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Nasarawa Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule
By Ali Abare
It’s generally agreed that politics and governance are about resource mobilization and equitable distribution. The essence of governance is not political vendetta or a desire to make a point, but to drive development for the benefit of all.
As far as the essence of governance and even politics is concerned, the people of Nasarawa State don’t need to look any further, especially with His Excellency, Engineer Abdullahi Sule at the helm of affairs of the state.
What are the actual resources that are available to Nasarawa State? Before 2019, Nasarawa State has always been categorized as a civil service state. Previous governments have been forced to limit their ability to deliver dividends of democracy within this derogatory label which connotes dependence and liability.
Nasarawa State has always depended upon and look forward to the monthly federation allocation from Abuja. That has been the only resources that the entire development aspirations of the state rested upon. Even at that, recurrent expenditure, especially payment of workers salary, usually takes a huge chunk from this, leaving virtually nothing for physical development.
In the recent past, Nasarawa State was ranked 33rd out of the 36 states of the country in terms of the federation allocation, being among the states receiving the least from the federal government. This has constituted a stumbling block towards meeting the development aspirations of the state.
Before his assumption of office in 2019, His Excellency, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, aware of the bleak economic fortune of the state, commissioned a world class consultancy firm to undertake a comprehensive review of the economy of the state, its potentials, challenges and how these can be effectively addressed.
The outcome of this endeavour, led to the berthing of the Nasarawa State Development Strategy (NEDS), a document that is serving as a blueprint for the Engineer Sule administration, for a new Nasarawa State that is being repositioned to compete among the best five economies in the country.
Indeed, unlike the candidates of the opposition parties running for the office of the governor of Nasarawa State, His Excellency, Engineer Abdullahi Sule came prepared. He did not come to make promises, he came with a blueprint to develop Nasarawa State, for which all and sundry can witness the tremendous transformation taking place across the state during the past four years.
In terms of resource mobilization, Engineer Sule is miles ahead, even as it is clear that those also seeking the mandate of the people may only succeed in returning Nasarawa State to the days when workers will stay without monthly salary for months, due to shortfalls in federation allocation.
Let no one be deceived, delivering dividends of democracy does not happen on a whim but through deliberate, consistent efforts as being executed by the present administration under His Excellency, Engineer Abdullahi Sule.
Religion, tribe or any similar primordial sentiments cannot bring about development. Those whipping up religious or ethnic sentiments obviously lack the leadership qualities to exploit the God given potentials of Nasarawa State to the benefit of the people.
In the first tenure of his administration, Engineer Sule has demonstrated uncommon ability to mobilize resources that is being channeled towards infrastructural development. For first time in the history of the state, Nasarawa received ten million dollars from the World Bank, as grant for fiscal transparency.
Again, the state received another whopping $15.7 million SFTAS fund, a World Bank assisted programme, as encouragement to state governments fighting corruption and enhancing transparency in the use of public funds.
A most significant improvement has been recorded in the area of internal revenue generation, with annual IGR jumping up from a paltry seven billion Naira, to twenty billion Naira. This was brought about through remarkable reforms aimed at blocking loopholes through which monies were siphoned.
When the people have been underdeveloped for decades and with an honest, sincere and committed leader like His Excellency, Engineer Abdullahi Sule on onboard, all the government is doing is to use the opportunity to drive development against all odds.
Even the most ardent critic of his administration most acknowledge the inroads Engineer Sule is making in the areas of security, as well as attracting goodwill from the Federal Government, with several key institutions establishing their presence across the state.
In the area of security, being critical to the industrialization thrust of the administration, Engineer Sule attached utmost priority towards building sustainable security network, reducing instances of crime and criminality, as well as creating enabling atmosphere for business to thrive.
A particular instance where the Engineer Sule administration must be given a pat in the back, was in the prompt response in securing the state from the spill over effect of terrorism, when the Governor successfully collaborated with security agencies to dislodge the Darassalam sect from their hideout in the forest area of Toto Local Government Area, having earlier fled from their bases in Zamfara, Kaduna and Niger states.
In its commitments to safeguard the lives of the people, as well as providing adequate security for investors coming into the state, the Engineer Sule administration, through effective collaboration, facilitated the establishment of security bases in Nasarawa, Toto, Doma, Nasarawa-Eggon, Lafia local governments areas, raising the number of security infrastructure in the state to about sixteen.
Some of the security formations established in the last three years include the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) base in Lafia, the Mobile Police Training College, Endehu hills in Nasarawa-Eggon, the 4 Special Force Command Doma, Special Joint Military Operation with the code name Ayem Akpatuma, 123 Special force Battalion in Doma, two Military Supper camps in Mararaba-Udege in Nasarawa and Kanyehu in Toto local government areas, as well as the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) training school also in Toto Local Government Area.
In addition to this, His Excellency, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, whose reputation continues to bring goodwill to the state, succeeded in convincing the Federal Government to take over the completed Lafia Airport, which will also contribute towards securing not only Nasarawa State but the entire North Central geo-political, zone, especially that the Lafia Airport will be devoted for military operations.
Unlike some misguided elements may want to aver, what Engineer Sule did with the airport, is but a masterstroke, through which the state government not only found usage for the airport but also recouping the capital invested in the project. The Federal Government in taking over the airport, agreed also to return N9.75 billion to the coffers of Nasarawa State being money spent in constructing the facility.
Leadership is not about making empty, unattainable promises, essentially because talk is cheap. That explains why the Nasarawa Economic Development Strategy document remains the gospel that drives the Engineer Sule administration. Governance must not be by chance or even ethnic or religious bigots. Leadership demands much more than the ability to appeal to primordial sentiments. Leadership requires capacity, competence and zeal, key elements driving the Engineer Sule administration.
The prospect for Nasarawa State is indeed, becoming even brighter with Engineer Sule in charge. Only recently, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), made it known that the state is set to join the leagues of oil producing states, especially that the first oil well will be drilled in Keana towards the end of this month.
For these reasons and more, it has become imperative to call on the people of the state, irrespective of their tribe, religion and even political inclinations, to mobilize and come out enmasse to vote for His Excellency, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, as well as all candidates of the APC in the race to occupy the state House of Assembly. That is the only way the people can guarantee steady development and prosperity for grnerations unborn.
Abare is the Special Assistant on Media to the Governor of Nasarawa State.
