 Blame the states, not the federal government. As we approach 2023 elections, tempers are high, many are agitated, but a lot more are confused. Our state of Confucianism is not new, it has been with us for so long. Election lecturer Kunle Lawal has taken us through a series of mind-opening revelations on this program, identifying the right limitations and constitutional responsibilities of each arm and each tier of government. But let me cut the chase and address this seemingly controversial topic. Blame your states, not the FG. It will look like I'm making excuses for President Muhammad Ubuari but for... But far from it. His tenor is coming to an end, and historically not much happens during election year. My concern is more towards 2023, who takes over from him, and how do we make them, the federal government, state and local governments, accountable to us? 2022 budget summary, it goes this way, FG budgeted 17.1 trillion Naira, Lagos state 1.7, River state 483 billion, Cardinal state 278, Ogun state 350 billion, Adamawa 163 billion, Niger state 211 billion, and the lease goes on. So let's work with a median value of 10 trillion Naira, budget for all states, that's estimating their budget at 300 billion for each state, or let's even bring it out to 200 billion, that would be like 8 trillion Naira. We're so concerned about FG budget performance, but how often do we query state budget performance? I saw an article about Governor Saulou buying high-speed trains from Spanish manufacturers in Milwaukee, USA, and yes, it is being confirmed. Then I came across another report in 2016 where Governor Ambody was said to be about to buy off some trains for Lagos Red and Blue Rail line. The same one Governor Saulou is about funding. What happened to the promise in 2016? What about the budgetary allocation? Or has it become an inappropriate appropriation bill? In Lagos, the government has the neighborhood security outfit funded from tax, payers, money. The purpose is because security is local. How well do these institutions perform? What is the quality of the intelligence they gather? States and local governments have more roads than federal governments in any state in Nigeria. So where a lot of roads are not car worthy in Nigeria, it is most likely the faults of the states and local governments. Yet, all you hear is complain about how nothing is working in Nigeria and dump all the blame on Nigeria, by that I mean federal government. Now to the elephants in the room, the economy. The escape route is we need to move some things from the exclusive list to the concurrent list. I'm trying to sound like a politician there. Many states cannot generate revenue because they do not have access to the rich resources of their land. That is just diversionary tactics to aid the inconsistencies and debts of ideas plaguing our state's leadership. Before the discovery of oil, state survival and agriculture, ground up pyramids in the north, farmer plantations in the east, cocoa in the west. Now let's take western region. In the west, it developed with cocoa money, built cocoa house in Ibadan, set up WNTV, built Obafeme Olo University and many others, prudent management resources. I know you might say that cannot be replicated again. Times have changed, even abroad in other states, states have control over resources. Truth is that, I agree, states should have control over their resources. But let's look at these statistics. According to Texas Oil and Gas Association website, that's at texoga.org, Texas Oil and Gas industry made history when it paid 16.3 billion dollars in taxes and state royalties in 2019, highest paid ever, or thus far. Now, that is huge. I can only imagine what reverse state can do with that amount of money. But that's not all. Let's look at another statistic from the same state, Texas. According to data available on texasagriculture.gov, Texas government made 24 billion dollars from agriculture products in 2017. Now, every state has control over agriculture. What are we doing in our states? We have control over traffic regulations. What do our roads look like during rush hour? How many new projects have we started to reduce travel time? I was having a conversation with a colleague and he reminded me that the last time a major project happened in Lagos was in the 80s, when the 3rd mainland bridge was constructed. I stand to be corrected though, but if that's the case, isn't that over 20 years ago? And if the red and blue rail line is not completed this year as promised, what would be said of Lagos, a mega city, desiring special status? Now, one last thing before I go. Do you know that according to the Constitution, provision of electricity is in the concurrent legislative list and not the exclusive? State House of Assemblies can make laws for the state with respect to electricity and the establishment in the state of electricity power stations. The generation transmission and distribution of electricity to areas not covered by the national grid system within that state and the establishment within that state of any authority for the promotion of management of electric power stations established by the states. There are mitigating factors, we must all agree, which the states can address if they so desire to provide electricity. But we will discuss this on another day. For now, long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Well, I would say the government should try, state government specifically. Lagos has a key study. We spend several productive hours on the road. Who's fault is it? The federal government or the state government? So if they really want to generate more revenue from the citizens who are working, the working class, they should work on reducing the number of times we spend on the road. So that will start with that. Okay, and we hold you down there. For me, it's very simple. I remember in classical math, I think it was El Classico. I don't know if it was El Classico, it was a very, you know, when Messi was still in Barcelona and, you know, everybody wanted to mark Messi, but Messi was like the bait, you know, and the person that he used, you know, I think it was Suarez or something, right? Or it was Suarez or the other guy, you know, and he was once scoring the goals. And so the idea was to distract the defenders with Messi. He wasn't going to be the hitman. And then everybody goes to him, then the hitman's called. So I mean, I agree with you. There's always this federal government, you know, you're the problem and all of that. And people are minute by minute, they're starting and sucking the state dry. Why are we not holding our local government counselors? I mean, I say, yeah, but can't I say what, what, what is the state of, what's the level of progress, you know, about this? And I think to conclude on this is I myself, I'm holding myself accountable. I need to start attending this meetings. When they call for it. So I leave, oh, they have some bunch of non-intellectuals. Let me drive off and go. Let the intellectuals get involved. I need to get to those meetings and you know what is happening. Play on road. Do you agree with us any more states? Absolutely. I agree with you. I mean, just think about it. Just, just look at the numbers. There's only one federal government, but there's 36 states. So there's corruption going on. The federal government is going on 36 other places. Oh, perhaps let's even take a eye away from that one federal government and focus on the 36 other people that are not responsible. That is not like it said, you know, to let the federal government go anyway, because in some cases, you know, the, the, what's going on in that place, let's not even start stealing. But I have to agree with you that people are getting involved in their state government, in their local government. I mean, there are things that you have to ask the governor for. I go somewhere and I ask myself, is there a chairman in this local government? He said, a councillor. You understand? I mean, in some cases, people don't have a response for little, little things. Everything not a worry is fault. There's a lot of things that are not fault anyways. Like someone said, when a husband and a wife fight, it's worry is fault. Yeah, that's it. When you throw debt on the floor, it's worry is fault. And the, when I was putting this together, what came to mind is this man would be out in about 13 months or let's say, even 15 months thereabouts. Who comes next? We'll start the same. The same cycle. For another four or eight years. And we, the people remain the same. And I'm sure by then, the 5,000 you get the value might have dropped further to 2,000. So you're getting less. So you're raising a repeat strategy. So well, we can go on and on, but all we can say now is thank you for your attention while the program lasted. And we hope that our conversation resonated with you and that in some small way encourage you to contribute to your immediate environment. Little drops of water, they say, make a mighty ocean. Don't forget that advocacy continues on our social media platforms on Facebook plus TV Africa hashtag, the advocate NG and on Twitter and Instagram. 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