Constitutional lawyer PLO Lumumba has criticised the use of State House as a centre for what he described as personal and political gain.

Speaking during a political talk show aired by a local television station on Thursday, September 18, 2025, Lumumba emphasised the need to institutionalise power and prevent the personalisation of state resources.

“One of the things we wanted to eliminate was the personalisation of the state power,” Lumumba said, explaining that public resources should serve institutional objectives rather than individual interests.

He pointed out that the State House has increasingly become a venue where citizens are called only to leave with promises of so-called development.

“We wanted to institutionalise power and to institutionalise the use of public resources; we did not want the State House once again to be a site where people are invited and go away with development,” Lumumba added.

According to Lumumba, the practice of inviting individuals to State House under the guise of development initiatives amounts to “pure pork-barreling.” He argued that this undermines accountability and the proper distribution of public resources, turning national leadership institutions into tools for political expediency.

Lumumba’s remarks come amid growing public debate over the role of the State House in development initiatives and the line between government programming and political activities. He stressed that institutionalising power ensures fairness and prevents the misuse of public offices for personal gain.

State resources, he said, should be used transparently and equitably, reaching all citizens through structured, lawful processes rather than selective invitations or politically motivated interventions.

“State House should not be a place where people are invited only to leave with promises of so-called development,” Lumumba reiterated, highlighting the need to separate political theatrics from governance responsibilities.

He further noted that the personalisation of state resources has a long-term impact on governance, including weakening public trust and creating opportunities for patronage politics. Institutional checks, Lumumba argued, are essential to prevent public funds and national institutions from being used as instruments for individual political gain.

Lumumba’s call serves as a reminder for leaders to uphold constitutional principles in the use of state power, ensuring that development initiatives are genuinely for the public good rather than vehicles for political popularity.