Northern governors  US trip exposed their ignorance – Lamido

Former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, has strongly criticized the recent trip of Northern governors to the United States, asserting that it exposed their ignorance of Nigeria’s constitution and priorities. In a statement posted on his official Facebook page, Lamido questioned the rationale behind the governors’ journey to discuss security matters, which fall under the exclusive legislative list of the constitution.

Lamido argued that while insecurity remains a pressing issue in the Northern region, the governors’ decision to engage in discussions about it during their US trip was misplaced. He emphasized the need for the governors to focus on addressing fundamental issues within their states, such as the lack of basic amenities like clean drinking water and the proliferation of refuse dumps in urban areas.

The former governor criticized the perceived extravagance of the trip, highlighting the significant expenses involved in terms of flight tickets, accommodation, and the time spent away from their states. He suggested that if the governors were genuinely interested in learning about security, they could have sought expertise from local institutions like the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies or the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria.

Furthermore, Lamido placed blame on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Intelligence Agency for failing to provide proper guidance to the governors, thus contributing to what he described as a wasteful endeavor. He expressed concern that the trip had negatively impacted Nigeria’s image on the international stage, portraying the country as misdirected and inefficient in addressing its internal challenges.

Lamido urged the governors to prioritize the needs of their constituents and seek solutions to pressing issues at home before embarking on costly overseas trips that yield little tangible benefit. He called for greater accountability and responsibility among Nigeria’s political leadership to address the root causes of insecurity and underdevelopment in the Northern region and beyond.