People who had nothing ‘yesterday’ now wealthier than their states after becoming governor – Edwin Clark

• The Niger Delta leader lambasted governors in the country over their handling of their states’ funds and resources
• He said the Governors spend their security votes as they will and no one knows how much it amounts to.

Former federal Commissioner for Information, Chief Edwin Clark, has bemoaned the frightening level of corruption in Nigeria and how it’s hampering development and governance in the country.

The Niger Delta leader lambasted governors in the country over their handling of their states’ funds and resources, noting that many of them are now living large on their states’ funds.

Clark who noted this in Brutally Frank, his recently launched autobiography, said that corruption is the great tragedy of Nigeria.

Recall that the book, which has twenty-five chapters, was unveiled at the International Conference Centre, ICC, Abuja last Thursday  captures the journey of Clark as a classroom teacher, a Commissioner, a Minister, a Senator and a National activist spanning over seven decades.

In Chapter 23, titled Kleptocracy in our society from Pages 539 to 542, Clark who took a swipe at the Governors, said that they were nowhere yesterday and have now become so rich and powerful overnight because they were elected as Governors, just as he accused them that some of the State executives have become so wealthy that they are wealthier than their states.

“Once again, I want to re-emphasise that corruption has eaten deep into the fabric four society and unless corruption is reduced, it will destroy Nigeria. As said earlier, Nigerian Governors have enormous powers. But what have they done with these powers? Nothing, except to enrich themselves.

“It is a pity that Governors who were nowhere yesterday, become so rich and powerful overnight because they were elected Governors. Their powers as Governors and the money they have access to allow them to do anything, except that which God has not permitted them to do. In fact, some Governors have become so wealthy that they are wealthier than their states. Contracts are awarded at inflated prices and the governor has to take 80% of the project for himself and only 20% goes to the state which he serves. This is illicit and criminal. Governors are now demi-gods because they own almost everything imaginable.

“Governors spend their security vote as they will and no one knows how much the security vote amount to. The elected members of the House of Assembly are their nominees and dare not challenge them. I think an inspection should be done to limit the amount of security vote governors and every other person in government are entitled to.

“A situation where governors are driven in a convoy of cars, all the food they eat in the Government House is free, and everything they do in the Government House is at the expense of the masses who live in deplorable conditions. The communities in their territories do not have access to basic amenities, yet these governors, in spite of the recession that is in this country, are comfortable in the Government Houses they occupy.

“They have not shown their remorse. It is not enough to say “I will earn only half of my salary”; there must be a re-organisation and a restructuring of these Government Houses to reflect the economic situation in the country.