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Popular human rights lawyer Femi Falana has decried the state of politics in Nigeria, saying it is in the hands of criminals and touts.
Falana, who spoke, while making his submission as a member of the panel at the 2025 National Conference of Egbe Amofin Oodua held in Abeokuta with the theme ‘Regional Justice, Security and Sustainable Development’, added that those at the helm of affairs care little about investing in the country’s economic prosperity and the well-being of its citizens.
He also lamented what he called bad governance and sheer infrastructural decay in the Southwest, emphasising that governors in the region have not done enough in the fight against poverty.
“During the days of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, politics was in the hands of the intellectuals, but today, politics is in the hands of criminals and touts who are less concerned about investing in the economic prosperity of the country and the well-being of the citizens,” Falana stated.
Speaking further, he criticised Governor Seyi Makinde for his decision to spend N63 billion on the rehabilitation of the Government House.
Falana called the decision reckless spending of public funds that should have been put to better use to uplift infrastructural development in the state.
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“We are always quick to shout about the misappropriation and reckless spending of public funds in Abuja, but in Lagos after spending N45bn to procure Jeeps (utility vehicles) in the first four years, the state House of Assembly is planning to spend another N20bn on purchase of another set of jeeps, yet the people are wallowing in poverty.
“Ikorodu has been submerged in the last three days, if it were to be abroad, they will be using helicopter to drop food for the victims, but what is being done for the people? Nothing.
“Similarly, the governor of Oyo State, who comes to work from his house, now wants to rehabilitate government house with N63bn, the amount that is enough to provide good roads and electricity for the state.
“Our education is in bad shape; there is no South-West state today that is up to date in accessing the UBEC fund. There are 18.3 million out of school children, including children from the South-West.
“Today, the roads in the Southwest are terrible. Infrastructurally, we are not there. Unfortunately, when they now want to flag off road that they will not even complete, you will see them making so much noise, doing ceremony; there is need for a rethink,” he added.
