SENATOR AL-MAKURA’S STEWARDSHIP TO THE PEOPLE OF NASARAWA STATE AN EMOTIONAL TRIBUTE.
Mixed Feelings When Almakura Bows Out As Governor.
Ordinarily, I wouldn’t have bothered much for the exit of the man of the moment, His Excellency, Mr Umar Tanko Almakura of Nasarawa State on the 29th of May, 2019 as provided by the 1999 constitution (2010 as amended) of the Federal Government of Nigeria but for the man to succeed him and the possible challenges before him, His Excellency, Engr AA Sule.
In summary, Mr Umar Tanko Almakura has lifted Nasarawa State from grass to grace in all spheres. He took over the State at the stage of infrastructural decays in virtually all sectors of the state. The State capital was just like a suburb where only Civil Service strived. The State was backward in terms of commercial activities, health and education status, civil servants welfare, high level of godfatherism in politics and low level of political awareness.
While one Idris serving as a Youth Corps Member in Gombe State in 2007, he always wished his State looks like even half of how Gombe State capital was by then but we never got that opportunity. Former Gov Danjuma Goje and now a Senator at the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly did his best in fixing Gombe State to a world class city. This is the State that was created same day with Nasarawa alongside Zamfara, Ekiti, Ebonyi and Bayelsa States respectively by late Gen Sani Abacha of the blessed memory on the 1st of October, 1996.
To cut the story short, the almighty God answered our prayers by bringing on board then Gov Almakura to make it up on the 29th day of May 2011. As a zealous statesman, he started very well and printed his name in gold right from the first tenure. He turned the state’s fortunes immediately ranging from Civil Servants welfare, financial regulations, infrastructural development, youth empowerment among others.
Then Gov Almakura’s marvelous performance made him very famous amongst his colleagues that won him several awards in that regards despite being the only CPC governor in Nigeria. He stood for the masses and the masses stood by him. The masses resisted the several attempts by the then state legislature whose majority members were of the ruling PDP to impeach the governor over non existent issues.
For this reason, most members of the state legislature that participated in the impeachment saga were all knocked out by their respective constituents in the 2015 general elections while Almakura won overwhelmingly in the same elections.
Fast forward to 2019, we now have a State to be proud of, particularly Lafia, the State capital. In the last two weeks, I traveled down to Yenegoa, Bayelsa State capital for Youth Council meeting and the number of States I passed through from Benue, Enugu, Anambra, Imo and Rivers States in that order, I was pleased with the level of development in Nasarawa State. For the purpose of comparison, I deliberately passed through Delta, Edo and Kogi States respectively down to Abuja on my return. At this stage, I saluted Almakura in my mind and I wished the Nigerian constitution can be amended for more than two terms for his sake to continue the good work. When I led the Nasarawa State Youth Council to pay him an official visit sometimes in February this year, I saw in him a leader who is passionate about the welfare of Nasarawa State and the youth in particular. On this visit, the image, welfare and the fortunes were reassured for better future. For the first time Youth Council of Nasarawa State was given the benefits monthly running cost, a vehicle, office accommodation and permanent plot of land.
Sometimes ago, a friend (public servant) visited me in Lafia and after two days of his stay in Lafia, he passionately congratulated me for having such a good governor. You know what, he decided to the extent of influencing his transfer to Nasarawa State for finding the state so habitable, peaceful and friendly.
For those of you outside Nasarawa State, do you know when last you visited Nasarawa State? The educational and health sectors are now revamped. We now have an upgraded international and local markets in Karu, Keffi, Akwanga and Lafia respectively; strengthened commitments for women and youth empowerment schemes, enhanced revenue generation platforms and so on.
Go to Awe LGA, Dangote Group, the largest conglomerate in Africa has landed there with Dangote Sugar Refinery. What about Kwandere, the Lafia Airport is at the completion stage. Do you remember Lafia Square, NAGIS, NAYES and the Smart City Project? More than 2,000 teachers have been recruited and the civil service recruitment is ongoing.
Along Shendam Road, you will find new world class Police headquarters, a reconstructed Nasarawa State House of Assembly complex to a global standard, new state judiciary complex and the new SSG’s office.
Educationally, the governor embarked on a massive construction of school hostels from secondary to tertiary institutions across the state; the establishment of the Special School for the disabilities, first of its kind in the West African region; the establishment of the Army Command Secondary Schools in Lafia, Rinze and Agwada respectively; the establishment of well equipped modern libraries in Lafia, Akwanga, Keffi and Nasarawa LGAs; the establishment of Police Secondary Schools in Lafia and Keffi too. Before the coming of Almakura, Secondary Schools’ Principals and LG Education Secretaries were displaying like semi-gods where exploitation of the innocent students and the unremitting of revenues to the appropriate authority was the order of the day. Do you still remember how these set of people were embezzling and spending money extravagantly like unguided politicians? Am sorry if you are affected with this submission but all is now history as our educational system is now almost free for the students in all the public schools. Almakura puts all efforts in place for the take off of the Federal University, Lafia in collaboration with the federal government of Nigeria. The Nasarawa State University, Keffi, one of the fastest growing university in Nigeria is wearing a better look with new structures, asphalt road network and so on.
In the health sector, all Primary Health Care Centers and General Hospitals across the state are fully equipped, staffed and functional. The School of Nursing and Midwifery, Lafia has gotten a new permanent site and the well equipped Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia is wearing a new look with qualified medical professionals.
When it comes to information, the Nasarawa State owned radio and TV stations in Lafia and Keffi have been revived to digitization and has been providing essential services to the public since the coming of Almakura in 2011.
The power project in Akurba, a surbub in Lafia and the housing estate in Karu LGA are all on the way; the asphalt road network in all the LGAs in the state, the vocational centers in the three senatorial zones, the water project in Farin Ruwa, the orphanage home in Lafia, the fertilizer production plants among other numerous projects and programmes initiated and being completed by the governor in the state.
Politically, Almakura is a hero of democracy in Nigeria. After breaking the record of defeating the then incumbent governor Aliyu Akwe Doma of the blessed memory in 2011, Almakura successfully conducted the first, free, fair and credible LGC elections in the state that even the opposition PDP won about four LGAs of Keffi, Kokona, Nasarawa Eggon and Keana out of 13 LGAs in 2014. Though Keffi and Keana LGAs were later reclaimed at the tribunal. In 2015, his performance gave people more confidence in him and he won squarely with majority seats at the State House of Assembly amidst tribal and religious politicking by some unscrupulous politicians in the state.
Before the APC primaries in 2018, there were expectations from the public of a possible break up in the party, considering the number and pedigree of the individuals that contested the elections. How Almakura did it to ensure the most free, fair and credible primary elections without hitches is still miraculous to many. Engr AA Sule won the election and APC became more united after the election, a situation that led to the defeat of the PDP and other opponents in the general elections.
No doubt, former Military Administrators, Wing Comm Abdullahi Ibrahim and Bala Mohammed Mande set the pace for take off of the state; Sen Abdullahi Adamu and former governor Aliyu Akwe Doma also contributed their quota but Almakura remained the best for now as the verdict is being passed. The people of Nasarawa state gave Almakura their confidence and in turn, the people’s governor has provided good governance for his people. The popular principle of ‘All-inclusive Governance’ and ‘Seeing is Believing’ crown it all.
My wonderful people of Nasarawa State, where do we go from here? The good man is going and the challenges to sustain the good work abounds. Indeed, the incoming governor of Nasarawa State, His Excellency, Engr AA Sule is being adjudged as one of the best technocrats in the country that Nasarawa State is hoping to harvest from his experience.
But there are two challenges the incoming governor has to overcome. First, the option to sustain the level of achievements or to surpass the performance of the outgoing administration. Second, the blueprint for the incoming administration for a greater Nasarawa State.
The last time I led the state and local chapters’ officials of the National Youth Council of Nigeria in Nasarawa State to meet with the governor-elect, His Excellency, Engr AA Sule before and after the general elections, I observed closely and saw a man that is ready for the job. His past records and antecedents are speaking good for him. All odds are in his favor so far, hence the hope for an effective delivery.
As we bids farewell to the best outgoing governor of Nasarawa State, the overall Boss, Umaru Tanko Almakura, I wish you well in your future endeavor especially as the Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. His Excellency Sir, I wish to also let you know that the people of Nasarawa State are already missing you but as the popular saying goes: ‘we meet to part and part to meet till no more’. Go in peace and remain blessed, Your Excellency.
To the incoming governor, His Excellency, Engr AA Sule, you are blessed too. All the youth, women and the elderly of Nasarawa State are strongly behind you, both physical and spiritual. The almighty Allah that gave Almakura the wisdom to govern Nasarawa State to greater heights will surely give you more wisdom and proper guidance for the uphill task ahead of making Nasarawa State of our dream.
Long Live Senator Almakura!
Long Live Nasarawa State!!!
Salihu Abdullahi Osuko
(Garkuwan Giza)
Media Aide To Distinguished People’s Senator Umar Tanko Almakura.
