Osita Okechukwu, the former Director General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON) and a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has warned President Bola Tinubu against allowing the influence of certain governors and special interest groups to derail his administration’s key policies and achievements.
The former VON DG who made this known in an interview with journalists in Abuja, advised the President to stay focused on the responsibilities of his office and avoid distractions from unnecessary special interests.
He highlighted two major achievements of the Tinubu administration: the financial autonomy granted to local government councils through a Supreme Court judgment and the allocation of 450,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil to local refineries.
Mr Okechukwu warned that these achievements should not be undermined.
He expressed concern over reports of a possible three-month delay in enforcing the Supreme Court’s ruling on local government autonomy.
He argued that such a delay would not only undermine the power of the citizenry over local government administration but also risk contempt of the Supreme Court, as the judgment did not provide any such leeway for the governors.
He criticised the influence of what he referred to as “Special Interests,” accusing them of denying the public the benefits of reduced fuel prices, decreased debt burden, job creation, and the stabilization of the Naira that were expected from the crude oil allocation to local refineries.
On the possibility of a temporary suspension of local government financial autonomy, Okechukwu strongly opposed the idea, stressing that the Supreme Court judgment did not grant such concessions to the governors.
He expressed concern that extending this illegality would be detrimental.
Mr Okechukwu concluded by urging President Tinubu to remain vigilant against the influence of certain governors and special interest groups.
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