By Lady Blessing Uwaoma Nwokonneya

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has once again spoken truth to power in a manner that resonates with courage, clarity, and conviction. In a political landscape where praise is often reserved for the familiar and truth sometimes takes the back seat, the recent remarks by Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu to information managers in Abia State to give credit to President Bola Tinubu serve as a bold reminder that transparency, accountability, and fairness must remain pillars of governance.

Hon. Kalu’s postulation can be dissected from two critical and interconnected perspectives:

1. The Impact of Fuel Subsidy Removal:
   The removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his very first day in office was a policy decision marked by uncommon political courage. Though controversial and painful at first glance, the policy has resulted in a significant financial windfall across all tiers of government: federal, state, and local.

Take Abia State for example. Prior to the subsidy removal on 29th May, 2023, Abia was receiving an average monthly allocation of approximately ₦6 billion. Today, this figure has surged to ₦38 billion, marking a staggering increase of over 600%. This scenario plays out in all other states and FCT. This financial liberation has enabled states to embark on numerous infrastructural developments, pay workers regularly, and offset backlog of salaries that would have previously been financially unfeasible.

It is important to recognize that these resources were made available through President Bola Tinubu’s policy changes, policies that demanded strong leadership and tough decisions at the top. To ignore this context while celebrating state-level achievements would be both intellectually dishonest and politically unfair.

2. Federal Projects, State Execution, and the Need for Attribution:
   A second critical point raised by the Deputy Speaker is the execution of federal projects by state governments. In Abia, for instance, key federal roads such as the Port Harcourt Road in Aba, Umuekea to Owerrinta Highway, and the Ikot Ekpene to Umuahia Highway are being reconstructed by the state government. However, these projects are federally-funded, under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the federal government that ensures refunds for execution.

While it is commendable that the Government of Abia State is taking proactive steps to implement these projects, it is equally imperative that due credit is given to the federal government for providing the funding. As the old adage goes, “You cannot enjoy the fruits of a gift and deny the benefactor his due gratitude.”

Most citizens may not realize President Tinubu’s role in the developments executed by their states, and may wrongly ascribe all credit to the state governors only. This misperception must be corrected, not just in Abia, but across all states, through honest communication and sincere acknowledgment.

I commend Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu for his fearless and factual submission. His remarks are not an indictment of any particular state, but a clarion call for greater honesty in governance and more transparency in communication. As leaders and citizens, we must learn to give credit where it is due, regardless of political or regional affiliations.

While we recognize the ongoing developmental strides in Abia State, we must also acknowledge President Tinubu’s courageous economic reforms that are making them to happen. By taking the bull by the horns to remove the fuel subsidy, he made more funds available to states. Without him, many states would be in financial distress. Fairness demands that honour is given to whom it is due.

Hon. Lady Blessing Uwaoma Nwokonneya, a public policy analyst, and an inclusive-governance advocate, was the APC’s 2019 House of Representatives candidate for Isiala Ngwa North/South Federal Constituency, and 2023 House of Assembly candidate for Isiala Ngwa South State Constituency