📰 OPINION

Presidency or Patrimony? Why Diverting State Resources to One’s Home State Is Dangerous for Nigeria

When regional loyalty overrides national responsibility, the country suffers.

By Ahmed Magem

The Office of the President is Not a Regional Throne

In any democracy worth its name, the president is not a tribal chief. He is a national steward, entrusted with the collective resources and hopes of millions. This is especially true in a country as complex and diverse as Nigeria. Diverting state resources to one’s home state or region—whether openly or by stealth—is a betrayal of that national trust.

Such conduct is not only unethical and unconstitutional. It is corrosive. It undermines national unity, institutional fairness, and the dream of building a country that works for all.

National Leadership Over Regional Loyalty

The Nigerian Constitution is clear. Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution champions the Federal Character Principle, which mandates an equitable spread of appointments and resources. It was designed to prevent ethnic dominance and encourage inclusion in governance.

A president is elected to lead all Nigerians—not just those from his ethnic group or geopolitical zone. When this trust is broken, the consequences are both political and psychological. It breeds bitterness, erodes patriotism, and weakens the country’s foundation.

A Pattern in Nigerian Leadership?

While no Nigerian leader has openly declared favoritism, public perception and political patterns suggest otherwise.

📍 Olusegun Obasanjo (1999–2007) – Ogun State

Obasanjo faced criticism for infrastructural concentration in the Southwest. However, his administration introduced wide-reaching national reforms—from the GSM telecom revolution to pension restructuring—that benefited the country broadly.

📍 Goodluck Jonathan (2010–2015) – Bayelsa State

The Jonathan government invested heavily in the Niger Delta (Amnesty Programme, East-West Road, NDDC), which critics labeled biased. Yet these were seen by many as overdue reparations for decades of oil-driven exploitation and neglect.

📍 Muhammadu Buhari (2015–2023) – Katsina State

Buhari’s tenure drew some of the most sustained accusations of regional bias, with critics pointing to lopsided federal appointments and Northern-centric development. This perception fueled deep distrust and separatist sentiments across the South and Middle Belt.

📍 Bola Ahmed Tinubu (2023– ) – Lagos State

In less than two years in office, Tinubu’s government has faced scrutiny for favoring the Southwest—especially Lagos. The appointment of key figures with ties to Lagos politics and the launch of the controversial Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway have added to suspicions that national resources are being channeled toward his home base.

The Price of Regional Favoritism

Favoritism at the federal level comes with a steep national cost:

⚠️ Weakening of National Unity: Other regions feel ignored and marginalized.

⚠️ Skewed Development: Projects reflect loyalty over actual national need.

⚠️ Rising Agitations: From IPOB in the East to past militancy in the Niger Delta, inequality fuels unrest.

⚠️ Distrust in Democracy: When governance seems unfair, citizens disengage or rebel.

A Way Forward

Nigeria can—and must—do better. Here’s how:

✅ Enforce Federal Character

Make the principle real, not rhetorical. Every region should see itself in government.

✅ Empower Planning Institutions

Bodies like the National Planning Commission should be insulated from politics and driven by merit and need.

✅ Publish Budgets and Allocations

Let every Nigerian see where national funds are going—and demand accountability.

✅ Embrace True Federalism

If states had more autonomy and revenue control, the center would no longer be a prize for ethnic conquest.

Final Word

A president who diverts state resources to his home state does more than just break a rule—he breaks faith with the nation. In a fragile federation like Nigeria, such actions are not merely controversial; they are dangerous.

Nigeria deserves leaders who think nationally, act equitably, and govern justly. Anything less deepens the cracks in our already fragile union.

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✍️ About the Author

Ahmed Magem is a peace advocate, researcher, and founder of the Springfield Center for Peace and Humanitarian Development. He writes on governance, history, and national cohesion in Nigeria.

NigerianPolitics #FederalCharacter #GoodGovernance #AhmedMagem #Tinubu #Buhari #Jonathan #Obasanjo #NigeriaUnity #Opinion

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