The former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, has called on Nigerians to hold their state governors accountable for improved welfare and infrastructural development, given the increased allocations to states since President Bola Tinubu assumed office in May 2023.
Ikuforiji, who made this known during an interactive session with journalists in Lagos, said that most of the challenges confronting the nation would be drastically reduced if funds allocated to local governments were judiciously utilised based on the genuine needs and yearnings of the people.
He expressed concern that many Nigerians continue to focus solely on the Federal Government for basic amenities that should ordinarily be provided by state and local governments, which now receive nearly three times more allocations than during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to him, “If local government areas, which are closest to the people, perform their statutory functions effectively with the support they get from the centre, the average citizen will be less bothered about what happens at the federal level.”
The former Speaker stressed that since charity begins at home, poverty alleviation efforts must start from the grassroots. He, therefore, advocated for a renewed civic orientation among citizens to demand accountability from state governors on how public funds are being utilised.
Ikuforiji lamented that, unlike in his time when the Lagos State House of Assembly could question Governor Tinubu on the use of resources, most state assemblies today shy away from such oversight responsibilities.
Responding to a question on why President Tinubu cannot hold governors accountable, Ikuforiji explained that the structure of Nigeria’s political system grants governors enormous powers, while the 1999 Constitution limits presidential interference in state affairs.
Speaking on the 2027 general elections, he warned against any form of voter apathy or boycott, noting that such would only give politicians undue advantage.
He commended the ongoing electoral reforms proposed by the National Assembly, especially the plan to conduct elections earlier to ensure all litigations are concluded before swearing-in. He also expressed support for the conduct of all general elections on the same day, saying it would save the nation time and resources.
On Nigeria’s debt profile, Ikuforiji stated that borrowing in itself is not a problem, but the utilisation of the loans should be the focus of public scrutiny. “No country can fund its annual budget without borrowing for the good of its people. International financial institutions will not grant loans to any nation whose financial health is in doubt,” he noted.
Ikuforiji maintained that President Tinubu is on a mission to rebuild Nigeria’s economy, having inherited what he described as a “dilapidated structure” that requires total reform. He expressed optimism that the ongoing economic measures would bring lasting relief to Nigerians in due course.
Reacting to the recent presidential pardon granted to 175 Nigerians, the former Speaker clarified that the President should not be blamed for any individual on the list, as he merely acted on the recommendations of the Committee on Prerogative of Mercy.
On his political future, Ikuforiji said that God will determine his next step, recalling how divine guidance led him to contest and win a seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly in 2002, instead of pursuing his initial ambition to become Epe Local Government Chairman.
He stated further that the call for the current Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, to contest the 2027 governorship election is not out of place, as he has every right to aspire to any political office in the country.
