Sacrifice your security votes for the people, Olajengbesi tells governors

Pelumi Olajengbesi, Abuja-based human rights lawyer, has asked governors to emulate Ademola Adeleke, their Osun counterpart, and sacrifice their monthly security votes for the development of their states.

Speaking on Monday when he received a courtesy call by some youths from Osun state in his office, in Abuja, Olajengbesi said Nigerians are suffering and governors must demonstrate empathy to the economic plight of their people.

Olajengbesi, managing partner of Law Corridor, an Abuja-based firm, said sacrifices must be made at this time in the journey of the nation when economic hardship occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy bites deeply.

The lawyer lamented that it is unfortunate that governors get at least N600 million or more each for security votes every month but rather than sacrifice it for the development of their states, some of them look away and even owe salaries of civil servants.

“Nigeria is at a very serious time in the history of our nation and leaders must make the necessary sacrifices required of them for nation-building and the survival of the people at this time,” Olajengbesi said.

“This sacrifice includes the one exemplified by Senator Ademola Nurudeen Adeleke of Osun State who from assumption of office last year has consistently allocated his security votes for payment of salaries of the people and other development. He has never touched a kobo. This is inspiring.

“Governors of the other 35 states must prioritise the people and borrow a leaf from Senator Adeleke by sacrificing their monthly security votes to the people. This can go a long way in clearing some backlogs of owed workers’ salaries, used for the construction of infrastructural projects and many other things that will directly benefit the people. Governance must be people-focused”

Last month, while speaking at the first interactive session with residents of the state, in Osogbo, Adeleke said that he uses his N600 million security votes to fund projects in the state rather than keeping it as personal benefit.