My recent encounters with some state governors gave me the impression that all hope is yet not lost in the Nigeria project. I came away with the impression that some of the governors actually have a good idea of what is expected of them but may have been hampered by some institutional inadequacies and/or structural or systemic defects. But all these challenges are still within the physical and mental capacity of Nigerians to handle.

The most recent of such encounters was at Okigwe in Imo State at the reception held in honour of the chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Maurice Iwu. The INEC and its operators may understandably not be in the good books of many owing to the perceived flaws inherent in the last general elections. But happenings in some states as the local government elections are being conducted have shown that our politicians and, to some extent, the electorate are not amenable to sound and orderly electoral processes. It has gone to show that the problem is not with the electoral body but with the politicians and their followers. An electoral body mirrors its society and oftentimes throws up a government deserved by the society.

The most recent encounter was with His Excellency, the governor of Niger State, Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu who gave the keynote address at the thanksgiving mass and reception in honour of Professor Iwu at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Okigwe. His speech was laced with tirades against the political class for lacking in leadership qualities and the followership for not demanding stewardship from their leaders.

He went further to give some insight into his style of governance and of particular interest to me was his idea of paying direct one million naira monthly subvention to each of the 274 wards in the state (I hope I got the number correctly) through ward-based development committees. This 'model' of governance elicited great excitement in me and kept me wondering if it is not the alternative to the gravely ineffective and wasteful tier of government known as the Local Government Councils. I got thinking of the much that could be done with one million naira monthly subvention with regard to basic service delivery in my Ward 10 (Ekpon) in Igueben Local Government Area of Edo State over a period of, let's say, four years.

The primary schools would be repaired, the broken chairs for both teachers and pupils would be replaced, the health centre which is the only source of medical care for the entire town would be stocked with drugs and other facilities improved. What about the maternity home where I was born over 40 years ago, the beddings could be changed and the open rooms renovated. The only secondary school in the town - Ekpon Grammar School - could be greatly improved and lastly, the link road in the town would also be regularly graded. Having listened attentively to what the chief servant of Niger State is doing in his state, I concluded that all hope is not lost and that gradually, some day, Nigeria and Nigerians will get it right in leadership.

The second rare encounter I have had recently also is with the governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, in a private residence in Abuja. I had gone to greet a family friend and we were engaged in discussing Nigeria and the need for patriotism when suddenly the governor of Bayelsa walked into the house all alone. First, I was shocked to see a Nigerian governor coming into the house of a non-governor without a retinue of aides and police escort. Though these aides and security operatives may be within the premises, it is usual in the Nigerian environment to have escorted him even to the host's private lounge. When the governor came into the house, he greeted everyone present and we were about ten or thereabout and he took the available seat in the lounge without expecting everyone to stand up for him to choose a seat before we all seat down as it is common with the political class. We discussed amongst ourselves freely and the governor discussed with us intelligently and he was frank and very unassuming.

After nearly an hour of free discord, I concluded that if we would have a governor that seemed still in touch with the realities of Nigeria, expresses his wish for the average Nigerian to be proud of being a Nigerian and the greater need for patriotism in every endeavour, then, all hope is not lost.

The last encounter I have been privileged to have with the ruling class was in Lagos State along Bank Anthony Way in Maryland. I left the Lekki axis one early morning to catch up a 7.00 am flight and my driver drove me through Bank Anthony Way in Maryland. Along the road, I saw the street lights fully working and the road beautifully landscaped and for a moment, I thought I was on the streets of Paris in France. Though I have not been opportuned to meet the Lagos State governor, His Excellency Raji Fashola but his works in Lagos State speak about his kind of person. From Ikoyi to Victoria Island, Outer Marina and most parts of Lagos mainland, we are seeing an enduring development. A development that will certainly outlive the tenure of his governorship as against what we are used to seeing in Lagos, where the leaders pour laterite or asphalt all over the road in the name of road construction and in the next rainy season, we are usually back to the same situation of no road. The later were merely playing to the gallery and deceiving themselves and gathering all the titles all over the place.

With the present 'Governor Revolution' in Lagos State in terms of real development, he does not need to save money for re-election. All that is needed is for him to keep the pace of development and concentrate on his work and the people of Lagos State will fight to re-elect him. The personal comportment of the Lagos State governor which has seen him not using sirens and his quiet disposition in office as against the self-imposing attitude of our leaders gave me the impression that all hope is after all not totally lost on Nigeria.

-Ideva is the Managing Director, First Guarantee Pension Limited, Lagos.