By Bilesanmi Abayomi
Hon. Okunfuwa Samad Oluwatoyin, a notable figure in the Labour Party’s Kosofe chapter, has praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his renewed efforts to secure local government autonomy in Nigeria. This commendation was made during a discussion on the Kosofe Post WhatsApp channel on Wednesday.
In his comments, Hon. Okunfuwa highlighted his historical criticism of policies he considered detrimental to the populace but recognized this initiative by the president as a significant step forward. “This particular gesture by the president appears to be a good step in the right direction,” he stated.
The conversation also included input from Comrade Olayiwola Sulaiman, popularly known as Opomulero, who criticized President Tinubu for previously manipulating state electoral bodies during his tenure as Governor of Lagos State. “Every other state government learned that criminal act of pocketing state electoral bodies from Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Opomulero alleged.
Agreeing with Opomulero, Hon. Okunfuwa acknowledged that President Tinubu had indeed used local government control to his advantage in the past but suggested that the president’s current stance might be a sign of repentance, possibly influenced by his advanced age. He cautioned, “One cannot take away the possibility of sinister or political motives and undertones. We can only appeal to the powers that be to act with the fear of God and consider the human impact of their decisions.”
The discussion also saw contributions from Omoba Awofeso Rasheed, who noted the Federal Government’s legal battle with state governors over local government autonomy. Rasheed criticized the governors, particularly pointing out Governors resistance, accusing them of wasting scarce resources and hindering grassroots development.
“We are just fond of wasting scarce resources,” Rasheed said. “The governors are just wicked, not in support of the growth and development of the grassroots. The only time they relate with the grassroots is during elections. What is their interest in the LG funds? It’s a critical question that deserves a seamless answer.”
As the debate over local government autonomy continues, stakeholders like Hon. Okunfuwa and Rasheed emphasize the need for transparent governance and equitable distribution of resources to foster development at the grassroots level.