Falana slams S’West govs over poor governance, reckless spending

Falana

Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has berated governors in the Southwest over what he described as failed governance, infrastructural decay, and reckless mismanagement of public funds.

Falana, speaking on Wednesday as a panellist at the 2025 National Conference of Egbe Amofin O’dua, held in Abeokuta, Ogun State, accused state governments in the region of abandoning the people for personal enrichment, a sharp departure from the legacy of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

The conference, themed “Regional Justice, Security and Sustainable Development,” brought together several senior legal practitioners and stakeholders, including Dr Wahab Shittu (SAN), Mrs Titilayo Akinlawon (SAN), Chief Olumuyiwa Akinboro (SAN), and Mr Kayode Akinremi, Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Abeokuta branch.

Falana condemned what he described as misplaced priorities and wasteful expenditures by governors in the region, particularly criticising Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, for allocating N63bn for the rehabilitation of the Government House.

“The governor of Oyo State, who comes to work from his private residence, now wants to rehabilitate the government house with N63bn, an amount that can provide good roads and electricity across the state,” he said.

He also took a swipe at the Lagos State government, alleging that the state House of Assembly spent N45bn on utility vehicles in four years and was planning another N20bn allocation for the same purpose, even as large parts of the state suffer neglect.

The human rights lawyer said the Southwest region may continue to regress unless political leaders, both at the state and local government, stay honest with the people and prioritise good governance and service to the people.

Falana added, “We are always quick to shout about the misappropriation and reckless spending of public funds in Abuja but in Lagos, after spending N45bn to procure SUVs in the first four years, the state House of Assembly is planning to spend another N20bn on the purchase of utility vehicles, yet the people are wallowing in poverty.”