President Bola Tinubu has accused former President Olusegun
Obasanjo of hindering grassroots development in Nigeria, citing the
ex-president's objection to the creation of local councils when he was the
governor of Lagos state.
Tinubu made this claim during his first Presidential
Media Chat on Monday night, December 23, stating that Obasanjo's opposition to
the creation of Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in Lagos
State many years ago was a major setback. Tinubu reflected on
his tenure as governor of Lagos State in the early 2000s, highlighting the
challenges he faced in enhancing local governance through the creation of 37
LCDAs.
He said:
“Today, we have autonomy for local government. Some of
you will remember my lamentation and my argument with Obasanjo about the need
for grassroots development when I created 37 local council development areas
for Lagos State.”
However, the federal government under Obasanjo's
leadership opposed the initiative, questioning its legality and withholding
funds earmarked for local governments in Lagos State. This move caused
significant financial strain on grassroots development.
The dispute between the Lagos State government and the
federal government eventually made its way to the Supreme Court, which ruled in
favour of Lagos State and ordered the release of the withheld funds. Despite
the court's verdict, the federal government delayed the disbursement, further
exacerbating the challenges faced by local governments in the state.
Tinubu defended his initiative, citing its
transformative impact on local governance and development. He emphasized that
the creation of LCDAs has enabled rapid contact with people at the grassroots
level, promoting development and autonomy for local governments. Despite
challenges, the president also reiterated his administration's commitment to
moving Nigeria forward.
Tinubu's accusations against Obasanjo come amidst the
latter's recent criticism of the current administration. Obasanjo has described
Nigeria as a "failing state" and accused Tinubu of uninspiring
leadership.
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