Liabilities Packaged As Legacy, Cobra Effect of Tail-end Projects In Ogun State

By Oyekoya Akintunde

In governance, timing, purpose, and vision are as important as intent. Policies and projects introduced at the wrong time do not solve problems , they multiply them. They produce what is known as the “Cobra Effect” an intervention that leaves more damages than the problems it sets out to fix.

This concern has dominated public discourse in Ogun State following the outgoing Governor’s announcement, at the twilight of his administration, to embark on 450 units of two-bedroom semi-detached bungalows, 28 new official quarters for members of the Ogun State House of Assembly, 28 sellable duplexes, and roads across Ogun State.

I find it laughable, not laudable, that these projects are to be completed in less than 7 months to the expiration of Gov Abioduns tenure , Like a magician, they have appeared. But it is not rocket science. This pronouncement is premature, unrealistic, and clearly designed to mortgage the future of Ogun State.

No serious government embarks on this scale of capital expenditure when its tenure is winding down. What this will produce are abandoned sites, inflated contract sums, and debts that the next government will be forced to pay for projects they had no input in.

While I do not dispute the need for infrastructure, the timing of these projects guarantees two things, poor-quality work and unfinished projects

Capital projects of this magnitude cannot be properly planned, funded, and supervised in the last months of a tenure. What we are likely to inherit are abandoned sites, inflated contracts, and huge debts for the incoming government , liabilities packaged as legacy

The outgoing Governor’s approval of these projects therefore raises serious concerns. While the projects address genuine needs of the people, their approval at the tail end of this administration deserves critical scrutiny and public debate.

History has shown that outgoing governments often burden incoming administrations with unfinished projects, empty treasuries, and mounting debts. This practice cripples the activities of a successor government, undermines democratic continuity, and arbitrarily weakens public institutions.

As Machiavelli warned, “To leave a successor with unfinished works is not to secure your legacy, but to secure your successor’s failure.” This speaks directly to the situation in Ogun State.

It is a common knowledge that when a government embarks on multiple capital-intensive projects at the twilight of its reign, it is creating huge liabilities. Such projects are not only likely to be substandard, but also inflated. This is not a legacy. It is a compilation of a disastrous future that will not only cripple the incoming government, but also serve as a political weapon against it.

The window for executing the projects mentioned is too short. They will suffer from poor mobilization, rushed execution, weak supervision, and quality cannot be guaranteed. The present government is not known for quality roads. It will do the state no good to embark on more at the end of its tenure. What should have been assets will become liabilities.

The argument that a responsible government must work until the last day is valid. However, government must also show genuine purpose. It must seek the imprimatur of not just the Ogun State House of Assembly but the people and consider the timeframe of its projects. The key question is, can these projects be completed and guaranteed within a realistic timeline? Rushing to start them now only creates an incompatible future for the incoming administration.

Ogun State, being the industrial hub of the nation, needs infrastructure. But it needs quality, not quantity. The state needs good roads and decent housing. All of these must be delivered under realistic conditions, not as a show of financial arrogance.

The intent behind Governor Dapo Abiodun’s last-minute approval of these capital projects is therefore dangerous for the sustainable development of Ogun State. It risks leaving behind liabilities instead of legacies, and debt instead of development.

This late-hour project spree is a conduit pipe for the outgoing government to empty the state’s treasury. It is absolutely irresponsible to embark on multiple projects as the curtains to its stay in office are drawn, knowing fully well it will create an unending crippling effect for the incoming government.

I therefore demand that the Ogun State Government to immediately halt the commencement of all new capital projects announced at this late stage, Prioritize the completion of all ongoing projects across the state , Submit a comprehensive handover note with full financial implications to the incoming administration and seek proper legislative approval and public input before committing the state to new long-term liabilities.

The present administration should learn from the past. True development builds institutions, not burdens. A government that is serious about legacy will prioritize completion over announcements.

Governance should be about building institutions that outlive a tenure, not projects that expire with it.