The moment the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) published it’s directives to Banks as it affects Accounts of Local Government Councils, it became clear that State Governments across the Country that were persistently looting inflows for Local Councils are in serious trouble because their cash cow is about to be returned to the actual owners; the people.
The greed and desire to manipulate the system for personal gain has been the real reason why State Governors have refused to conduct Local Government elections and will rather prefer their unelected Administrators to be at the helm of affairs in the third tier of government. And even in instances where elections are conducted, the manipulation and fraud perpetrated to ensure stooges are put in power is an indication of the desperation on the part of these Governors to continue the looting spree to the detriment of the Local Government Areas and the people.
After huffing and puffing, the Governors under the aegis of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, the failed bid to stop the implementation of the guidelines issued by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit in the court has called for desperate measures to tackle a delicate desperate situation.
For over three and a half years, no Local Government Council advertised any proposed project let alone ask for bids from qualified interested contractors. While it is a good omen that infrastructural development is expected at the Local Government Areas, the timing, purpose and intent is not only suspicious but should be of concern to Kogites.
Hitherto, local government workers have been holding the short and rough end of the stick because of abominable percentage payments of salaries; with 15-20% at certain times. This situation in all sincerity predates the New Direction Administration of Alh. Yahaya Bello though it worsened under his inept watch.
With intent not noble, Alh. Yahaya Bello refused to appoint a substantive Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs but preferred a Special Adviser for that office obviously to bypass, circumvent and compromise the system for easy manipulation.
Now the rumour mill is agog with allegations that N3 billion loan is being packaged to be accessed for each of selected 8 Local Government Areas in the State. Was due process followed in securing these loans or another offline illegal transaction with the active connivance of the State House of Assembly?
Should Kogites be jubilant that a genuine effort to develop the grassroots is about to commence or be mourning because their future is about to be mortgaged by a ponzi-scheming group of Ex-bankers who have perfected the art of perverting the system through numerous conduit pipes to siphon Commonwealth for insane accumulation of personal wealth?
The Executive and Legislature in Kogi State must realize that the malfeasance of the past three years that has placed majority of Kogites in agony never experienced before in the State has increased the awareness on the part of the people, the negative effects of the massive misappropriation of state resources on their wellbeing.
For the sake of those involved, the rationale behind the whole arrangement had better be for the interest of the people as anything to the country will spell doom for those, whose greed will put Kogites in perpetual indebtedness with no corresponding positive impact on the lives of the people.
Surveillance level is now on red alert and woe betides all conspirators that will prefer to be smart in criminality.
– Posi Botun
