How Almakura Freed Nasarawa State- by Shehu Ibrahim “As my covenant and contract with the people of Nasarawa State is for the period of my mandate, I shall pursue priorities that will be realizable and impact positively on the lives of the people before the expiration of my tenure. In this regard , vital foundations will be laid down to form the fulcrum of development for the next administration to build upon without encumbering the financial well-being of my administration and the one’s to come after ; for the sake of Nasarawa State.”- My Pledge to the people of Nasarawa State- Umaru Tanko Almakura CPC flag bearer ,January 2011. In 2011 Umaru Tanko Almakura a business tycoon took the bull by the horns , faced unmanageable odds and contested the office of Nasarawa State Governor , an achievement many saw it as just another person who would put forward the usual brain washing sugar coated promises of turning Nasarawa State into small London. A promise we have heard every election since 1960, but the people of Nasarawa state took a chance on change ,knowing they deserved more and gave Umaru Tanko Almakura their mandate and since then we have been delivered. Coming on board as the third elected governor of Nasarawa state, was a change, a change many economists would say was what the state needed, due to its rate of development and debt profile. Not just the usual passing of the baton, but a change in game plan. A change in the way the state was run and a needed change in the way people lived and worked but a change in the style of leadership. With the coming of the APC (then CPC) administration came a new lease on life, and then came freedom. The freedom to escape the bondage that had held the state back for so long starving the government of vast developmental funds and enslaving the people into seeing the simple things in life such as good healthcare , good education, street lights or just good roads as far-fetched. The greatest of these freedoms may very well be the successful repayment of thirty six billion Naira in internal loans, this is yet another milestone by the Almakuras government , we recall how all governments come on board meeting loans. Now we have a government that can say” we paid” (except for 4 months more repayment left in the amazing Paris Club issue). Even a 5 year old knows where there is money the soup will be sweet. Now just imagine what Gov. Almakura could do with no loans to pay. Development we all know is costly, so the government will collect loans and bonds but, true to his word His Excellency has ensured that all loans , bonds collected by his administration would be used for capital projects under the urban renewal programme, which would provide flyovers, road networks, proper planning and development of all LGA Headquarters , sports facilities etc. With a repayment target that would be completed while in office. Early in the administration there were many calls for the administration to stop taking the glory for past government’s projects, a call that would have made the state look like an abandoned project site that would be true to its unofficial tag of undeveloped as well set each government to default at the expiration of the term in office. Government has and will ways be a continuous process that should have one goal, to better the lives of the people. The Almakura administration deserves praise and commendation for the efforts it made to finish the old projects started before its time, and even going the distance and finishing ones started by the first governor of the state, that have value. The freedom that came with the implementation of the minimum wage which has eluded many states is one that has enable civil servants to look forward to end of the month, knowing they would be paid on time, not bothering too much for the chocolate sprinkled over drafts and loan offered by most bank that charge cutthroat interest rates. The satisfaction that they are well paid has made strikes more of a national issue, I recall the Nasarawa State Chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association recently commended Gov. Almakura on his handling of them and their problems, appreciating what he brought to the table. Finally we can breathe the air of freedom as the long revenue gosling Farin Ruwa Independent Hydro Electric Power Project is finally in the hands of Stroy Alyans Construction Company based in Ukraine, a certified company that would enable government to “stop gambling and have an experienced organization with vast knowledge in hydro power construction and generation handle the over 6 billion Naira venture that has seemed to be a myth for a decade. But now internally generated sustainable power for all corners of the state and the anticipated revenue from the excess that would put on the national grid is only months away. Freedom to be proud of where we come from due to the work in the area of development in the educational sector through the SUBEB office which earned the state national commendations from UNESCO , the Senate and Vice President Nnamdi Sambo who open the first Taal Model School on behalf of the President. Even the very idea of public school was forgotten,left for the children of lower class, yet a chain for the high fees awaited those that sent their wards to private schools. It was pleasing to hear of the mass registration in the Lafia Model school last term, giving the free education another chance. Nasarawa state has faced some difficult times in the past 32 months, but even those of an unenlightened nature will know there has been progress and God willing good times yet to come. The people must know that only and only through the coming together to work towards the progress of Nasarawa state will we realize the true potential available in the home of solid minerals, knowing that the price of freedom is followership. “ My fellow citizens, today I say to you that the hurdles before us are real, grave and numerous. I know, too, that you and others across the country rightly expect so much from the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and I. Let it be clear though that there are no easy solutions or quick fixes. Nevertheless, I assure you we will overcome the challenges.” - A Fresh Start and a New Deal Text of the Inaugural Address By His Excellency Umaru Tanko Al-Makura Governor of Nasarawa State May 29th, 2011
Posted on: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 00:49:01 +0000
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