGAs, the Supreme Court ruling would remain ineffective!  And at any rate, any time @officialABAT is seen around control of funds, run, please run!”

On his part, Senator Sani, who represented Kaduna Central, noted that as much as the judgment would free local governments from their 20 years captivity, he, nevertheless, hinted at the firm grip of governors on the council leaders.

Reacting shortly after the judgement was made Sani, on his X handle, said, “The Supreme Court has freed the Local Governments from over two decades of captivity and systemic plunder by the States.”

However, in a subsequent post, Sani said, “‘Your Excellency Sir, I received the alert, what should I do with it?’” Despite the Supreme Court ruling, many LG chairmen will still behave like this when their account is credited directly.”