Nasarawa 2023: Early endorsements for Sule’s re-election

Barely a year and half into his four years first tenure, Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has been receiving numerous endorsements for his re-election as governor in 2023, reports Linus Oota, Lafia

 

Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule’s journey to the Goverment House formally commenced in 2018 when he defeated 13 other aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) guber ticket to emerge the candidate of the party.

Sule, who later won the 2019 governorship election in Nasarawa State with a landslide, took over the affairs of the state on May 29, 2019 and less than nine months in office, the country and indeed the global world, was confronted with economic challenges, occasioned by the outbreak of COVID-19. These economic adversities affected allocation to states from the Federation Account.

More worrisome was that Nasarawa State was among the worst hit, considering it’s position as one of the least from the bottom of the revenue allocation chart and predominantly a civil service state with high expectations for rapid socio-economic expansion in view of it’s proximity to the FCT, Abuja.

The governor was also faced with high level of insecurity, crime and other financial burden as well as other huge wage bills to be serviced and the  management of the political space in the state, considering the fact that all those who contested the ticket with him worked for his emergence as governor.

All these challenges were a source of worry which required drastic approach and a clear cut intervention to move the state forward.

These notwithstanding, Sule remained undaunted and committed to the speedy actualisation of his administration’s programmes for the people of the state.

One year, five months down the line, Sule, through his new ethos of leadership, anchored in peace and good governance, has effectively delivered on these promises.

He has remained committed to the principles of transparency, accountability, due process and prudent management of the state’s lean resources.

The governor, therefore, has, through his administration’s adherence to fiscal discipline, peaceful grassroots development initiatives, successfully delivered democracy dividends to the doorsteps of the people of Nasarawa State.

Sule has through his humble disposition, inclusive governance and open door policy delivered the message of hope and rekindled the confidence of the people in participatory democracy.

This cherished ambience of peace and unity has remained the pillar of the Sule administration’s success story.

It is perhaps based on these achievements and many others that the entire people and stakeholders of Nasarawa West Senatorial District, led by the first civilian governor of the state (1999-2007), Senator Abdullahi Adamu, declared that no member of the party in the zone will contest the governorship ticket of the APC against the governor in 2023.

The Nasarawa West stakeholders made their resolve known while paying a solidarity visit on Governor Abdullahi Sule, at the Government House recently.

Leader of the Nasarawa West delegation and first civilian governor of the state, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, said the zone is satisfied with the leadership style of Engr Sule, in terms of spreading the dividends of democracy across the state.

Adamu said they were at the Government House specifically to commend the governor for his exemplary leadership and to restate their loyalty to his administration.

“We are here to tell the world that we have nobody from our zone who will contest against you, you are our candidate come 2023,” he declared.

Senator Adamu thereafter moved a motion in support of the resolution, after which State House of Assembly members from the zone, seconded the motion for the adoption of the governor as the sole candidate of the zone come 2023.

The former governor thereafter invited all prominent stakeholders from the zone to join him at the podium, to declare full support for Governor Sule as sole candidate of the APC come 2023.

He said that Nasarawa West Senatorial Zone is appreciative of the developmental strides of the governor since his assumption of office barely a year and some months ago, particularly in the zone.

Senator Adamu identified ongoing road constructions, the Karu Mega Bus Terminal, the Keffi Square and Neighbourhood Market, as all geared towards improving the economic wellbeing of the people of the zone.

The zone commended the governor for his initiative on security, which has restored peace across the state, especially in Umuasha and Toto communities, adding that farmers are now back on their farms after initial fears that they may not be able to access their farms following rampant cases of banditry and kidnapping.

Adamu applauded Sule for giving security the desired priority as according to him, no meaningful development can take place without peace.

He equally appreciated the governor on the inroads of his administration in the area of agriculture, particularly in the area of attracting commercial agriculture to the state, which will not only create employment for the teeming youths of the state but also bring much needed development.

Adamu then urged the governor not to deviate from his style of inclusive governance, where every part of the state is being carried along.

Responding, Governor Sule expressed gratitude for the show of love by the Nasarawa West Senatorial Zone, stressing that his major desire on assumption of office was to ensure that there was peace and unity in the state.

The governor said he will remain grateful to the architect of modern Nasarawa State, Senator Umaru Tanko Al-makura, who supported him throughout the journey to the Government House.

He noted however that Al-makura wouldn’t have done it alone but for the support of the Nasarawa West Senatorial Zone, for which he said he will also remain grateful.

“I want to assure you that we identify, appreciate, we adore and will be forever appreciative of this support that we received, out of which we are here today to give our little contribution to develop the state,” he stated.

While also appreciating President Muhammadu Buhari for giving all the support to the state in the collective efforts to address the issue of security, the governor promised to convey their message to the President.

Prominent personalities that spoke at the event include, Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Barrister Mohammed Abdullahi, former APC gubernatorial aspirant, Hon. Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, Jafaar Ibrahim, APC Zonal Vice Chairman, Alhaji Iyal Hassan and former Secretary to the Government of Nasarawa State, Dr. Zainab Ahmed.

Another endorsement came from his party, the APC, which took similar decision recently after an expanded coacus meeting of the party in Lafia.

The party equally passed a vote of confidence on the administration of Governor Abdullahi Sule.

Mr Philip Sheckwo, Chairman of the party in the state said the decision was taken at an expanded party executive council meeting held in Lafia.

“The meeting unanimously passed a vote of confidence on his excellency, Governor Abdullahi Sule,” he said.

He added that the party at the meeting also lauded the leadership of Governor Abdullahi Sule for carrying the party along in his administration.

The chairman said the party also expressed satisfaction with the tremendous strides the Sule’s administration has achieved so far.

“In less than two years,  he has made a lot of impact on the administration of the state. On the development of the state, he has also made a lot of impact.

“He has made a lot of impact in all sectors. We express gratitude and encourage him to continue in that direction,” he said.

He said the achievements and healthy relationship with the party convinced party members in the state to pass a vote of confidence on the governor.

Speaking in the same vein, immediate past Governor of Nasarawa State and Senator representing Nasarawa South, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, declared total support to the governor unbehalf of the people of his senatorial district.

Al-Makura describe governor Sule as indusstruous, committed and highly focused.

He said sustaining the tempo of peace and stability across the state which he stressed is fundamental to meaningful development, as well as improving the welfare of civil servants and the governor’s vision to industrialise the state.

Also speaking on the performance of Governor Abdullahi Sule’s administration in the state is a PDP chieftain and immediate past senator representing Nasarawa South Senatorial Zone, Sulieman Adokwe, who  lauded Sule’s tackling of insecurity in the state.

The former Senator gave the commendation recently in Lafia when members of the Nasarawa State Executive Council (SEC) paid him a courtesy visit.

He explained that even though he is a member of the PDP, he, as an elder statesman always commend the ruling party where it has done well and point out where it is going wrong.

Adokwe added that the governor deserved commendation for his efforts towards tackling insecurity.

According to him, “apart from the problem of banditry, kidnapping, terrorism going on in the entire country, we have less problem of communal crisis under the present governor of the state.”