‘Better to have 774 thieves than a big one’ — Oshiomhole backs LG autonomy

Adams Oshiomhole, senator representing Edo north, says it is more beneficial for Nigeria to have 774 LG chairmen who are “thieves” than one governor or president siphoning the money.

Oshiomole spoke on Monday at a forum on LG autonomy organised by the house of representatives committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution.

The senator said he is “completely for local government autonomy” and believes “that whoever has power must account for it at whatever level”.

In his argument against the notion that LG autonomy might lead to financial misappropriation at the grassroots level, Oshiomole said it is “better to have 774 thieves, with each local government producing one or two billionaires, than to have one big one taking everything”.

“The issue we have to address is about character. Whether money allocated to local government chairmen is stolen or shared with other non-state actors and abused regulations, what will change?” the senator asked.

“The bottom line of this conversation is that if we transfer money directly to the local government, will that mean more development at the local government level? That, for me, is a matter of character.

“If we want to reduce local government stealing money, I have argued that it’s better to have 774 thieves, with each local government producing one or two billionaires, than to have one big one taking everything.

“I am completely for local government autonomy. I also believe that whoever has power must account for it at whatever level.

“I hope that God will give the national assembly the wisdom to review the legal framework such that it is easier to punish a local government chairman than the governor who is in office, and you have to wait for eight years (to punish him).”