Human Rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, Wednesday lamented that politics in Nigeria is now in the hands of criminals and touts, who care little about investing in the country’s economic prosperity and the well-being of its citizens.
He equally decried what he described as bad governance and sheer infrastructural decay in the Southwest, stressing that governors in the region have not done enough to tackle poverty.
Falana, who stated this while making his submission as a member of the panel at the 2025 National Conference of Egbe Amofin Oodua held in Abeokuta with the theme ‘Regional Justice, Security and Sustainable Development’, said the governors failed to prioritise selfless service over personal aggrandisement.
He said: “During the days of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, politics was in the hands of the intellectuals, but today, politics is in the hands of criminals and touts who are less concerned about investing in the economic prosperity of the country and the well-being of the citizens.”
The legal luminary, who faulted Governor Seyi Makinde’s decision to spend N63bn on the rehabilitation of the Government House, described it as reckless spending of public funds that should have been put into better use to uplift infrastructural development in the state.
Other members of the panel were Dr Wahab Shittu, SAN, Mrs Titilayo Akinlawon, SAN, Chief Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN, as well as Mr Kayode Akinremi, Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association, Abeokuta branch.
The human rights lawyer noted that the South-West region may continue in its journey of retrogression except the political leaders, at the state and the local government levels, are honest to the people and make good governance and service to the people their focus.
He said: “We are always quick to shout about the misappropriation and reckless spending of public funds in Abuja, but in Lagos after spending N45bn to procure Jeeps (utility vehicles) in the first four years, the state House of Assembly is planning to spend another N20bn on purchase of another set of jeeps, yet the people are wallowing in poverty.
“Ikorodu has been submerged in the last three days, if it were to be abroad, they will be using helicopter to drop food for the victims, but what is being done for the people? Nothing.”
- Vanguard
