Pelumi Olajengbesi, a human rights lawyer based in Abuja, has called on the governors of the 35 states in the Federation to emulate the example set by Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State by diverting their monthly security votes towards the development of their respective states.
Speaking on Monday during a courtesy visit by some youths from Osun State to his office in Abuja, Olajengbesi, who is the Managing Partner at the Abuja-based firm Law Corridor, emphasized the need for governors to show empathy for the economic challenges faced by their constituents.
He urged them to make necessary sacrifices, especially during this period of economic hardship resulting from the removal of fuel subsidy.
Expressing concern over the plight of the people, Olajengbesi criticized the fact that governors receive a minimum of N600 million each month as security votes but often neglect to utilize these funds for the development of their states. Instead, some governors, he noted, overlook the suffering of their people and even fail to pay civil servants’ salaries.
“Nigeria is at a very serious time in the history of our nation and leaders must make the necessary sacrifices required of them for nation-building and the survival of the people at this time.
“This sacrifice includes the one exemplified by Senator Ademola Nurudeen Adeleke of Osun State who from assumption of office last year has consistently allocated his security votes for payment of salaries of the people and other development. He has never touched a kobo. This is inspiring.
“Governors of the other 35 states must prioritise the people and borrow a leaf from Senator Adeleke by sacrificing their monthly security votes to the people.
“This can go a long way in clearing some backlogs of owed workers’ salaries, used for the construction of infrastructural projects and many other things that will directly benefit the people. Governance must be people-focused,” he said.
He referenced Governor Adeleke’s recent declaration during an interactive session in Osogbo, where the Osun State Governor revealed that he channels his N600 million security votes towards funding projects in the state rather than personal benefits.