By John Joseph
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President Bola Tinubu has made a startling accusation against former President Olusegun Obasanjo, alleging that he aborted grassroots development in Lagos State by opposing the creation of Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) many years ago. This revelation came during Tinubu’s first Presidential Media Chat (PMC) in Lagos on Monday night.
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. However, his efforts were met with stiff opposition from the federal government under Obasanjo, which questioned the legality of the new administrative units outside the constitutionally recognized 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs).
The president defended his initiative, citing its transformative impact on the state. “Today, we have autonomy for local government. You will see development, you will see rapid contact with the people at the grassroots. That is where people live; they are not living with me in Abuja, except bureaucrats,” Tinubu explained.
The creation of LCDAs was a response to Lagos State’s growing population and the need for more efficient local governance. However, the initiative sparked a major conflict with the federal government, which withheld funds earmarked for local governments in Lagos State, causing financial strain on grassroots development.
The dispute eventually escalated to the Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of Lagos State, ordering the release of the withheld funds. Despite the court’s verdict, the federal government delayed the disbursement, further compounding the challenges faced by local governments in the state at the time.
Tinubu’s accusation against Obasanjo is a significant development in the ongoing debate about Nigeria’s federalism and the role of local governance in promoting grassroots development. As the president emphasized, “Nigeria is moving forward” despite the challenges, and his administration remains committed to enhancing local governance and promoting development at the grassroots level.
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