Muazu Abari writes on reasons former House of Representatives member and 2019 governorship aspirant Hon Ahmed Aliyu Wadada is a strong contender for a ministerial position in the ‘Next Level’ government.
Ministerial list on front burner
Following the successful inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari on May 29 for a second term, attention has since shifted to the cabinet members expected to be appointed from all the 36 states of the federation.
The interest of Nigerians on who should be minister is not unconnected with the belief that the immediate past cabinet of the president did not live up to their responsibilities and expectations as evident by the sustained agitations for the president to overhaul the cabinet even before the expiration of the first tenure.
But despite all the pressure for their sacked, the president refused to yield, instead he opted to keep them throughout his first tenure to the chagrin of those that had wanted cabinet change.
As the president begins a fresh journey of his second term tagged “Next Level” most Nigerians look forward with renewed hope to his appointment of competent hands with fresh ideas, persons who share his vision for Nigeria and have the integrity, track records and capacity to drive forward his administration’s policies and programmes for the benefit of Nigerians, will form the new cabinet.
In the case of Nasarawa state initially the name of Hon Ahmed Aliyu Wadada had appeared to be the consensus of the APC key stakeholders as it may have been agreed upon.
It was also believed that the choice of Wadada as the ministerial nominee for Nasarawa state was taken soon after he lost the gubernatorial ticket to the then incumbent Governor Tanko Almakura, who had anointed Engr Abdullahi Sule as his successor. Al makura had preferred Sule despite Wadada’s popularity and acceptability among ordinary folks and the elite alike.
Despite being publicly accepted by the electorate and the disappointment of not being the preferred candidate, Wadada in his characteristic loyalty, humility, sacrifice and faith in President Buhari’s vision for a prosperous Nigeria, resisted all pressure for him to abandon the party and challenge Engr Sule in the governor election as was clamoured for by some of his supporters.
Instead, he perished his ambition and accepted his nomination to chair the APC state campaign council where he and other stakeholders criss-crossed all the nooks and crannies of the state to drum supports to Sule and other party candidates using his grassroots connections, political influence, goodwill, and resources to ensure Engr Sule eventually got elected as the governor.
Talks about nomination
As news of his endorsement as the state nominee spread like wildfire across the state, it received commendations as most people described it as a reward for patience, hard work and selflessness. They believe it will bring further development to the state and boost the chances of the party going by his antecedents and record of achievements.
However, the people were taken aback by the recent decision of some political jobbers whose popularity and political standing in Nasarawa state do not go beyond their native local governments who have decided to alter the political arrangement by also indicating their interest in the ministerial seat.
Though this interest is legitimate in democracy but the ways and manners some are seeking ministerial position leaves much to be desired. In fact, some have resorted to blackmail and campaign of calumny, which indeed is of serious concern.
Among those believe to be interested in the ministerial slot of the state is the current APC national vice chairman North Central Hon Ahmed Suleiman Wambai, who emerged straight from local government chairman to become the party national vice chairman courtesy of Almakura broad political shoulder, the immediate past SSG Barrister Mohammed Abdullah was who elevated by the immediate past governor from special advice to SSG.
Others believed to be interested in the ministerial job are Sen Abubakar Sodangi, among others.
Despite this last minutes decision by some to jostle for ministerial slot of the state most people believe that if competence, credibility, track records, intellectual prowess, contributions to the development of the state, successes of the party and capacity to deliver will be used as a parameter to determine the fate of all contenders in the state, there is nothing that could stop Wadada from clinching the position as he remains the most qualified among them. That is aside from the president who may, of course, have his choice as to who he would want as his minister.
Why Wadada
Hon Ahmed Aliyu Wadada a two-term member of the House of Representatives representing keffi/karu/kokona federal constituency and former chairman House Committee on Capital Market for over 7 years and second runner-up in 2019 APC gubernatorial primaries in the state is a re-current decimal and a household name in the political battlefield of Nasarawa state.
Wadada came into politics of Nasarawa state by storm and took it by storm when he emerged from a private sector having worked in various private organisations with the last being Vision Technologies. He swept away the then member representing the constituency Hon Salish Raj in PDP primaries and also won the election to represent the constituency in the National Assembly.
His resolute, resilient and remarkable determination to the service of humanity, democracy, good governance, electorate enlighten, equity fairness and justice, are never in doubt and seem to be the secret behind his political success..
During his time in the National Assembly he brought glory to Nasarawa state by his vibrancy, eloquence, intellectual capacity, frequent and brilliant contributions to national debates on the floor of the assembly. The performance increased his political popularity within and outside the state and led to his being nicknamed “Mr Capital Market” by his colleagues.
As a lawmaker, he succeeded in influencing federal presence to the state, touched the lives of so many people not only in his constituency but across the state especially in the areas of employment into government agencies, instituted programmes for women and youth empowerment, skills acquisition, paid examinations fees for pupils and also gave scholarships to many, initiated many community development programmes, among others to bring dividends of democracy to the people.
Though he lost the re-election bid in 2011, the then FCT Minister Sen Bala Mohammed appointed him his senior special assistant on budget, project monitoring, evaluation and National Assembly Matters. He served briefly and voluntarily resigned to concentrate on his personal businesses.
Until the build up to 2015 election when he challenged ex-governor Abdullahi Adamu of the APC for Nasarawa West senatorial seat which he lost in a controversial circumstances as the election is largely believed to been rigged in favour of the ex-governor. The resultant legal battle created uncertainties in the state and prompted political elites and traditional rulers to intervene. He eventually withdrew the case in the overall interest of the state.
He subsequently defected from PDP to APC over two years before 2019 general elections and later indicated his interest to succeed Almakura. In fact, he was the first among all the gubernatorial aspirants to declare his intention for Shendam Road Government House, Lafia in 2019.
