As we countdown to the expiration of the present administrations both at the state and federal level, Naij.com has compiled a list of governors who performed below average in the last four years.
1. Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers, APC): Amaechi is all talk and no action. He is very good at pointing accusing fingers at the opposition for their faults but will turn a blind eye to his obvious incompetence.
To his credit though, he was one of the best governors in the land between 2007 and 2011 during his first term, but the Ikwerre-born governor allowed himself to be distracted by his political disagreements with the presidency and from then on, abandoned governance for politicking.
He hardly stayed in the state this last four years as he was always criss-crossing the entire length of the country seeking political affiliations that were unnecessary while Rivers State was at a standstill. A very controversial individual, Amaechi leaves behind a legacy of non-performance, at least for his second term.
2. Governor Theodore Orji (Abia, PDP): This list would have not been complete without mentioning the man popularly called “Ochendo”. Many have described him as the worst governor ever in Nigeria. Orji relies on propanganda to cover his show of shame in Abia State. Aba, the commercial centre of the state was virtually abandoned by Orji, just as Umuahia is one of the worst state capitals in the country. The newly elected Senator representing Abia North in the incoming Senate, had begged the people of the state for his disastrous outing in his first term, blaming it on the over-bearing influence of his erstwhile political god-father and former governor of the state, Orji Uzor Kalu. Forgiven and re-elected by the people, Orji turned a blind eye to the people’s problems and is winding up another 4 years of non-performance leaving the state worse than he met it 8 years ago.
3. Governor Jonah Jang (Plateau, PDP): if there is one state that the residents are happy that the government of the day is vacating office soon, it is Plateau State. A state known for its fragile peace, due to religious and tribal differences, Jang polarised the state more and became a security threat due to his biased conduct. He was also used by the presidency to distabilise the Nigerian Governors Forum. He was also at loggerheads with virtually all the prominent citizens in the state as he was vehemently opposed to constructive criticisms.
4. Ramalan Yero (Kaduna, PDP): Providence fell on him when his former boss, Governor Patrick Yakowa died in a helicopter crash alongside a former National Security Adviser, Gen. Owoeye Azazi. The residents of the state gave Yero, 47, a chance as he was seen as a young man who will deliver because of the pedestal Yakowa took governance to. But the governor had other ideas. He was more concerned with cementing his obvious political relationship with outgoing vice president, Namadi Sambo. He was distracted all through and never really hit the ground running. Under him, the state’s resources has plummeted drastically. Little wonder, he was flatly defeated in a landslide election by the former Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.
5. Governor Gabriel Suswam (Benue, PDP): When Governor Suswam assumed office as the Benue State number 1 citizen in 2007, it was a renewed hope and aspirations for the Benue people. Suswam was seen as a young, vibrant and well educated young man that will take the state to new heights. But today, the reverse is the case, Suswam has taken the state several years backwards and has not delivered in his promises. Suswam leaves behind for the incoming government; a monumental debt, backlog of unpaid salaries of civil servants and a state that is filled with dilapidated infrastructures.
Meanwhile, Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, last week, handed over the affairs of governance to the state government’s secretary, Lawan Abdu Babura, a week to inauguration of a new government and left for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia afterwards
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