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Five Nigerian Governors Accused of Governing States from Outside Territories

Published

6 months ago

November 8, 2023

Stella Charles Akupue

Five Nigerian Governors Accused of Governing States from Outside Territories

Five governors have been scrutinised for allegedly governing their states from outside their territories, raising concerns among residents and stakeholders. The governors reportedly oversee state affairs from locations such as the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and even foreign countries, prompting criticism about their remote governance practices.

According to reports, these governors are accused of spending minimal time in their states, with some preferring to delegate their responsibilities to their deputies. This has led to concerns about the governors’ absence, contradicting the principles of good governance, especially in ensuring security and protecting lives and property within their states.

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The identified governors include:

AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the Governor of Kwara State, also serves as the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum. The opposition party in the state, the PDP, has alleged that his absence from the state has been noticeable since assuming the NGF chairmanship.
Mohammed Inuwa Yahaya, the Governor of Gombe State, who also holds the position of Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum, has faced criticism for being notably absent from his state since taking on this role.
Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, the Governor of Sokoto State, has faced calls from residents to spend more time there, as concerns have been raised about his frequent absence.
Dr Dauda Lawal, the Governor of Zamfara State, has been the subject of investigations indicating that he has rarely spent time in Zamfara State since his inauguration, raising concerns among residents, particularly in light of the state’s security challenges.
Yahaya Bello, the Governor of Kogi State, has reportedly changed his governance approach, spending more time in Lokoja than in his previous remote governance style.

Nigerian Governors Accused of Remote Governance

The governors’ remote governance practices have sparked debates about their commitment to fulfilling their responsibilities and obligations to their states, particularly ensuring effective leadership and governance.