Connect with us

Governor's Ranking

RANKING NIGERIAN GOVERNORS, NOVEMBER, 2019: Top 5, Bottom 5

Published

on

Nigerian Governors, as custodians of the people’s mandate at the state level, have so much expectations placed on their shoulders. These range from policy formulations to execution of sustainable projects targeted at improving the lives of citizens.

Admittedly, governance is a daunting task, especially in the face of lean resources. But even in the face of these huddles, some helmsmen have shown exceptional capacity to better their societies while others have appeared as laggards.

The debate is on, necessitating an urgent media intervention to guide public discourse. Ripples Nigeria, in line with our avowed mandate of holding leaders, especially elected ones, accountable on behalf of the people, will attempt a monthly performance review of the governors.

These series of publications started in August, 2019, and will continue to run through the lifetime of this platform. For November 2019, we again present a ranking of Nigerian governors, highlighting Top 5 and Bottom 5, in no particular order.

We hope, through these special publications, that we would engender a competitive spirit between and among the governors and ultimately drive our nation toward the path of lifting its citizens from abject poverty to prosperity.

1. Governor Bello Matawalle —Zamfara

ZAMFARA: Ex-bandits are helping to fight banditry, Matawalle says

The Zamfara State Governor, Muhammed Bello Matawalle, again gets Ripples Nigeria mention in the Top 5 ranking of governors in the country.

We take note of his efforts at managing the cost of governance, particularly the recent signing into law of a bill by the Zamfara State House of Assembly to revoke the life pension and other advantages conferred on past Governors, Deputy Governors, Speaker and Deputy Speaker in the state.

Though the new law has been perceived as hasty, and supposedly an outcome of the face-off with his immediate predecessor, what must be admitted is the endemic abuse of office and reign of impunity visited on States by past governors through legislation of humongous post-service benefits designed for themselves and family members.

We acknowledge that the action of the governor would save the state huge sums of money that could be channeled to meet the basic needs of the people of the state, instead of spending it on a few privileged people in the society who already fed fat on the commonwealth of the people.

Indeed, we recommend the Matawalle initiative to his peers, both at the State and  national levels, so that ordinary hard working Nigerians don’t continue to feel slighted by the jumbo pay ex- office holders, including members of the National Assembly, continue to enjoy at the end of their tenures.

2. Ben Ayade —Cross River

Defection: Gov Ayade clears the air

Prof. Ben Ayade of Cross River State made it to the Top 5 for the first time on account of the State’s 2020 budget proposal to the State House of Assembly.

The governor, with a budget of N1.1 trillion, second only to Lagos State, dedicated more than 80 percent of the 2020 budget to capital expenditures.

We share the belief that the budget holds the promise of rapid infrastructure development and renewal in the state, only if it is faithfully implemented. Ayade’s bold move is better appreciated against the fact that even the Federal Government could merely manage just about 25 percent of the federal budget on capital expenditure.

Despite receiving our nod in November, we continue to condemn in strongest terms the way the governor has managed opposition voices in the State. We recall that his Bottom 5 ranking in September was largely due to the alleged persecution of dissenting voices against his administration, as represented by the travails of Journalist, Agba Jalingo and a lawyer, Joseph Odok.

3. Seyi Makinde —Oyo State

Oyo govt revokes 26,000 hectares of land allocated by ex-Gov Ajimobi

Governor Seyi Makinde, the Oyo State governor, again made it to the Top 5 governors in the country for taking concrete steps in combatting the menace of corruption in his state and by extension, the country.

We recognize that with the prompt signing of a bill establishing the Oyo State Anti-corruption agency, the battle against wanton stealing from the public purse has become institutionalized.

This is even as we believe that the domestication of the law establishing anti-corruption agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt and other related offences Commission (ICPC) is an indirect call to action on other state actors to do the needful.

We counsel Makinde to resist any temptation to turn the Oyo State anti-corruption agency into a tool for the oppression and witch-hunting of perceived political enemies.

4. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri – Adamawa State

The Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Unaru Fintiri, makes Ripples Nigeria Top 5 Governors for the first time.

Fintiri joins the elite class on account of his daring move to abolish the office of Deputy Permanent Secretary in the state’s civil service, believing it to be another measure in managing the cost of governance.

We share the widely held view that one of the banes of mis-governance in Nigeria is the creation and sustenance of needless offices to prop political patronage in complete disregard for probity and professionalism.

We challenge the Fintiri administration to query the entire civil service spectrum with a view to overhauling the system, fishing out dead woods and institutionalizing a culture of good governance across every strata of the public service.

If well delivered, the Adamawa template could become a reference point for peers who have surrounded themselves with a bloated workforce that has become unmanageable and a drag on progress.

5. Babagana Zulum – Borno State

Boko Haram now hijacked by foreign elements, Borno’s Gov Zulum says

Governor Zulum retains our assessment of him as a man in a hurry to impact his environment. And, we note his persistent and cautious moves to negotiate an end to the Boko Haram insurgency.

We acknowledge the tenacity with which Zulum has attacked the insurgency challenge , especially the recent recruitment of about 1,500 hunters from neighbouring Cameroon to fight the terrorist.

Read also: RANKING NIGERIAN GOVERNORS, OCTOBER, 2019: Top 5, Bottom 5

Though we recognize that this may be a tough call, we nonetheless see value in the role this band of men could play in intelligence gathering. No doubt, the Northeastern state of Borno has been the most hit, in the over-a-decade old Boko Haram insurgency, a situation that has made the state lay prostrate for years.

We acknowledge that Zulum’s robust response to security challenges in his domain is capable of shaking off the lethargy sometimes witnessed in the prosecution of the Boko Haram war by Nigeria’s military.

Bottom 5

1. Yahaya Bello —Kogi State

Yahaya Bello

The governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, again, makes the Bottom 5 governors in Nigeria, a position he has maintained since the beginning of the special publications.

While we acknowledge the pronouncements of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the November 16 governorship election in Kogi, we are, however, concerned with the widespread reported violence that characterised the election.

The incidents, attested to by local and foreign observers, cast a huge question mark on the integrity of the poll, and Bello’s victory.

We are also amazed that just days after being pronounced winner of the governorship contest, Bello declared that the state government was not owing workers in the state ‘a dime.’

We dare argue that such denials paint the Kogi helmsman as one who reckons that integrity is a commodity that can be priced lowly for political gains.

2. Nyesom Wike —Rivers State

RIVERS: APC denies giving Wike conditions for peace

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State makes his first appearance on the ranking chart at the bottom, and the reasons are not far fetched.

While we accord him some recognition for a few positive things attributed to his administration, especially in the area of infrastructure development, we find it awkward that six months after being sworn-in for a second term in office, he had given no heed to calls to perform the constitutional task of establishing a cabinet.

Though this has been blamed on so-called politics within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), we regard the excuse as untenable. Wike’s disregard for laid down rules risks a descent into absolutism. If unchecked, the act could have corruptive tendencies, and as they say, absolute power corrupts absolutely.

We hate to imagine that Wike would end the year without a cabinet formally constituted.

3. Dapo Abiodun —Ogun State

OGUN: Amosun's finance commissioner tackles Abiodun, says he inherited N18.3bn

Govermor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, just like his Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike, is making the list for the first time in the Bottom 5.

He also gets a mention for his refusal to constitute a cabinet six months after inauguration. As we have argued elsewhere, the act is unhealthy for the growth and development of Nigeria’s democracy.

We reckon that, after so much enthusiasm that greeted his victory, his inability to name a cabinet six months after speaks volume on his preparedness and capacity to harness the resources of the State toward sustainable development.

We are also afraid that such disposition could signal an early romance with autocratic rule which may jeopardize the establishment of popular will as the basis for good governance.

4. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi —Enugu State

ENUGU: Ugwuanyi to focus on security in second term

Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, gets a Bottom 5 mention for the rising spate of kidnappings in the state.

We note the fact that Enugu State appears to have become the most fertile ground for kidnappers in the country, with Catholic priests the most targeted.

At the last count, eight Catholic priests had been kidnapped in the state, with the state government under Ugwuanyi seemingly handicapped in handling the situation.

Ugwuanyi may do well to pick up the gauntlet or have his accomplishments continuously overshadowed by insecurity concerns, a major draw back for meaningful development and growth.

5. Udom Emmanuel —Akwa Ibom State

Akwa Ibom govt set to pay new minimum wage, vows not sack workers

Governor Udom Emmanuel makes the Bottom 5 for allegedly instigating the recent arrest and detention of a banker accused of criticising him.

The staff of Prudential Microfinance Bank, Uyo, Akwa Ibom state, Mr Itok, was arrested, and arraigned in court for allegedly posting materials on his Facebook page considered damaging to Governor Udom Emmanuel and other staff of the Akwa Ibom State Government House.

Itok, said to have been picked up over a month ago, was arraigned only recently before a magistrate court in Uyo, the state capital by the Department of State Services (DSS).

We consider the travails of citizen Itok as a show of intolerance on the part of Udom and, therefore, frown at any attempt to stifle freedom of speech and abridge the fundamental rights of Nigerians. We also deplore the alleged use of blackmail and intimidation by Udom to settle scores with perceived enemies.

 

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now