Literature
IT is no longer news that change has come to Nasarawa State. The only question now is how to justify the change as a positive one. This is the question currently making the rounds within and outside Nasarawa State as the governor-elect, Alhaji Umaru Tanko Almakura, prepares to take over the mantle of leadership from the incumbent governor, Alhaji Aliyu Akwe Doma, in a few days? time. The question is being asked by both cynics who are not sure of the administrative ability of the incoming government of the Congress for Progressive Party, CPC, and the optimists who are anxious to see a positive change in the state, a transformation that will justify the termination of the twelve-year-old rule of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
From either perspective, the question points to the fact that though change has come to the state in terms of leadership, the real change depends on the decisions and actions of the new administration in the next four years. Everybody is waiting to see how the only CPC state in Nigeria will accomplish the task of actualizing the people-oriented manifesto of the party. Will those at the helm be able to bring to bear on the state progressive politics and governance that would stimulate socio-economic development and ensure security and economic well-being of the citizenry?
This is the central issue the new leadership has to address. And action has to start as soon as the administration takes off, as the people have waited for too long and expectations are overflowing. The people are anxious to see real change because the state, created from Plateau State fifteen years ago, is yet to realize its full potentials in agriculture, solid mineral and tourism for which it is easily identified on the map of Africa. Situated within the Guinea Savannah region which has the most fertile soils in Nigeria, the state is famous for its agrarian nature, with a large percentage of its populace engaged in farming and agro-allied activities. In terms of availability of commercially viable mineral resources, it is also one of the most endowed states, with each of the 13 local government areas richly blessed with various forms of solid mineral deposit that can be sold in both local and international markets. In the area of tourism, different kinds of tourist attractions are all over the state. They include the Akiri Warm Spring in Awe Local Government Area, which is remarkable for its warmness all year round, the renowned Farin Ruwa Waterfalls in Wamba Local Government Area, and the scenic River Bank Resort in Umaisha, Toto Local Government Area.
All these need to be developed through the provision of vital infrastructure like roads, electricity, water supply, agro-industries, accompanied with investment in human resources development for the much needed manpower. In this regard, educational institutions need to be enhanced, from primary school to tertiary institutions, especially the four institutions located in the state: College of Education, Akwanga; College of Agriculture, Lafia; College of Arts, Science and Technology, Keffi, and the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa.
Genuine focus on these aspects of development will not only transform the perspective and prospects of governance in the state in line with the philosophy of CPC, but also improve on the capacity of the state to stimulate growth and development that would bring dividends of democracy to the poor masses.
It is indeed a daunting task. But with the right team and the political will, it is a task that could be done. Those who are familiar with the governor-elect are optimistic that he could do it, given his wealth of knowledge and experience as a veteran teacher, journalist, businessman and politician. The Bachelor of Education Degree holder, who taught at the Government College, Markudi, and later worked as a journalist after his graduation as an Assistant Producer, News and Current Affairs, at the then Broadcasting Corporation of Northern Nigeria (now part of NTA Kaduna), is well-grounded in business as he is in politics. His company, Almakura Nigeria Limited, is a household name in civil and building engineering in Nigeria and beyond. He is also into real estate and property development as chairman of his company, Ta?al Nigeria Limited. He is a grass roots politician who began his political career from secondary school. In 1980, at the age of 26, he emerged as the youth leader of the then National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in Plateau State, and automatically became a member of the National Executive Committee of the party. Eight years later he was elected into the Constituent Assembly to represent Lafia-Obi Federal Constituency of Nasarawa State. At the inception of the present political dispensation in 1999, he was a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state. But unable to actualize his dream for the state within the framework of the party, he opted for CPC, through which he believes he could establish the progressive politics initiated by the party?s founder, General Muhammadu Buhari, aimed at bringing democracy dividends to the downtrodden masses.
The governor-elect said he abandoned PDP because ?when it comes to issues of performance, when it comes to issues of delivering, when it comes to issues of giving my people the dividends of democracy, I will not compromise?? He feels the kind of change needed is a multi-dimensional one, a generational change, a paradigm shift that would radically impact on the polity and overall development of the state. And this was the driving force that led to his success at the polls. It is the same spirit that made him set up a transition task force soon after he was declared winner to examine the current structure of government, study the financial position of the state and recommend an appropriate structure and development blueprint.
From all indications, the determination of the governor-elect to effect the desired change is not in doubt. It is only hoped that the committee members would demonstrate the same zeal and come up with recommendations that would be all-embracing, taking into account the hope and aspirations of the people. It is also hoped that the recommendations would be executed with all the seriousness they deserve so that by 2015 the CPC slogan of CHANGE would be so substantiated that changing the party?s administration in the state would be rendered unnecessary.
(c) Written by SUMAILA UMAISHA and published in the 22nd May, 2011 of New Nigerian newspaper.
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Literature
Now that change has come to Nasarawa State...
IT is no longer news that change has come to Nasarawa State. The only question now is how to justify the change as a positive one. This is the question currently making the rounds within and outside Nasarawa State as the governor-elect, Alhaji Umaru Tanko Almakura, prepares to take over the mantle of leadership from the incumbent governor, Alhaji Aliyu Akwe Doma, in a few days? time. The question is being asked by both cynics who are not sure of the administrative ability of the incoming government of the Congress for Progressive Party, CPC, and the optimists who are anxious to see a positive change in the state, a transformation that will justify the termination of the twelve-year-old rule of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
From either perspective, the question points to the fact that though change has come to the state in terms of leadership, the real change depends on the decisions and actions of the new administration in the next four years. Everybody is waiting to see how the only CPC state in Nigeria will accomplish the task of actualizing the people-oriented manifesto of the party. Will those at the helm be able to bring to bear on the state progressive politics and governance that would stimulate socio-economic development and ensure security and economic well-being of the citizenry?
This is the central issue the new leadership has to address. And action has to start as soon as the administration takes off, as the people have waited for too long and expectations are overflowing. The people are anxious to see real change because the state, created from Plateau State fifteen years ago, is yet to realize its full potentials in agriculture, solid mineral and tourism for which it is easily identified on the map of Africa. Situated within the Guinea Savannah region which has the most fertile soils in Nigeria, the state is famous for its agrarian nature, with a large percentage of its populace engaged in farming and agro-allied activities. In terms of availability of commercially viable mineral resources, it is also one of the most endowed states, with each of the 13 local government areas richly blessed with various forms of solid mineral deposit that can be sold in both local and international markets. In the area of tourism, different kinds of tourist attractions are all over the state. They include the Akiri Warm Spring in Awe Local Government Area, which is remarkable for its warmness all year round, the renowned Farin Ruwa Waterfalls in Wamba Local Government Area, and the scenic River Bank Resort in Umaisha, Toto Local Government Area.
All these need to be developed through the provision of vital infrastructure like roads, electricity, water supply, agro-industries, accompanied with investment in human resources development for the much needed manpower. In this regard, educational institutions need to be enhanced, from primary school to tertiary institutions, especially the four institutions located in the state: College of Education, Akwanga; College of Agriculture, Lafia; College of Arts, Science and Technology, Keffi, and the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa.
Genuine focus on these aspects of development will not only transform the perspective and prospects of governance in the state in line with the philosophy of CPC, but also improve on the capacity of the state to stimulate growth and development that would bring dividends of democracy to the poor masses.
It is indeed a daunting task. But with the right team and the political will, it is a task that could be done. Those who are familiar with the governor-elect are optimistic that he could do it, given his wealth of knowledge and experience as a veteran teacher, journalist, businessman and politician. The Bachelor of Education Degree holder, who taught at the Government College, Markudi, and later worked as a journalist after his graduation as an Assistant Producer, News and Current Affairs, at the then Broadcasting Corporation of Northern Nigeria (now part of NTA Kaduna), is well-grounded in business as he is in politics. His company, Almakura Nigeria Limited, is a household name in civil and building engineering in Nigeria and beyond. He is also into real estate and property development as chairman of his company, Ta?al Nigeria Limited. He is a grass roots politician who began his political career from secondary school. In 1980, at the age of 26, he emerged as the youth leader of the then National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in Plateau State, and automatically became a member of the National Executive Committee of the party. Eight years later he was elected into the Constituent Assembly to represent Lafia-Obi Federal Constituency of Nasarawa State. At the inception of the present political dispensation in 1999, he was a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state. But unable to actualize his dream for the state within the framework of the party, he opted for CPC, through which he believes he could establish the progressive politics initiated by the party?s founder, General Muhammadu Buhari, aimed at bringing democracy dividends to the downtrodden masses.
The governor-elect said he abandoned PDP because ?when it comes to issues of performance, when it comes to issues of delivering, when it comes to issues of giving my people the dividends of democracy, I will not compromise?? He feels the kind of change needed is a multi-dimensional one, a generational change, a paradigm shift that would radically impact on the polity and overall development of the state. And this was the driving force that led to his success at the polls. It is the same spirit that made him set up a transition task force soon after he was declared winner to examine the current structure of government, study the financial position of the state and recommend an appropriate structure and development blueprint.
From all indications, the determination of the governor-elect to effect the desired change is not in doubt. It is only hoped that the committee members would demonstrate the same zeal and come up with recommendations that would be all-embracing, taking into account the hope and aspirations of the people. It is also hoped that the recommendations would be executed with all the seriousness they deserve so that by 2015 the CPC slogan of CHANGE would be so substantiated that changing the party?s administration in the state would be rendered unnecessary.
(c) Written by SUMAILA UMAISHA and published in the 22nd May, 2011 of New Nigerian newspaper.
- Nigeria Is In Serious Trouble ? Prof. Ujo
Abulhameed A. Ujo, professor of Political Science, University of Abuja, was Resident Electoral Commissioner, Independent National Electoral Commission, Kaduna State, 1998 to 2002, member of the Presidential Electoral Reform Committee (set up by...
- Robust Culture Of Writing Will Boost Education ? Ohitoto
Mohammad Ohitoto, former Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Nasarawa State, and currently Director of Research and Publications, Naarawa State Ministry of Information and Orientation, is a writer and journalist based in Lafia, the Nasarawa state...
- Niger State: The Making Of A Literary Capital
Once upon a time the area known today as Niger State was famous mainly for its strategic position as a major railway station that drew together people from diverse ethnic groups. But the literary revolution, which began with Abubakar Imam?s legendary...
- Maku As A Sign Of Hope
Mr. Labaran Maku?s appointment as the Minister of State for Information and Communication could be seen as a result of his eloquent past achievements and a sign of better days ahead for him and the Nigerian youth in general. For, he is an embodiment...
- Honouring Jp Clark Is Celebrating Delta?s Achievements
Mr. Godini Gabriel Darah, campaign director of Governor Emmanuel Uduguaghan?s re-election project, represented the governor at the recent colloquium organised by the Association of Nigerian Authors to celebrate the 50 years of JP Clark?s writings, in...