ADAMAWA RAGING POLITICAL STORM; WHY ACTING GOVERNOR FINTIRI SHOULD BE ON ALERT by George Kushi Over the past few weeks, political events in Adamawa State have proven to the world that the resilience of the people have never been in question. To unseat a powerful sitting governor (who can even dare the president) by not less than twenty people (lawmakers) can clearly be defined as the most daring move that have completely changed not only the political landscape of the state but have equally impacted on the lives of almost all of Adamawa citizens. As Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri assumed the mantle of leadership as acting Governor of Adamawa State, his maintaining a hold in an attempt to correct the wrongs perpetrated by the ousted Nyako led regime cannot be over emphasized. Charged with the responsibility of discharging his executive functions as the number one citizen in the state, in such tumultuous and uncertain times and the heightened politicking of the expectation of a forthcoming election, his Excellency hit the ground practically running to put some few things in order so that whoever comes after him will have a functional governmental structure to build on. The Fintiri led government kick started on a sound footing. The government was quick to dismantle programmes fashioned on fallacious premise by the last regime. The government again ensured the refunds of illegally deducted workers salaries and also payment of withheld one-month salary from 2011. He also spelt out the need to within the shortest time possible ensure the completion of projects that will have impact on the lives of the ordinary. Committees and panels of probe were set up to fish out those who steered the ship of state to shallow waters and couldn’t careless even when they were sure the ship will capsize – until it did. Assurances were given to civil servants and the executive strangulation of local governments is now a thing of the past. Competent and credible people were drafted into the interim regime to help chart a new case for the state away from its doomed path. As should be expected, those who put in place the old order and benefitted from the rot to the detriment of the state are now fighting back to frustrate the ‘people-centric’ policies of his Excellency. Sadly enough some people out there without adequate information on the plight of the people under the unlamented outgone administration, seem to be buying into the “made in China” heart wrenching stories dished out to them by those whose livelihood depended on the emasculation of the ordinary citizen. Unrepentant nepotists parading themselves as democrats. The administration is faced with the onerous task of rebuilding confidence, reconnecting with the people and boosting the morale of civil servants. The stagnation of the civil service by the creation of a supra extra-ministerial agency called the SPPU has no parallel in the history of public service. As should be expected three months will not be sufficient to right all the wrongs but careful planning on fundamental issues facing the state can be addressed to create an enabling environment for the economic and social renaissance of the state. However, a pressing issue facing the young administration is the distraction by the Nyako regime who are largely beneficiaries of the old order who are out to disparage whatever the current government does thereby denying the people the benefit of putting them on a comparable scale with this government. While the acting governor is in the process of putting the structures of government in place and in the same breath trying to trace funds stolen to assist him in completing or initiating projects that are beneficial to the common man, the legatees of the days of yore are all out to create confusion in the minds of the people. This, they do through misinformation, misrepresentation and sometimes outright blackmail. The people of Adamawa state must remain steadfast in its support of the acting governor, as they have done all along. They should refuse to harken to the voice of anarchy beckoning them to the days of hopelessness, servitude and uncertain future.
Posted on: Sat, 09 Aug 2014 18:30:52 +0000