By Mukhtar Wakeel
In Nigeria’s federal structure, the local government system is designed to operate closest to the grassroots, making it easier for citizens to participate in governance. This is intended to shape good governance and provide essential social amenities necessary for development at the lowest level. According to the Nigerian Constitution in its Fourth Schedule, local governments have defined functions, including the provision and maintenance of primary, vocational and adult education; provision and maintenance of healthcare services; the development of agriculture; the naming of streets and numbering of houses; the establishment and maintenance of cemeteries, motor parks, markets, slaughterhouses, just to mention a few.
The quest for improved local government elections is a part of the agitation for local government autonomy, which, over the years, has generated much public discussion in the country. The autonomy of local governments is essential for effective governance, accountability, and service delivery at the local level.
Today, Nasarawa State through Governor Sule’s peace and good governance initiatives, uncommon leadership style and absolute faith in God, who gives all honour and adoration, having entrusted Nasarawa State in his hands, has continued to enjoy the tremendous goodwill, solidarity and support of the people.
As a true man of the people, with track record of inestimable humility, vision, simplicity and candor, Governor Abdullahi Sule has established a close relationship with the masses and united political, religious and traditional leaders borne out of his firm belief in the unity, peace and progress of Nasarawa State.
The Governor’s ability to manage issues of divergent interests and accord everybody their due respect irrespective of class, religion, ethnicity or political affiliation is outstanding and has contributed immensely to the success story of his administration which came on board when the nation’s economy was in recession.
His administration’s ideology which centres on peace and grassroots development initiatives, was carefully conceived to promote rapid development, alleviate the sufferings of the people, give the neglected a sense of belonging and open up new areas for socio-economic expansion. The sound vision has stood the governor out as a great achiever and grassroots leader. Nasarawa State has within five years of Governor Sule-led administration witnessed monumental achievements in the areas of road constructions in the major urban centres and rural areas. Workers salaries are paid regularly. The state pensioners are not left out and promotion implementation and arrears are in the process of seeing the light of the day having recently resolved with labour unions. Youth empowerment and small and medium enterprises have been given attention and encouraged.
The good news about Nasarawa State under the watch of Governor Abdullahi A. Sule is that the Governor has the support, loyalty and cooperation of his Deputy, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe who shares the vision and mission in creating a new Nasarawa State that competes favourably with its peers and some older states. The cordial relationship existing between Governor Abdullahi Sule and the Deputy Governor, is one that is built on trust, genuine love, brotherliness and uncommon faith in the growth and development of Nasarawa State. It is the cordial relationship that has accelerated development and stability in the system unlike other states that suffer setback as a result of skirmishes between Governors and their Deputies.
The Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe is the second-highest official of the Government of Nasarawa State.
The Deputy Governor assists the Governor in exercising primary assignments.
Governor Abdullahi Sule and the Deputy Governor share similar character traits. They are highly disciplined and have the fear of God in their dealings. They are prudent in the management of resources. They have love for the state, they have human sympathy. They are detribalised personalities with zeal and commitment to alleviating the sufferings of the people of Nasarawa State. They are calm. They are intelligent and have human relations tactics. Nasarawa State comes first in whatever they are doing. It is therefore not surprising that they are unbreakable. The two honourable gentlemen can best be described as ‘Birds of a feather, flock together’.
People admire their cordiality which resulted in the unprecedented achievements recorded in the last five years, hence the almost absence of opposition in Nasarawa State with the influx of members of the opposition parties to the APC on a daily basis.
It is clearly written on the wall that this partnership of common belief and understanding will bring more and more developments in the state as a gateway for a successful eight solid years of selfless service to our dear Nasarawa State.
However, their humility is taken for granted which must not be so. The local government election which is geared towards entrenching democracy at the grassroots must be seen as a clear way to ensure that right thirteen people who can be trusted with resources are picked to do the good job.
Sentiments apart, the Deputy Governor is the highest-ranking political leader in Doma LGA whose choice must be respected. People should desist from positioning the consensus process of Doma to religious angle contrary to outcry in certain quarters.
The Deputy Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe treats people on their merit not on tribal or religious consideration.
To us, the Deputy Governor must be respected and accorded all due prestiges and privileges of his office without any cause or overriding influence particularly in his local government as doing the contrary will only smear his repute and excoriate his capacity before the global community.
As a Deputy Governor, he’s the leader of the party at his local government level and his opinion must be treated with some level of special reverence and democratic harmony.
Doma LGA is one local government in Nasarawa State that is sandwiched both by Christians and Muslims which barely one can posit that one religion is substantially dominant on the other. With this, as the Nigerian political arithmetics is one would not be right to take total dominance or political affluence on the other. If one should be gainfully entrusted with political powers, the other one should also at a critical point be entrusted with the roles to serve the people. This would only enhance cordiality, unity, deepen democratic ideals and maximise the potential of the people for inclusiveness in socio-political and religious penetrativeness. This would in the long run redefine governance and the oneness of our people.
Doma electorate must see Dr. Emmanuel Akabe as a rallying point, that would promote mentorship, good leadership and enhanced delivery of service across all walls.
The current administration should be allowed to strengthen grassroots democracy at this critical time of our democratization process.
The Sule-led administration must insist on giving the right thing to the people than pleasing the selfish interests of some few. The people’s choice should be respected and not influenced in adversity.
It is incorrect for people to cast aspersions on traditional rulers in the quest of electioneering. Their offices must be seen with highest level of nobility and not to be dragged to the murky waters of politics for any reason.
Like the Chairman of the Nasarawa State Independent Electoral Commission (NASIEC) Ayuba Wandai Usman had emphasized, these elections must be conducted devoid of political, logistical or social challenge that could thwart the whole essence of instituting a leadership that is people-oriented.
Mukhtar Wakeel is a Public Affairs Analyst resident in Lafia-Nigeria.
mukhtarwakeel@gmail.com
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