Governors smiling to bank as Nigerians groan — Shehu Sani

DDM News

(DDM) – Former lawmaker and activist Senator Shehu Sani has sharply criticised state governors over what he described as their failure to respond to the economic hardship overwhelming Nigerians.

The outspoken ex-senator accused governors of enriching themselves while ordinary citizens bear the brunt of soaring living costs.

Sani’s comments come amid public outrage over skyrocketing fuel prices and the ripple effects of the removal of the petroleum subsidy.

According to Sani, while President Bola Tinubu has taken much of the public criticism for the hardship, state leaders have quietly distanced themselves from the crisis.

He argued that governors have a constitutional and moral duty to take decisive action to ease the suffering in their states.

“While President Bola Tinubu bears the brunt of criticism for the current sufferings of the people, our governors seem to be distant from the reality on the ground, smiling all the way to the bank,” Sani stated.

DDM gathered that his remarks have sparked fresh debate on the accountability of state executives during economic crises.

The former senator said that shifting all the blame to Abuja ignores the significant influence and resources governors wield.

He added that many governors receive larger federal allocations under the current fiscal framework, yet fail to direct these funds toward tangible relief measures for citizens.

Nigeria’s current economic woes have been worsened by fuel costs hitting historic highs, pushing up transport fares, food prices, and the cost of basic goods.

For millions of households, these pressures have meant cutting back on essential needs or slipping further into poverty.

Sani stressed that governors cannot claim helplessness in the face of this hardship.

He maintained that each state government has enough authority to launch targeted social interventions, subsidise local transport systems, or provide direct aid to vulnerable families.

Observers say Sani’s criticism mirrors a growing sentiment among Nigerians that state leaders are out of touch with daily realities.

Public frustration has been building, with sporadic protests erupting in various cities and civil society groups calling for urgent economic relief.

The activist-turned-politician also pointed out that without state-level action, national recovery efforts will remain slow and uneven.

He urged citizens to hold their governors to the same level of scrutiny as the president, noting that genuine reform requires action at all tiers of government.

Sani’s comments have reignited discussions on how to balance political responsibility between the federal centre and the states.

As economic pressures deepen, the role of governors in addressing the hardship may come under even sharper focus ahead of the next election cycle.

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