If there is a leader that deserves eternal commendation for what he has done for Nasarawa state, it is definitely the incumbent governor, Dr Umar Tanko Al-Makura. Prior to his administration, the people had lost all hopes in the governance and development of the state. All development indices portray the state as a failed state due to leadership deficit and corruption. Our infrastructure were decrepit or non-existent. The institutions required to put our dear state on the road to development became a symbol of our backwardness. The civil service which all over the world is regarded as the engine of government’s policy implementation became its symbol of corruption. However, God answered our prayers and herein emanated the indefatigable political bulldozer of hope which Governor Al-Makura represents.
The governor wasted no time in giving the people fulfillment and the reason for his solid success is because he was not imposed on the people by any political godfather but the people of Nasarawa state. Al-Makura did not pretend to the fact that only God and the people of Nasarawa state made him governor and not any thieving cabal. Having successfully formulated pragmatic policies for the political and economic emancipation of his people, he put together a visionary team of men and women of good will, professionals and bureaucrat to implement these policies for the good of his people. He has by his performance dispelled the long held view that Nasarawa state would always be a failing state. Today, Nasarawa has caught up but surpassed our states that hitherto left us behind. We are proud of the feat achieved by Al-Makura who has totally in the near eight years of his uncommon leadership fought the symmetric and asymmetric warfare of the people.
Thus, Nasarawa state is in dire need of continuity in the policies, philosophy and development of this state. We need a leader who like Al-Makura rekindles hope in the people. We need a leader that is mentally, psychologically, philosophically and intellectually prepared for the job just like Al-Makura. We need a leader who is free from the apron strings of any godfather because this singular trend in the past retarded our development. Our state’s foundation for development has been laid and we need to move on to the next stage of development.
I am of the opinion that God has blessed this state with qualified men and women of good purpose to continue with the immense achievements of our leader, Governor Al-Makura. I believe with all sense of responsibility and good conscience that the man is Barrister Danladi Halilu.
Danladi Halilu is a typical son of the soil in Nasarawa state. He just like the present governor lives among his people. He is a man that abhors injustice of any kind be it social or individualistic. No wonder as a lawyer he has always fought for the cause of justice. Today if there is any aspirant who has the knowledge and political mettle to introduce his philosophy of the now popular New Type of Politics in Nasarawa state, that man is Danladi Halilu. if it is generally accepted that the present administration has put the state back on track to the journey of our long held hope for development in all its ramifications, then we do not need to change track, we need a new leader that understands the yearnings of the people for continuation of the development incline policies of the Al-Makura administration. Halilu has promised to faithfully continue with this well thought out policies of this administration which have tremendously leapfrogged the state as one of the frontline states for developmental emulation by its peers in Nigeria.
There is no need to change a winning team or formula. Al-Makura, Halilu believes has got our development prescription right and we need to complete the taking of those prescribed medication for the economic, social and political of the state. The choice is ours to make at the polls in 2019 to either choose a meticulous leader who understands the reality of our present situation in the state and the need for us to continue with the policies and programmes of the Al-Makura years or opt for a new policy prescription which is suicidal.
Halilu was secretary of National Judicial Council for 15 years and his experience in that sector would be handy when he becomes governor of our dear state. He has a solid grassroots base due to his closeness to the people who appreciate his philanthropy. He has always been approachable to all due to his humility. He sees class as an artificial creation that is non-African. He feels our politics needs to be sanitised because the people get the leaders they deserve.
The people of the state having realized the negative impact of money politics, parochial considerations in voting leaders, godfatherism and religious leanings have decided that they need a leader with the mien, character, freedom and disposition like Danladi Halilu to pilot the affairs of Nasarawa state. Like Al-Makura, Halilu has promised the people a New Type of Politics that is democracy dividend and justice based. This new type of politics is one that would build strong and virile institutions to do the biddings of the people as against the system where powerful personalities determined arbitrarily the fate of the people.
The administration of Halilu would not be only about politics but the economy of the state shall be enhanced upon by deliberate policies formulated to reduce the state’s over-dependence on the proceeds from the federation account. The lessons the state learnt recently from the global fall in commodity prices, especially crude oil, necessitated all governments that wish to safeguard the future of its people to create as a matter of urgency buffer policies to diversify their economies. Halilu would promptly apply strong policies to diversify our economy in areas of comparative advantages of Nasarawa state.
Wada writes from Lafia, Nasarawa state. 08032145179
