January 03, (THEWILL) – The recalcitrant group of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors known as the G-5, returned from their London trip after two days last Friday. The trip must have elevated the cost of the governors’ political jamboree which is ultimately borne by the taxpayers.
The people paid for their governors’ flight (possibly, first or business class) tickets, luxury accommodation, expensive food and drinks, extensive shopping and other incidentals. The G-5 team members believe they are on a Caesar’s errand; so the money must be spent.
But the Integrity Group (I-G), as they also call themselves, did not travel to woo investors. Their trip was not to assess a facility being manufactured for their states’ healthcare or skill acquisition projects. It was not to sign an MoU to transform agriculture or empower small business operators.
Their trip was not about a regional economic initiative either — to address their fate in the nation’s railway expansion project that has eluded the eastern corridor including Rivers, Abia, Enugu and Benue. But the states will contribute to the repayment of the multi-billion dollar foreign loan spent on the nation’s railway project under President Muhammadu Buhari.
Last week’s overseas tour was not the first by the G-5 governors to re-discovered themselves after the PDP presidential primary in May 2022. They had earlier been to London, Paris, and Spain. At home, they convened in Benue, Oyo, Rivers, Bauchi, and Lagos.
They further re-named themselves ‘Integrity Group’ (I-G) after boasting in November 2022 that no one could break their bonds “to save Nigeria”.
This has elicited three questions: What really does the I-G want? At what cost? Who bears the cost?
The group wants Senator Iyorchia Ayu, the PDP chairman, to step down for a Southerner – in the name of fairness and equity. They would not accept the North producing both the presidential candidate and the chairman. So, Ayu must step down for a chairman from the South. But the party’s constitution stipulates the process of electing a chairman. It was the same process that produced Ayu after Uche Secondus. The party would not go the I-G’s way NOW as it would amount to an attempt to square a circle; and a move towards political suicide.
Is the I-G unaware of the possible backlash? Example: constitutional crisis that could sink the party? What if another group proceeds to seek legal redress for “violation” of the party’s constitution? These scenarios make it compelling to ask if the I-G is really sincere about its single-point demand as it is becoming increasingly suspicious that the G-5 is engaged in a hidden agenda.
Their actions seem to suggest that they are determined to undermine the electoral process, weaken the PDP and ultimately pave the way for the victory of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Is this not a way of frustrating an electoral process that Nigerians crave for to rescue the sinking giant of Africa?
Their occasional overseas trips to “strategise” and take in fresh air in an environment where law and order works calls for deep soul-searching. As some observers have pointed out, the coincidence of the I-G’s European trips with that of Bola Tinubu most times, points to treachery. It is of little economic benefits to their people; instead it adds to their people’s misery.
Gov. Ugwuanyi travelled with Wike to the UK when suspected herders were mowing down the people of Eha-Amufu and other Isi-Uzo communities in his state and burning down their houses. The people of the area, according to their leader, Dr. Ifeanyichukwu Casmir of the Eha-Amufu People’s Forum, were conducting mass burial of their loved ones slaughtered by the herdsmen while the world was celebrating Christmas and New Year festivals.
The attacks have been ongoing since April 2016, yet Ugwuanyi hardly speaks out. The herdsmen come from Benue where Ortom is the governor. Both governors are active members of the Wike-led Integrity Group that wants to “save Nigeria”.
Sadly, the victims are predominantly farmers who feed the nation and boost the GDP. This is why the occasional village square dance of the I-G is troubling. The G-5 governors do not appear sincere in their bid to ensure a credible, free and fair election to save Nigeria as they claim. Yet, their states are hemorrhaging.
According to the Debt Management Office (DMO) the five states are burdened with a total domestic debt of N723.38 billion as of September 30, 2022 (Abia N104.57 billion, Benue N143.36 billion, Enugu N89.88 billion, Oyo N160.07 billion and Rivers N225.50 billion). They are also battling with total external debt of $466.25 million as of June 30, 2022 (Abia $95.63 million, Benue $30.47 million, Enugu $123.02 million, Oyo $76.96 million, Rivers $140.17 million).
A recent ‘2022 Nigerian Sub-National Salary Survey’ report by BudgIT, a Nigerian civil tech organisation, showed 12 states that owe their civil servants at least one month’s salary as of July 31, 2022. Abia and Benue featured in the list.
Abia and Edo have the most miserable Nigerians as their cost of living has surged amid record-high unemployment, making them poorer, the report stated.
The survey also revealed that Abia currently owes its state tertiary institution workers at least six months’ salaries with the health institution workers owed for 10 months. Their governor is fighting his party and its presidential candidate.
Evidently, the G-5 governors are engaged in a selfish course. They are squandering their states’ resources for nothing. Their act smacks of manifold hypocrisy. The best option for them is to choose the path of integrity: Quit PDP!
About the Author
Sam Diala is a Bloomberg Certified Financial Journalist with over a decade of experience in reporting Business and Economy. He is Business Editor at THEWILL Newspaper, and believes that work, not wishes, creates wealth.
