Incoming governors complain that their predecessors are not cooperating with them on an orderly handover

SEVERAL incoming governors have lamented about the fact that the transition process is not going smoothly in their states as the outgoing governors are not cooperating with their successors making the handover process laborious and difficult.

In May 29, there will be the usual handover in numerous states where new governors have been elected but the process appears to be facing hiccups in some places. For starters, panels set up by the incoming governors are asking questions on the financial conditions of the states, thus generating tension and in response, the outgoing governors are refusing to cooperate.

In Zamfara State for instance, Governor Bello Matawalle has been accused of not cooperating with the incoming administration of Dauda Dare ahead of the inauguration on May 29. Faruku Ahmed, the publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, said that since Governor Matawalle lost his re-election bid, he had abandoned the state and had been avoiding the governor-elect.

According to Mr Ahmed, Governor Matawalle left the state two months ago and was not cooperating with the incoming administration in terms of the transition programme. Incoming governor Dare recently constituted a committee under the leadership of a former inspector-general of police, Muhammed Abubakar, to ensure the smooth handing and taking over of government on May 29.

Mr Ahmed said: “The incoming administration of Dauda Lawan Dare has been trying to get some relevant information from the outgoing administration but Governor Bello Mattawalle is not willing to cooperate with the committees appointed by the incoming governor to find out the true picture of things. Based on this, the incoming governor appointed sub-committees to go round the ministries, departments and other agencies in order to get relevant information because Governor Matawalle is not willing to prepare handing over notes.”

However, Yusuf Idris, the publicity secretary of the Zamfara State All Progressive Congress, faulted the allegation that Governor Mattawalle had abandoned the state, describing the claim as untrue. He explained that the governor had only travelled outside the state for important functions, adding that it was not possible for Mr Ahmed to know whether the governor was in the state or not.

In Benue State too, there seems to be no love lost between the governor-elect Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia and the outgoing Governor Samuel Ortom. Daniel Ihomun, the APC publicity secretary in the state, said the transition committee was not enjoying the cooperation of the state government’s committee headed by the secretary to the state government, Professor Tony Ijohor.

Mr Ihomun said: “The outgoing administration has been recruiting more people at a time it cannot pay those who have been in the service for over 10 months. It cannot pay pensioners, yet it is recruiting more people to add to the burdens of the incoming government. This is a government that did not recruit for over seven years,  so, the question is, why now?"

In Kano State, the outgoing government of Governor Umar Ganduje was also accused of not collaborating with the New Nigeria Peoples Party transition committee under the chairmanship of Dr Bappa Bichi. The committee recently addressed a press conference where it alleged that Governor Abdullahi Ganduje was undermining the transition programme by not providing the necessary cooperation.

Likewise, the same situation is being experienced in Abia State where the transition committee set up by the governor-elect, Alex Otti is reportedly having issues with outgoing Governor Okezie Ikpeazu. Otti’s representative in the Abia State Government Handover Committee, Reverend Father Christian Anokwuru disclosed that there was a snag in the committee’s work due to the delay in providing handover documents.

In Plateau State, the situation appears to be slightly different as the committee said the transition programme was on course. However, the chairman of the publicity sub-committee, Yiljap Abraham, complained that no funds had been released by the outgoing administration to facilitate the inauguration.