The “Change Revolution,” which jolted the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, in the recent general elections across the country had its roots in the sudden change of leadership in Nasarawa State when the government of Aliyu Akwe Doma was kicked out of office after four years on May 29, 2011. This development literally brought to an end twelve years when the “largest party” in Africa held sway in the state. Events in the last elections further confirmed wisdom in that decision and action of the electorates in the choice of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change, CPC which later fused with other parties to form the mega All Progressive Congress, APC thereby ending sixteen years “misrule” by the PDP now turned into an opposition party. Nasarawa State is the Achilles’ heel of the PDP and eventual assumption of opposition status.
For the people of Nasarawa State, it was a situation of “sit down look” when that change decision was taken in 2011. This is premised on the fact that this was the only state that embraced the CPC ideology and its leader to the extent of voters queuing behind the ballot boxes to entrust their future into the hand of its flag bearer, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura. It now became a departure in the North Central Zone where the PDP reigned from 1999.
It also marked out Nasarawa as the only state that the CPC won in the country as even Katsina, the home state of General Buhari did not foresee the revolution of 2015.
Four fruitful years have now passed by with Almakura into his second tenure which has make Nasarawa State standing tall amongst the comity of states in the North Central Zone, and the entire country for making the right decision and at the right time.
One of the most pressing issues when he took over was the spate of disharmony between government and the workforce in the state resulting in strike actions by medical personnel, lecturers in tertiary institutions and the complete sagging of morale in the civil service.
The case of civil servants in the state is worth further mention as the bone of contention, minimum wage debacle, which the previous regime shrieked its implementation took centre stage. Nasarawa State is noted to one of the first to have embraced the policy, implement same and even go beyond the minimum wage to peg hers at N18,900. Since the state commenced implementation of the policy, no month has passed by without payment even when neighbouring states remained indebted to between for months. This has largely been responsible for the cordial working relationship between organised labour and government
Minimal disagreements have been recorded and even when they occur, they are easily resolved.
This is in addition to allocating the 500 Houses located along Doma road which were uncompleted and abandoned by the previous administration to civil servants who have occupied same.
Realizing that roads are routes to civilisation, Al-Makura embarked on massive urban and rural road construction. Lafia, the state capital and all Local Government headquarters are beneficiaries of the urban roads programme. These include the NADP-Makurdi road; Lafia East –Government House- Shendam road; New market-Makurdi road; Super cinema –new market road; Ministry of Information- GRA road; Specialist Hospital-Jos road; Agwai Hotel junction- Ungwan Mangu road; UAC-Tudun Gwandara road; Ungwan Mangu-Kwandere-College of Agriculture road, Bukan Sidi-Bukan Ari-Shendam road.
Others are Johnbosco -Guest House road in Doma; Diamond Bank-Jos road loop and Wamba bye pass- Central Primary School Akwanga; State University road network in Keffi , Awe town road, Andaha- Angwan Zaria, Agyragu- Kwara, Sisimbaki- Kwarra in Wamba LGA, the Tudun Wada- Karshi in Karu LGA, the Garaku-Dari-Amba-Bassa, the Agwada-Udege, Lafia –B.A.D roads. The Angwan Jaba, Angwan Maina as well as Bukan Sidi-Kurikyo roads are currently being constructed.
Since the coming of Al-Makura’s administration, education, which is the bedrock of socio-economic development and growth received much attention. This confirms the trained and professional teacher that the Governor is. Where classes were held either under trees with dilapidated structures threatening the safety of pupils and teachers as well as pupils sitting on bare floors for lack of furniture, Al-Makura changed the situation. Out-going President Goodluck Jonathan, represented by his Vice, Namadi Sambo showered encomiums on the state for effective and efficient utilization of the scarce resources available when he came to commission one of the storey building structures (Ta’al Model Schools) constructed by the government to house pupils in primary schools. For the first time in the history of the state, each local government in the state has two primary schools with upstairs serving as classrooms.
The task before Almakura however, is to is to complete almost all of these projects and make them functional as he assumes the second leg of the race whether road, hospitals, education and others.
One inhibiting challenge the Al-Makura administration was confronted with is the communal unrest among a hitherto peace loving citizenry. This “monster” which claimed many lives and property worth millions of naira, had devastating consequences on the psychic of the people in addition to draining the state’s meager resources which were channeled to maintaining security personnel and providing succor for the displaced victims. Sadly, the once serene state turned into a theatre of war and violence with innocent people caught up in the senseless cross fire that was unleashed while the crises lasted.
That Al-Makura inherited these spates of crisis among communities constituted the greatest setback for the attainment of developmental projects and programmes in the state.
As Governor Al-Makura squares up for the second leg of his administration, there is no gain saying that he has exhibited great leadership qualities in the last four years in the midst of daunting challenges. It is expected that this last lap will witness completion of projects started by his administration so as to avoid the “abandoned project” syndrome. Luckily, with the introduction of Nasarawa Geographic Information Service (NAGIS) which has facilitated easy processing of land acquisition papers and increased revenue for development of the state, investors will find the state a safe haven for operations. Traditional, religious and opinion leaders in the state have no choice than mobilise the citizenry into supporting this leadership for optimal achievements in the next four years.
