Maku and His Band of Local Tourists

Mr. Labaran Maku, minister of Information’s good governance tour of states to inspect federal and state projects is wasteful; lacking in credibility; and morality.

The argument that the National Good Governance Tour inaugurated on September 20, 2012 is to showcase the achievements of the federal and state governments is baseless because the government at the centre and some state governments are on recess.

The federal government and some state government are busy doing nothing  but lining their pockets.

Thankfully to Adams Oshiomhole, governor, Edo State, the real objective of the tour has been revealed: Money!

Oshiomhole claimed that he rejected a multi-million naira proposal by Maku asking him to bankroll the accommodation, feeding and logistics for over 120 delegates for the so-called “Good Governance Tour”

This clearly portrays Maku and his teams as bunch of local tourists’ eager to waste federal and some wiling state governments’ money on useless trips round Nigeria.

On side it looks like a personal adventure of Maku.

Overall, it is an indictment on the federal executive council and indeed the presidency because Maku wouldn’t have embarked on this simple-minded tour without the consent of President Goodluck Jonathan.

More laughable is that Maku, part of the federal government whose activities have not impressed Nigerians is leading an ill-equipped team to access profligacy of his government and wastefulness of some state governments.

Instead of concentrating on more urgent state matters like making Nigeria’s official website functional, the minister of Information and his co-travelers are wondering around Nigeria celebrating fictional feats.  

Maku’s jamboree is also lacking in originality, making mockery of the government which unfortunately his office is the face.

His good governance tour is a rehash of what Professor Jerry Gana called Media Tour when he was Information minister under past President Olusegun  Obasanjo.

Gana had a compelling story to tell everywhere his team went and most states’ governors seized the opportunity to showcase their achievements because the government at the centre then breathed performance in them.

Maku on the other hand, clearly misunderstands his job description and this is a clear example of a government that lacks focus.

The federal government should stop this tour now and save what is left of its face.

It should also ask Maku to account for all monies requested from states his team has visited.