Example Of What Political Leaders Do – Senator Umar Tanko Almakura.
The roles of political leaders are to build the society by harnessing resources available for the development of a nation. Regrettably, some Nigerian political leaders have failed in their main duty which is to assemble resources humanly and materially for development. Because of this, Nigeria at the moment battles with high rate of poverty, high level of unemployment, high rate of political instability, corruption, insecurity of lives and property and lack of infrastructural facilities in all sectors of the economy; thus, this article examined political leaders and development crises in Nigeria.
It asserts that the bulk that make up political leaders in the country are self-serving rulers rather than men and women with credible characters, hence the large disparity between the haves and have-nots in the country as well as the underdevelopment or no development syndrome becoming cyclical. In order to break this cycle, the paper recommended amongst others, the need for accountability and transparency to serve as yardsticks for bringing to power, selfless leaders who will govern with the people’s interest at heart. Also, in order to promote development and good governance, existing, sound anticorruption policies must be implemented.
If an award is to be given to any outgoing Governor for creating a solid footing for new administration in his State, no one is more deserving than Umaru Tanko Al-Makura.
Aside the traditional paper handover, Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura has introduced what he termed PRACTICAL HANDOVER where he takes the incoming governor, Abdullahi A Sule, round government facilities at different locations to see for himself the level of progress and/or completion of each project. This is the opportunity Al-Makura didn’t get when he took over in 2011. It took him time to settle for governance of the State because of the manner government businesses were handled and executed.
Even when he took over the mantle of leadership as Governor, Al-Makura was denied access and knowledge of some vital government documents. Some Permanent Secretaries he inherited from Akwe Doma’s government were the central characters in slowing down and frustrating his government desire for sustainable progress. Such acts had actually deteriorated his overzealous intention to hit the ground running at inception. This is the kind of strange behavior AA Sule have not seen and will not see. Al-Makura have set a solid footing for him to set the ground running immediately after May 29.
In his recent address to the press, the incoming governor, AA Sule, said only God can reward Al-Makura for what he has done for Nasarawa State. If all the citizens of Nasarawa State will have the same opportunity to address press on Al-Makura’s time as governor, the testimony will be the same. Almakura has written his name in gold. He has paid a price to obtain a prize from the people of Nasarawa State. His zeal to set and sustain Nasarawa State on the right footing is second to none.
I’m more than three and half decades old in this world, Nasarawa State is almost 23, and we have had four (4) governors, including the military that served before Almakura, but it’s his time the state witnessed remarkable and sustainable development. Therefore, Al-Makura is a kind of leaders we should hold dearly in our heart. He has done his best for Nasarawa State, and his best is good enough. If we all have grateful hearts, Al-Makura deserves to be appreciated and celebrated.
“Umar Tanko Al-Makura’s administration has impacted on Nasarawa State much more than any other administration, be it military or civilian. His administration has built more infrastructure than all the other administrations put together. I want to be challenged by any living soul that what I am saying is not right. Al-Makura has built more schools than all the other administrations put together. He has built more roads and other critical infrastructures.
“When Umar Tanko Al-Makura came into government, all we saw was rickety hospitals. Today he has built good hospitals equipped with modern facilities.
“He has developed the city of Lafia and all the LG hqtrs. He has established special school to cater for education needs of disabled persons which no government in the history of Nigeria has done.”
Salihu Abdullahi Osuko
(Garkuwan Giza)
Media Aide To Distinguished People’s Senator Umar Tanko Almakura.
