Mimiko urges Nigerians to demand accountability from governors

AKURE — Former Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) governorship candidate in Ondo State, Dr Abass Mimiko, has urged Nigerians to demand accountability from state governors over increased allocations accruing to states following the removal of petrol subsidy.

Mimiko, younger brother of former Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko, made the call while speaking with journalists in Ondo town at the weekend.

He said the increased revenues available to states should translate into visible improvements in infrastructure and public services, including roads, healthcare, education and agriculture.

Mimiko argued that citizens should not blame the Federal Government for every socio-economic challenge, but should also demand explanations from state governments on how public funds are being utilised.

“It is not the President’s duty to come to a state and direct a governor to fix roads, fund primary healthcare or make education affordable,” he said.

He added that Nigeria’s federal structure places substantial responsibilities and resources in the hands of sub-national governments, including local councils.

“People must ask their governors: what are you doing with this huge allocation?” he said.

Mimiko also urged governors and council chairmen to prioritise food production, arguing that increased agricultural output would help address hunger and other socio-economic pressures.

He lamented the influence of vote-buying on elections, saying the practice could weaken citizens’ ability to demand accountability from elected leaders.

Mimiko, however, called on President Bola Tinubu to ensure that funds released to states were properly utilised.

On the 2027 presidential election, the former ZLP candidate announced plans to establish a support group for Tinubu’s re-election.

He said the group, known as the One Love Coalition for Tinubu, would comprise ZLP members, student leaders and other supporters of the President who are not members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Tinubu does not belong to APC alone but to all Nigerians,” Mimiko said.

He said the coalition would be inaugurated across the local government areas and senatorial districts in Ondo State, with a target of mobilising more than one million votes for Tinubu in 2027.

Mimiko said he would serve as Director-General of the coalition and mobilise ethnic groups, religious leaders, students and market women for door-to-door campaigns.

He said Tinubu deserved a second term, citing the continuation of the administration’s reforms and programmes, including the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), as reasons for his position.

Mimiko also urged citizens to scrutinise how increased public revenues were being spent and to demand measurable results from elected officials at all levels of government.