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LG Autonomy Key To Curbing Rural-Urban Drift In Nigeria – University Don
A university don, Professor Edward Adiele has said granting autonomy to local government councils is key to solving rural-urban drift in Nigeria. He also stated that local government autonomy, if well harnessed can lead to economic development in the country.
The Professor of Educational Planning at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, attributed most of the political crisis in the various states across Nigeria to struggle for local government control.
Adiele spoke yesterday while delivering a keynote address titled: “Local Government Autonomy: The Bedrock for Rural Communities Development,” at the grand finale of the first edition of Chief Tony Okocha Academic Excellence Challenge Quiz and Essay Writing contest in Port Harcourt.
He described the topic as apt, noting that it is coming at the heels of heightened agitation and calls for full autonomy of local governments in Nigeria.
The university don defined local government as a political entity and authority which is purposely created by law or constitution for local communities by which they manage their local public affairs within the law and constitution.
While dedcribing autonomy as the ability to make your own decision about what to do, rather than being influenced by someone else, the right to self government and independence, he posited that the conceptual interpretation of local government autonomy is perceived as local self government or grassroots democracy aimed at giving the people at the grassroots the fullest opportunity in determining their own destiny.
He said: “Each tier of government must exist not as an appendage of another, but as being able to exercise its own will in thr conduct of its own affairs, free from the directive of another level of government.
“Local government autonomy will only be meaningful in a situation where each level of government is not constitutionally bound to accept dictates or directives from the other level of government.”
He also described local governments as a veritable agent of development and grassroots participation in the democratic process.
“The local governments are therefore the closest to the people and therefore in a better position to appreciate the real problems of the people and serve as the most democratic agent for mobilizing the people for positive socio-economic and grassroots development.
“Growth point must emerge from the local government areas in Nigeria and provide the much-needed push to agitate and energies productive activities in rural communities to reverse the phenomenon of rural-urban drift.
“It is because the flashpoint for growth is moved to the state or federal that is why rural dwellers migrate to the state and when rural dwellers migrate to the state, leaving their local environment, they constitute nuisance. Of course that is the cause of the social vices we are having at the state level.”
According to him, some of the ways local governments can use to achieve rural community development to drive national economic development include; agriculture, infrastructure, healthcare, sensitisation and mobilisation, educational services in communities, training ground for political participation.
“Local governments in Nigeria must be granted full autonomy by making them have legal powers to achieve specific goals, most importantly, they must enjoy substantial autonomy in financial matters without excessive but complementary control by higher authority. This is so because fiscal autonomy in local government administration is generally believed to be the best tool efficient service delivery in rural communities development,” he added.
Meanwhile, Blessed Child Academy scored 270 points to emerged overall winners of the quiz competition, going home with cash award of N200,000.00. Praise EL school emerged second position with 255 points, going home with N150,000.00 while Domino Pizza Memorial School came third with 253 points, going home with N100,000.00.
Also, Praise Ogbowoma Okiri emerged winner of the Essay Writing Category, scoring 98%, going home with N200,000 and a laptop. The first runner up, Nwosu Testimony Chukwurah scored 95% going home with N100,000 and a phone, while the second runner up,Nwanfor Desmond Chukwuka, who scored 90% went home with N100,000.00 cash awards.
In his speech, Chief Tony Okocha thanked the participating schools and the organizers for making the event a success. He stressed confidence in the transparency of the panel of judges that brought about the winners.
He also promised to make the competition an annual event and thanked the facilitator, Comrade End well Otonnah, whom he said is the brain behind the competition.
Okocha, who is the acting Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, however, criticized the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) for fixing a timetable for local government elections in the state without inviting both the APC and the PDP to the meeting.
In an interview with Leadership the winner of the essay writing and a student of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Praise Ogbawoma Okiri said he didn’t expect to win as this is his first ever essay competition.
“This is actually a boost for me because I have never ever contested for something like this before. I want to tell my mother I made her proud, I want to tell my father I made him proud. At least this will spur me to greater exploits,” he stated.
Kaduna state Governor Uba Sani declared that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will continue to dominate the state, saying it would soon become a one-party state.
The Governor disclosed that about four members of the House of Representatives from the opposition parties had decamped to the APC, adding that members of the Kaduna State House of Assembly from different zones had also decamped to the party.
Governor Uba Sani, who spoke at Zaria on Monday, argued that the defection of opposition members to the APC “is a good sign, and that shows that we are doing something positive; we are carrying everyone along in Kaduna state.”
House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas distributed 117 vehicles, comprising 20 Hilux, 2 ambulances, 20 18-seater buses, 50 Sharon vehicles, and 25 sedan/saloon cars (Golf, Corolla & Peugeot 406). At the same time, 200 tricycles, popularly known as Keke NAPEP, and 1,000 motorcycles were given to various beneficiaries.
At the event, Governor Sani praised Speaker Abbas, saying that Kaduna State and the entire country are proud of his stewardship. He added that the laudable projects he was interested in in the state had his blessings.
In his address, Speaker Abbas thanked his constituents for their continued support and noted that he would do his best to attract people-oriented projects to them.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) says the money received from Rivers state government for the 2025 annual general conference (AGC) was a “gift”.
A statement issued on Monday by Emeka Obegolu, chairman of the AGC planning committee, said the legal body did not sell the hosting rights for the conference.
Earlier, the Rivers government, under the leadership of Ibok-Ete Ibas, the sole administrator, asked the NBA to refund the N300 million allegedly paid for the “hosting rights” of the conference by the state.
The government said if the NBA was truly anchored on principles, it should demonstrate it by returning the money.
The decision of the state government came after the NBA moved the AGC from Port Harcourt in Rivers state to Enugu.
The association premised its decision on “constitutional violations” in Rivers following the declaration of emergency rule in the state by President Bola Tinubu in March.
Responding to the comment of the Rivers government, the NBA said there was no bidding process or payment before the announcement of Rivers as the host of the conference.
The NBA explained that due to the huge cost of organising the conference, the legal body approaches individuals and state governments for “unconditional” support.
“We wish to clarify that the decision to host the 2025 AGC in Port Harcourt was taken in August 2024 and was not subject of any bidding process or payment of any hosting rights,” the statement reads.
“The host city has no hosting right and there is no representation by the NBA that the Conference must be held in a chosen city.
“Traditionally, because of the enormous cost involved in hosting the AGC, NBA Conference Planning Committee approaches organizations, agencies of government and state governments for support and the support requested for is unconditional and not tied to hosting rights or any rights whatsoever.
“Recent NBA conferences have been supported by different state governments, corporate organizations, ministries, departments and agencies whose budgets accommodate corporate social responsibilities and share the same vision with NBA.
“Such financial supports are in the form of gifts, partnerships or sponsorships. The money from Rivers State was a gift and was not tied to any purported hosting right for the NBA AGC.”
An Upper Area Court in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Monday, granted controversial street-pop singer, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, bail in the sum of ₦1 million following his arraignment on multiple charges, including criminal defamation, cyberstalking, and inciting public disturbance.
The bail is conditional upon the provision of two sureties in like sum.
According to the court, one surety must be either the Chairman or Secretary of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), while the other must own property within a Government Reserved Area (GRA) in Ilorin, supported by a valid Certificate of Occupancy.
As of press time, the 31-year-old singer remains in custody at the Oke Kura Correctional Centre in Ilorin, having failed to meet the stringent bail requirements.
The charges stem from a petition filed by veteran Fuji artiste, Okunola Saheed, known as Saheed Osupa, who alleged that Portable defamed him during a live Instagram broadcast on 19 March 2025.
Defamation, arrest
In the controversial video, the ‘Zazoo Zeh’ crooner stated, “This man dey try bring down my shine! He be like person wey dey chop snail with shell—him no get sense. Osupa carry tortoise for stomach. When Apple Music and Spotify want to drop money for me, na him remove my song from the platform, make I no see money.”
According to Osupa, Portable’s remarks were defamatory and damaging to his reputation and were intended to incite public hatred and disturb peace. The police, acting on the petition dated March 21, 2025, launched an investigation through the State Intelligence Department.
Elanza news reported that Police spokesperson SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi confirmed in a statement that Portable was arrested on Saturday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, at about 7:25 p.m. He was subsequently transferred to Ilorin for further investigation.
“In view of the weight of these allegations and the supporting evidence presented, the command secured a valid arrest warrant from a Magistrate Court sitting in Ilorin,” said Ejire-Adeyemi.
“Upon his arrival, the suspect’s statement was taken in the presence of legal representatives from both parties.”
The case is documented under First Information Report (FIR) 117(1) CPC. Charges filed against Portable include criminal defamation under Section 392 of the Penal Code, criminal intimidation (Section 397), and inciting disturbance (Section 114). Provisions of Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2020, were also cited.
ASP Adeniyi James, the investigating police officer, confirmed that the charges were filed based on directives from police authorities.
The presiding magistrate, Sunday Adeniyi, adjourned the matter to 30 April and advised all parties to maintain decorum as the case proceeds.
This is not Portable’s first legal encounter this year. Barely a month ago, he was granted bail in Ogun State after being arraigned on charges of assaulting government officials and obstructing their duties.
Saheed Osupa’s Copyright Claims
Beyond the defamation allegations, the dispute between Portable and Osupa also touches on copyright issues. The rift escalated after the 55-year-old reported one of Portable’s tracks, Fuji Shakushaku, for copyright infringement.
The song, released in 2023, was subsequently taken down from Apple Music and other streaming platforms.
In response, Portable criticised the Fuji veteran in a series of videos, referring to him as “big for nothing.”
The controversial singer later apologised publicly, attributing his outburst to frustration over the song’s removal and resulting financial losses.
Osupa’s management, represented by Digital Music Commerce and Exchange Ltd. (DMCE), issued a statement on 27 March via Fountain Osupa’s official Instagram page.
“We cannot stand idly by while King Saheed Osupa is being disrespected,” the statement read. “DMCE uncovered several artistes’ unauthorised use of King Osupa’s music. While most were resolved amicably, one individual engaged in cyberbullying, attacks, and reputational damage.”
The management reiterated that Osupa is signed to Sony Music Publishing Nigeria and that DMCE is authorised to act on his behalf to protect his intellectual property.
Portable has been involved in several police and court cases in recent years. In 2023, he was charged with assault and theft in Ogun State after allegedly attacking a man. In 2024, he was arrested in Lagos for allegedly failing to pay the full amount for a car he bought, leading to a debt dispute with a car dealer. He was released after meeting bail conditions.
In February 2025, Portable and his team were accused of attacking government officials who came to enforce regulations at his bar in Ogun State. He was charged with assault, obstruction, and having dangerous weapons. After turning himself in, he was granted bail. These cases have added to his reputation for being involved in controversies.