Abuja-based human rights lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, has urged governors of 35 States in the Federation to follow the example of Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State and sacrifice their monthly security votes for the development of their respective states.
Olajengbesi spoke on Monday when he received some youths from Osun State on courtesy call in his Abuja office.
Olajengbesi, who’s the Managing Partner at Law Corridor, said the people were suffering and governors must demonstrate empathy to the economic plight of their people by making the needed sacrifices at this time in the journey of the nation when economic hardship occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy bites deeply.
The lawyer lamented that it was unfortunate that governors get at least N600m or more each for security votes every month but rather than sacrifice it for the development of their states, some of them look away and even owe salaries of civil servants.
Olajengbesi said, “Nigeria is at a very serious time in the history of our nation and leaders must make the necessary sacrifices required of them for nation-building and the survival of the people at this time.
“This sacrifice includes the one exemplified by Senator Ademola Nurudeen Adeleke of Osun State who from assumption of office last year has consistently allocated his security votes for payment of salaries of the people and other development. He has never touched a kobo. This is inspiring.
“Governors of the other 35 states must prioritise the people and borrow a leaf from Senator Adeleke by sacrificing their monthly security votes to the people. This can go a long way in clearing some backlogs of owed workers’ salaries, used for the construction of infrastructural projects and many other things that will directly benefit the people. Governance must be people-focused.”
Recall that last month, Governor Adeleke at the first Interactive Session with the people of the state in Osogbo, said that he uses his N600million security votes to fund projects in the state rather than keeping it as personal benefit.
