Controversial Nigerian commentator VeryDarkMan has ignited widespread debate after publicly commenting on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s policy of direct funding to local government chairmen, a move that has become a central point of discussion in national governance conversations. In a viral statement shared online, VeryDarkMan claimed that the only significant action Tinubu’s administration has taken is ensuring local government chairmen receive funds directly, citing the practice as a response to governors allegedly siphoning off allocations. His remark, delivered in Pidgin English, read: “The only thing wey Tinubu don do for him regime na say make local government chairmen dey receive their money direct, because governors dey chop am.” The comment quickly spread across social media platforms, prompting a wave of reactions from Nigerians across different political and social spectrums.
The policy in question, which redirects federal allocations to local government chairmen without passing through state governments, was introduced as a measure to improve transparency and ensure grassroots development. However, VeryDarkMan’s framing of it as the sole achievement of the Tinubu administration sparked criticism and skepticism. Some Nigerians agreed with his assessment, pointing to long-standing issues of misappropriation by state governors. Others, however, dismissed his commentary as overly simplistic and politically motivated. Social media user @aashafe accused him of trying to “redeem himself,” while @harab_man challenged the public’s tendency to focus on national leaders rather than holding local officials accountable for community-level failures.
Reactions ranged from humorous to serious. @iAmJayPlatt questioned the use of funds, asking, “Wetin project hin papa don do with the 100m,” referencing the controversial 100 million naira allocations. @Oelynn2 urged VeryDarkMan to “come out plain and campaign for Tinubu,” suggesting his comments were too favorable to the administration. Meanwhile, @saintzykie questioned the sincerity of the policy, asking, “so make we vote for am as him don do this one??? Talk straight abeg.” Others, like @pandana001, highlighted that local government chairmen still remit portions of the funds to state governors, undermining the policy’s intended independence. @Ovenseri_ reminded the public of broader challenges such as fuel prices, insecurity, and electricity, asking if these were being ignored in favor of isolated policy praise.
The debate also touched on the political dynamics behind the policy, with @LeixunJoachin noting that local chairmen still face pressure from state governors, even with direct funding. @nation1404 linked the policy to another controversial initiative, the rice distribution program, dubbing Tinubu “Rice Kimono.” Despite the criticism, the policy remains a key component of the administration’s decentralization strategy. As Nigerians continue to assess its impact, the conversation underscores the deep public interest in accountability and effective governance. The debate over direct funding to local governments is likely to persist as a litmus test for the Tinubu administration’s commitment to reform.
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