By John Moses
A founding member of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Osita Okechukwu, has strongly criticised the performance of state governors across the country, accusing many of failing in their duties since the country’s return to democratic rule in 1999.
Speaking in Enugu on Tuesday, Okechukwu — who previously served as Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria — expressed dismay that most governors have squandered the opportunities provided by democracy, despite substantial federal allocations and growing internally generated revenues.
“In the last 26 years of uninterrupted democracy, only a few governors have delivered meaningful development,” he said. “The majority have failed woefully, behaving more like emperors than public servants.”
He alleged that many governors routinely disregard constitutional provisions and undermine the separation of powers, weakening the roles of both the legislature and judiciary within their states.
“The social contract with the people has been consistently violated. Rather than acting in the public interest, many governors have put personal interests first,” Okechukwu added.
He also criticised what he described as a common trend among citizens to direct all blame toward the presidency, even in cases where local governance structures are primarily responsible.
“Nigerians often fault the president for poor rural infrastructure or failing primary healthcare — matters that clearly fall within the purview of state authorities,” he said.
Okechukwu praised President Bola Tinubu’s initiative to establish regional development commissions, arguing that the move could address long-standing issues of inequality and underdevelopment more effectively than centralised policymaking.
“These regional commissions — covering the six geopolitical zones — could serve as a form of grassroots-driven restructuring. They offer a way to tailor development to local needs,” he stated, citing the South-East Development Commission as an example with capable leadership.
On security, Okechukwu acknowledged that Tinubu’s administration had made progress, but urged greater investment in critical social sectors, including education, healthcare, and food security.
