President Bola Tinubu has accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo of obstructing grassroots development by opposing the creation of Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in Lagos State during his administration.
Speaking during his first Presidential Media Chat in Lagos on Monday night, Tinubu reflected on his tenure as governor of Lagos in the early 2000s. He highlighted the challenges he encountered while creating 37 LCDAs to improve local governance but faced strong resistance from the Obasanjo-led federal government.
“Some of you will remember my argument with Obasanjo about grassroots development when I created 37 local council development areas for Lagos State,” Tinubu said. He defended the initiative, describing its positive impact on the state. “Go there now, you will see development and closer engagement with the people. Grassroots is where people live, not Abuja,” he added.
The president reiterated his commitment to advancing Nigeria despite ongoing challenges. “I am drawing water from a dry well, but Nigeria is moving forward,” he remarked.
The creation of LCDAs during Tinubu’s governorship was a response to Lagos State’s growing population and the need for more efficient governance. However, it triggered a significant constitutional clash with the federal government, which questioned the legality of creating administrative units beyond the constitutionally recognized 774 local government areas.
In response, the Obasanjo-led federal government withheld funds allocated to Lagos local governments, creating financial difficulties for grassroots development. The dispute escalated to the Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of Lagos State and ordered the release of the withheld funds.
Despite the ruling, the federal government delayed the disbursement, further straining local government operations in Lagos at the time. The controversy remains a defining moment in the debate over Nigeria’s federalism.
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