KWARA LGs: SUCCCESSIVE DISSAPOINTMENT AND EMERGING HOPE

In the last three years, without mincing words, it is not hidden even to the blind that the Local Government administration in Kwara state was characterized by unprecedented stagnation and absolute ineffectiveness, it was so bad that an average Kwaran is not even aware of an existing local authority in place in the state because no impact of such was felt. We don’t need to be told before drawing an evidence based conclusion that these local government chairmen are colossal failures and shameless disappointments to their respective wards and local constituencies as a whole.

One essential and compelling quality a leader must have is creativity.  Practically, the recently dissolved ‘’non-performing’’ local government bosses have flagrantly and without remorse, displayed their lack of creativity to effectively pilot the affair of local governments. They have immodestly showed their administrative laxity by categorically stating through their ALGON Chairman (ex) that ‘’everybody knows that over 90% of the councils in Kwara state depended on federal allocations,’’ and because there is a drastic shortfall in the federal allocation, they cannot perform as local government chairmen any longer. This fallible excuse for their failure is just a mere self-attestation that they are not capable of being even a community chairman, because community chairmen expects no statutory allocation, yet, they source for fund to develop the community.

However, despite the established notion of failure and non-performance established against these ex-LG bosses, which has led to starvation, hunger and undeserved frustration among the local government workers and primary and junior secondary school teachers, as a result of the inability of these non-performers to pay their salaries, it is not impossible that noy all the blame bulk is solely on them (LG bosses), as the picture bottle neck on internal revenue generation-sharing formulae between the state government and the LGs is not too clear. But since the ex-LG bosses has consistently  vindicated the state government on this at their own expense, the bulk was considered as theirs overall and so shall we continue to see and refer to it. They’ve all made history, an history of failure that was ably and reliably acknowledged not just by the citizens but also, the CEO of Kwara state, Abdulfatah Ahmed.

The hope of not continuing in same failed local administration clime is crucial notwithstanding, giving cognizance to the fact that the quality of local government administration will, to a significant extent, impact on the quality of lives, especially in the downtrodden part of the state because effective, efficient and creative local government administration has been found to be synonymous with rural development, hence, the need to front for hope, a hope of a paradigm shift away from failed, ineffective, over-dependent and unviable local government administrative system.

Giving cognizance to the claim of H.E, the executive governors of Kwara state, Abdulfatah Ahmed on the poor performance of the ex-LG bosses, which informed their dissolution and consequent appointment of the TICs, owing largely to non-availability of fund for LG elections. In my own opinion, i would agree it’s a step well taken, that is if the objective will not be defeated and the opportunity not abused as currently obtainable in the state of Osun and Imo state respectively. While looking outward for conducting LG elections in earnest, it should be understood that the performance and/or failure *God forbid) of the just elected caretaker Chairmen are responsibilities of the Governor Ahmed’s administration, because he appointed them to correct the malady of our erstwhile ineffectual chairpersons, not we.

On the other hand, while we as citizens must be proactive and ensure the Governor must be held responsible for the activity and inactivity of his new appointees to raise the hope of better LG administrations, better living and good governance, the new appointees must also be reminded of their choices of popularity or notoriety, of effectiveness and ineffectiveness, of ending their tenures as a performer or non-performer. Observation of the local government political situation suggests the ex-LG bosses are insensitive to the implication of the Governor’s declaration of their non-performance, but as citizens, we understand the gravity and its implication and it is on record.

It is therefore left to the newly elected TICs to either convince Kwarans they can be more than a local government administrator through their efforts in rewriting the history of local government administration in Kwara state, which is used to be known for dormancy to a place of serious business, capable of raising hopes, bettering lives and raising living standards, especially in the rural areas. Or otherwise, tell us they’re nothing more than allocation sharer, jut like their non-performing successors.



Write Up By: Comr. IBRAHIM Sheriff (GOLD) ]