In a post that has quickly gained traction online, public commentator and social critic Mary Maha Idowu has called on Nigerians to shift their political focus from the presidency to the real culprits of poor governance—state governors and local government chairmen.
The passionate statement, originally posted on her verified Facebook page, questions the overwhelming public outrage often directed at President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, while state and local government leaders evade scrutiny and responsibility.
“At the expense of sounding like a Tinubu supporter today, I think it’s time we tell ourselves the truth,” she began. “Is Tinubu really our problem, or we’re being programmed by the media?”
Maha Idowu’s message was clear: while many Nigerians place blame squarely at the feet of the presidency for economic hardship and underdevelopment, they are ignoring the deeper, more widespread rot at the sub-national level.
“From my last post, it’s obvious the states and local governments have more than enough to give us 100% good governance,” she noted. “So why have I not seen any outrage against the governors and local government chairmen like I see for Tinubu?”
State Resources, Little Impact
Her post referenced the disparity in performance across Nigerian states, noting that while some governors like Alex Otti of Abia State are paying health workers as much as ₦500,000 monthly, others are unable—or unwilling—to meet basic obligations, such as salary payments and local infrastructure.
“If Abia has shown it’s possible to better the lives of workers, why are people angry with Tinubu while ignoring their governors?” she asked.
She further reminded Nigerians of past political missteps, such as how former President Goodluck Jonathan was undermined by the same group of governors who later rebranded themselves as national “heroes.” This, she argues, is a recurring pattern that stems from a failure to demand local accountability.
“We’re Trapped in a Cycle”
Mary Maha Idowu warned of the dangers of ignoring local failings, especially as the nation gears up for future elections. She raised critical questions about what real change could look like under a new president—such as Peter Obi, whom she openly admires—if the same local leaders remain in place.
“If PO [Peter Obi] comes into power and our governors remain the same, what real change will occur? He may save resources and stop national extravagance, but those resources will still pass through these same governors you’re not holding accountable.”
She cautioned that unless the current political culture changes, Nigerians risk being manipulated into yet another cycle of misplaced blame and shallow change.
“They [governors] will convince us that El-Rufai is the best option… or even Sheikh Gumi. And with the way we’re going, we will fall for it again.”
The President Granted Autonomy — The Ball is Now in the States’ Court
Maha Idowu also reminded readers that President Tinubu granted full autonomy to local governments, effectively removing federal control from grassroots governance. She stressed that this bold move now places complete responsibility on governors and LG chairmen to perform—or face the wrath of the people.
“Maybe our focus in this election should be to kick out underperforming governors and LG chairmen. Then our battle will be result-oriented and from there we can move to the presidency.”
A Wake-Up Call for the Electorate
Her post has been widely interpreted as a wake-up call for Nigerians to become more strategic in their civic activism, rather than merely being reactive to national headlines. Political analysts have praised her for articulating what many have long known but have failed to act on: Nigeria’s development begins at the grassroots.
“I’m not saying Tinubu is the best we have, I’m not endorsing him… but I’m saying: Tinubu is not our problem at the moment!” she emphasized.
#MahaMary Movement?
As of this publication, Mary Maha Idowu’s post is still trending with the hashtag #MahaMary, sparking conversations on Twitter (X), Instagram, and TikTok. Many users are now calling for a new civic campaign to track and rate the performance of state governors and local government chairmen across the country.
In a democracy, accountability must be holistic, not selective. As Maha Idowu rightly points out, a new Nigeria won’t emerge by blaming the top alone while excusing dysfunction at the base.
Do you have thoughts on this development? Join the conversation on social media using #HoldYourGovernorAccountable and #GrassrootsFirst.
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