Hon Kolade Alabi-David President, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in this interview with EMEKA NZE speaks of the recent rebellion against his leadership and thereafter a clean bill of health given to him by the National Executive Council, his achievements and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the lives of people at the rural communities amongst other issues.
Excerpts:
What informed the recent rancor in ALGON that culminated in your presidency being given a clean bill of health?
I wish to categorically state that there was never any rancor in ALGON as you have asked. Perhaps, your question is in reference to the mischief makers who paraded themselves in the name of ALGON and who indeed were not members of our National Executive Council. It therefore becomes expedient for the body of ALGON to reaffirm the confidence vote on my leadership of the association. There is an established procedure in our Constitution that enables one to become a NEC member. I truly seek the pity of those uninformed who are desperate non- members of NEC. States Reps’ and FCT thought it wise and expedient to reaffirm my leadership with total loyalty.
Considering the declining fortunes of LGAs in Nigeria, what is the panacea to the survival of LGA’s in Nigeria?
On the average, the LGAs in Nigeria today are advancing towards higher grounds especially since my assumption of duty as the National President. My leadership came in few months before the executive order that brought about the Ngeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU)”s intervention on direct disbursement of local government funds and for states where democratically elected local government system is in operation like Lagos state. We have enjoyed a very fiscal cordial relationship which has now become a model to copy. I make bold to say that frantic efforts are being geared towards repositioning the LGA in our renewed advocacy appealing to the states to kindly save the LGAs through elections and I must say the state governors are trying. If not the pandemic, many elections would have been in place. Indeed, efforts aimed at advancing grassroots development in the last one year of my administration have been a continuum, notwithstanding other noticeable economic setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. For ALGON as a body, devolution of power is the panacea to our survival. Local government administration is fully entrenched in the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and there is every sense in embracing it holistically.
What would you want to be remembered for in ALGON when you are no longer its President?
My tenure as the National President of ALGON is on course. My passion and courage to change the narratives from the earlier unpleasant experience is by raising the bar for effective rural governance as a breeding ground and model for appreciating “Democracy in Action”. I have strong optimism that moving forward with time and programmes which we have lined up, it will be tenure-wrapped with numerous benefits. You will also agree with me that governance at the grassroots is pivotal to development as seen in some of my giant strides and accomplishment as the National President of ALGON for which posterity may be kind to my person albeit. Under my watch, we have advanced and maintained our follow up on collaboration and synergy with the United Cities and Local Governments – Africa (UCLG – AFRICA) and that of the European Union. ALGON leadership has placed in the frontburner of the central government for local councils to be treated as a worthy ally to the states and for the federal government to consider an upward review of our Monthly Revenue Allocation. We now have the unique opportunity to participate in the dialogue with the European Union Development (EUD) representatives in the formulation and execution of agreed programmes (2021 – 2027). The recovery of our ALGON House in Maitama an incredible symbolic masterpiece of the association in Abuja happened under my watch and we have championed the refund of the U.S$2.6 billion unremitted Paris Club to mention but a few. A trip to Morocco was embarked on with my Exco to learn how best the Local Authorities can work perfectly with the central government in Nigeria. We are presently harvesting its gains despite the ravaging pandemic across the rural areas. Presently, decorum has been restored; the staff of ALGON are now given sense of belonging and more.
Has the purpose of ALGON been achieved yet since 1999?
ALGON is not a government, it is an association of 774 LGs AND AREA COUNCILS. The objective includes but not limited to coordination, collaboration, alignment and development of synergy amongst the three tiers of governments namely the federal, state and local governments. I hasten to say that we are already moving in the trajectory of the anticipated goal of the association and do not forget that the lack of consistency and short duration of service as National President were part of the policy shift/variation. By and large, we should appreciate the journey so far! Some of the impending bottlenecks are being looked into with all intent and purposes to surmounting them both constitutionally and with applied wisdom where necessary.
ALGON was established to primarily serve as a rallying point for All Local Governments and Area Councils, then as the springboard for propelling development at the grassroots, do you think that objective is being realized?
You have asked two questions in one.To the first part of your question – Yes, it is the springboard for propelling development at the grassroots. Second, the objective of the association is being pragmatically pursued with the best practices, mindful of the fact that our democracy is still passing through “the mill” and with time, be assured that we shall get there.
Could you assess the security situation in Nigeria?
Quite challenging but surmountable. It requires the absolute cooperation of the citizens to provide adequate information that will facilitate the nailing of dissidents and agents of destruction and instability. Permit to use the herdsmen / cattle rustling conflicts with their host communities, we all know that the climatic / seasonal change is a major mitigating factor for animal breeding thereby forcing the herdsmen to migrate from the northern parts of Nigeria southwards with wholesome damages to farmlands. “The consequence of such inordinate action is low yield of farm produce!”The panacea for resolution of this particular conflict is to create sectorial and dedicated ranches thereby relieving the host communities of anger and hatred for unlawful take over and wanton destruction of farmlands. In as much as we need food crops, we need dairy and meat but we advocate for better understanding and that is why the recent approval and take off sum of the ₦13.6 Billion for community policing is a welcome development aimed at mitigating the skirmishes.
What are the effects of COVID-19 on lives of rural communities and its lessons?
The COVID-19 PANDEMIC has clearly exposed our inadequ¬¬acies in the healthcare sector. In containing the primary health issues, it has therefore become necessary and urgent if you ask me, for us to quickly rise up to the challenge and the need to fund the health needs. Apparently, the cardinal responsibility of governments is to save lives and property. In this regard, ALGON is assiduously pursuing the bottom-top approach from Local Authorities apparatus through the states and to the central government rather than the top-down approach as presently practised.
