The Chief Imam of Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. Amidu Sanni, has urged the media and civil society organisations to extend their scrutiny beyond the presidency to include the judiciary and legislature.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos, Sanni shared his thoughts on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s two years in office. He cautioned that excessive focus on the executive arm while neglecting others hinders efforts to correct systemic flaws in governance.
Sanni called for a more holistic and balanced approach to holding all branches of government accountable for national development.
“I want to suggest very strongly that the media and CSOs beam their searchlights on the legislature, judiciary, and the subnational governments.
“This will expose the ongoing maladministration in those sectors, which continues to fuel infractions in the polity,” he said.
He criticised the imbalance in public accountability, noting that while the President often received the brunt of public criticism, ministers, state governments, and local councils had operated with relative impunity.
“The overconcentration on the President, and even less so on his appointees in MDAs, is unhelpful.
“Little or no attention is paid to states and local governments, many of which have received significant resources over the past two years. This is unacceptable,” he added.
In the absence of a credible opposition and a vibrant legislature, Sanni stressed that the media and civil society must play a more assertive role in regulating government and monitoring public service delivery.
“I think we have focused too much on the president without holding dormant ministers, rubber-stamp lawmakers, and a judiciary that hasn’t convinced Nigerians it’s not for sale accountable,” he added.
He called for a holistic review of all arms and levels of government if the current administration’s two-year performance was to be fairly and effectively assessed
