Though, I’m not a politician, not partisan but it’s my constitutional prerogative to support and vote for a candidate who I feel is the most suitable to lead and represent me at different levels of elections. I have been keenly watching how things unfold as the nation warms up for the 2023 general elections, particularly in my home state of Adamawa.
Ordinarily, the electorate should have been allowed to vote on their own volition without anybody campaigning for anyone. The performances, antecedents, and affiliation between leaders and their followers should be the yardsticks in deciding who to vote for. The individual level of cognizance and the electoral provisions make it important to enlighten the prospective voters and allow for campaigns by political parties, candidates, and supporters.
It’s imperative we scrutinise those seeking elective offices to represent us. Like in any clime and profession, the Nigerian brand of politics has the good, the bad, and the ugly players who always craftily and sneakily bamboozle the electorate to giving them their votes and after winning the election, renege on the promises they made and proclaimed during electioneering.
Our democracy isn’t effectively working because we hardly hold those we’ve elected into various offices answerable when in office or when they come back seeking the renewal of their political bond. The American civil rights leader, Martin Luther King, Jr, once said, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
Indeed, Nigerian electorate across race, creed and political leaning are the easiest people to please and sadly later cuckold. The average Nigerian does not expect the government to do everything for them, neither do they care to ask their leaders vital questions relating to their wellbeing.
As the political atmosphere gets tensed by the day, politicians of all characters are also busy and tactically devising ways of cajoling the electorate to win their hearts and subsequently get their votes. And it’s time when some of us who care about our future give in our best by rationally educating the voting population in our midst.
In my home state of Adamawa, the prevailing political situation needs our participation for cogent reasons – the present governor of the state, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, has in less than four years done what his predecessors, put together, could not do since the creation of the state. Hence, we owe him a lot, especially those of us who have evidently felt the impact of his purposeful leadership. It will be an unforgivable offence if we allow political jobbers to scuttle the sustainability and consolidation of his administration beyond 2023.
Governor Fintiri, in spite of all the daunting challenges; dwindling revenue, insecurity and the rest, is for the first time in history of the state defining what leadership is all about. The hitherto infrastructure ravenous state, is now having face-lift in virtually all the sectors of its economy – modern roads, state of the art healthcare centers, robust education, revived civil service, and improved security, among others.
It’s a bit difficult to tally the various roads project built by his administration in less than four years with many ongoing in just an ordinary piece like this. But it will amount to a grave injustice not to mention the notable ones among the many, especially those duly commissioned.
In recent times, the state has become a beehive of projects’ commissioning by notable Nigerians. Few among them are; the Total Filling Station Flyover, Yola which was named after the late Lamido of Adamawa Alhaji Aliyu Musdafa, commissioned by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar (Wazirin Adamawa); township roads in Jimeta, namely, Bacchure and Falu roads covering 5.60km, commissioned by Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto state; the 3.5km Izala – Gweda – Malam road in Numan, commissioned by the Gombe state Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya; the 7.8km roads in Michika, including Futu, Lassa, Low-cost, Mukaddas and hospital roads, commissioned by Governor Bala Muhammad of Bauchi state.
Others are; the 3.2Km Hong township road, commissioned by the FCT Minister, Musa Muhammad Bello; Zumo Street and doctors quarters road spanning 2.4km in Yola South local government, commissioned by the former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka; township roads in Jimeta Yola North local government covering 8.86kms., commissioned by Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state; Toungo electrification that has been left in darkness for the past 25 years, was also commissioned by the former Deputy Governor Senator Bello Tukur.
Today, the 11-point agenda of the Fintiri’s administration rolled out at the inception has successfully birthed the new and transformed Adamawa state. “We rolled up our sleeves and set out to work boots-on, by launching an aggressive multi-sectoral approach to development,” he once said.
It will be recall that, Fintiri has, in response to the infrastructural deficit in the state, designed a two-pronged approach: Urban renewal programme and Rural Infrastructure and Community Development. The 1,000 housing units under construction, connection of some communities to national grid, and social intervention programmes are complementary in making the state work for the first time in history.
It’s therefore justifiable that with his record of achievements, we all rally round what we’ve tested and certified. Fintiri’s 2023 project is our project irrespective of one’s political affiliation.
Indeed, you can’t desire development for Adamawa state and not appreciate Governor Fintiri’s doggedness, audacity and persistence. Where others delivered lamentations and inertia, he has brought succour and Fintiri seems poised to keep going strong. The future lies in the consolidation of his first term beyond 2023.
Amina writes from Abuja.
