"Federal Lawmaker Oke: State Governments Hinder Grassroots Development"

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Call for Scrapping State Governments
3. Neglect of Rural Communities
4. Challenges of Governance
5. Insecurity in Nigeria
6. Osun State Issues
7. Need for Constitutional Amendments

The federal lawmaker representing the Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency, Busayo Oluwole Oke, has advocated for the elimination of state governments in Nigeria, arguing that they have become hindrances to grassroots development and are significant contributors to insecurity and underdevelopment.

He emphasized that rural and local communities have been overlooked for far too long, resulting in hardship for their citizens.

Oke made these remarks on Wednesday during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs program on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, which was monitored by a DAILY POST correspondent in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State.

He attributed governance challenges to the states and called for reforms that would reflect the system in the United Kingdom, where multiple layers of local governments operate effectively.

The lawmaker asserted that the lack of grassroots governance is exacerbating insecurity throughout the nation.

He stated, “We need to experience the government's impact at local levels; the state should be abolished. The state is the issue. I have traveled around the world and here in Nigeria; people at the rural level are suffering.

“The insecurity we are witnessing in Nigeria today is due to the absence of governance at the local government level, and President Bola Tinubu has taken decisive action with the Supreme Court ruling on local government autonomy. That judgment should be implemented and honored.”

According to him, key federal institutions such as the Ministry of Finance, the Attorney General, and the Central Bank of Nigeria have already complied with Supreme Court rulings, ensuring that allocations are now directed to local councils.

Discussing Osun State, Oke accused the state government of political manipulation and mismanagement of funds, claiming that instead of promoting development, the state has engaged in propaganda against federal officials.

“The Osun State government has been involved in various forms of blackmail against the President, the Attorney General, the Minister of Arms, the CBN, and the former governor of the state. Osun has become a scam. Ask the traditional rulers in Osun State when they last received what was due to them. They are not receiving their 5 percent,” he alleged.

Additionally, Oke underscored the necessity for immediate constitutional amendments and highlighted that Nigeria has not conducted a population census since 2006, which hampers effective planning and representation.