12/10/2024
AKWANGA LOCAL GOVERNMENT Polls - WHO THE CAP FITS...
Leadership, at whatever level of human institution is considered as a trust between the leaders and the led, or followers. To be a successful leader, the chosen one must always live by example, showing good character in both his private and public conducts. More importantly he should be honest, upright and fair in the management of the public resources entrusted in him.
Simply put, he must live above board. He must regard his position, or mandate as sacred trust which will be accounted for, before the people and God, at a certain point.
The aforesaid are not the only requirements for a good leader. But they are the basic attributes, which he/or she must have in order to be successful, and accepted by his people.
In Nasarawa State it will soon be a day of reckoning for all elected officers at the local government level, the Chairmen and Councilors.
The time timetable/guidelines for the elections has just been released, and as expected, the political atmosphere is already charged. Interested aspirants, especially of the state ruling party, the All Progressive Congress(APC), who have long ago been engaged in underground campaigns, have finally come out to openly seek for endorsement as candidates of their respective political parties.
As should be expected, the contest is most fiercest in the APC. That is quite understood, because it is from the ruling party that the prospects are highest for the emergence of the next chairman of the local government.
Hon. Safiyanu Stands Tallest:
It is therefore not out of place to say that, Hon. Safiyanu, who until recently was the incumbent chairman, now seeking reelection, will obviously be the man to beat, if and when he wins the primaries and becomes the candidate of the dominant APC. Among all the aspirants seeking to contest for the coveted seat, Hon. Safiyanu has the noblest political pedigree. Age-wise, Hon. Safiyanu may be a young politcian, but he has a rich and versitile experience which he can use to great effect.
His associates say he is a personality with high political capacity. They describe him as a person with a very strong character, who is never afraid to take crucial decisions in the pursuit of his political ambition.
Right from 1999, the beginning of the country's current Fourth Republic, he has been a well known political foot soldier who has helped to organize campaigns, and has participated effectively in the conduct of party primaries, and general elections. He did this not only at the local government level, but also successfully carried out such assignments across the state, and at the federal level. Thus he is believed to be very conversant with the political terrain.
Those very close to him also say he is bold and courageous. That he is easy going, but does not shy away from taking decisive actions when it matters.
For the past three years that he has been in office, this unassuming young politician has performed creditably well in moving the local government forward on the path of development. Even his critics will only be economical with the truth, if they refuse to acknowledge that he has brought about meaningful infrastructural development in the council.
As a deputy to the former Council elderly Chairman, Hon. Samuel Meshi, observers and commentators point out to the positive role Hon. Safiyanu played in the success of that administration. They say he helped alot in stabilizing that administration, by acting as a liaison, especially with the youths, and other pressure groups, whenever contentious issues arose in the course of governance.
In essence therefore, Hon. Safiyanu stands out tallest among all aspirants for the Chairmanship seat. Added to that, he is politically capable of footing the bills for APC in the impending election.
His Towering Achievements:
Thus when he became the chairman in 2021, Hon. Safiyanu effectively used the good will he had cultivated over the years to effectively promote good governance with a view to leave his legacy in the local government. Among such legacies are:
1. Renovation Of The Local Government Secretariat:
Akwanga Local Government is among the oldest local governments in Nasarawa State. Yet for many years the local government secretariat had remained a substandard seat of the local authority, not until Hon. Safiyanu assumed office as the Executive Chairman. One of his first action was to upgrade the status of the Secretariat by immediately deciding to undertake the fencing of the premises. This has checkmated the encroachment into the area thereby stopping trespass by land speculators. In addition, key offices in the Secretariat were renovated and provided with basic equipments to ensure efficient administration of the council.
2. A Befitting Legislative Chamber:
As a true democrat, and in keeping with the requirements of the country's presidential system of government, the Hon. Safiyanu administration has constructed a befitting legislative chamber for the use of the eleven Honourable Councillors of the area, with a view to provide conducive environment for them, to carry out their constitutional responsibilities of making laws for effective administration.
Indeed, today Akwanga Local Government is perhaps the only local government in Nasarawa State with such facility.
Until now, elected councillors of the local government have been operating in "borrowed" buildings. In the past years they had to either use the State Government owned VIP Guest House, or any available conference halls of departments of the local government.
But today they can proudly boast of an edifice of their own.
It is worthy to note that the Chairman's gesture has been appreciated by the councillors, who have responded positively by engaging constructively with the Executive Arm of the local government. This has ensured smooth implementation of policies and programmes designed for the advancement and development of the local government area.
3. Roads And Culverts:
Roads are symbols of a functioning society. Based on this fact, the Hon. Safiyanu administration decided to make the provision of motorable roads to be one of its priorities.
Thus a number of roads, with standard bridges and culverts have been constructed in the hinterland areas of the local government. This is helping positively to boost commercial activities, especially the transportation of farm produce to markets.
The Bukku to Kambre Road with a standard bridge has been completed and it is already being used.
Similarly, the Antau Road, in the outskirt of Andaha Town has been comprehensively graded, and a culvert constructed.
Also in the metropolis of Akwanga Town, the Hayin Mada Road, in the Low Cost Housing Units area has been graded, and already in use.
Meanwhile, at the time of writing this report, construction works are nearing completion on Rabiu Nunku, and Reverend Waya Streets, both within the Akwanga Town metropolis.
4. Boreholes/Potable Water:
The climate of Akwanga Local Government is not unfavourable to the availability of potable, or drinking water. However during certain periods of the year, some parts of the local government face scarcity of water supply, due either to the peculiarity of their land, or density of population.
This is especially so during the dry season when most of the streams and wells in the local government become dry.
Thus conscious of the importance water plays in the wellbeing of a society, the Hon. Safiyanu administration has in the past three years intervened, in order to reduce the hardship faced by the people.
In past three years the administration has drilled seven(7) new functional boreholes across the local government, while fifty-six(56) old and broken ones, have been repaired. This has enabled more people to gain easy access to clean drinking water.
5. Markets :
Like all other local government areas across Nasarawa State, Akwanga Local has a number of local markets that are observed or marked on rotational basis. There are five of such markets that are prominent. They are the Akwanga, Andaha, Nunku, Agwan Zaria
or Rinze, Gudi and Moroa Markets. The last one is a recent addition, proping up in the late 1980s.
In their hey days, in the early 70s, these markets provided forum for commercial activities, especially trading in farm produce and other goods. Indeed, traders from within Nasarawa State, as well as neighbouring states patronize these markets. Unfortunately, over the years these markets have lost their bloom, as a result of collapse of infrastructures.
However, the Akwanga and Gudi Markets were lucky to have been taken over and upgraded to State markets by the purposeful administration of Governor Abdullahi A. Sule.
Thus, taking a cue from the state, the Hon. Safiyanu administration decided to rehabilitate the others with the itend to revamp, and make them more viable. Already the Andaha Market has since been constructed with sixty open stalls completed, and awaiting commissioning. Hopefully the market will soon be returned to its former glory, wherein traders from across the state, and neighboring local government areas of other states, will return to profitable business.
6. Education :
In the education sector, the Hon. Safiyanu administration has been complementing efforts of the State Universal Education in a number of significant ways and manners. Indeed teachers in the local government have never had it so good as now. It is on record that for the past three years their salaries have been paid regularly, as at when due. A departure from the years preceding the administration of Hon. Safiyanu. Surely the morale of the teachers has been boosted, and the pupils are the better for it today. Besides, in a number of instances, the administration has been assisting the schools with classroom chairs and desks, with a view to provide conducive environment for meaningful learning.
7. Health:
As the saying goes "health is wealth". Indeed a society's prosperity depends greatly on the wellness of its people. The healthier a people are, the more productive they will be, and the richer the society will become.
Guided by this fact of existence, the Hon. Safiyanu administration has organized an outreach programme. Under the programme many indigent people benefitted from surgery of health challenges such appendix and hyanea. The beneficiaries came from across the local government and were attended to free of charge, by doctors and other relevant health professionals at the Akwanga General Hospital.
It is however in the aspect of prevention of diseases that the administration made the most impact. This was achieved by ensuring that the State monthly environmental exercise was aggressively monitored to ensure that residents cleaned their homes and enviroments, thereby reducing the spread of communicable diseases.
Indeed, Akwanga Local Government, under the leadership of Hon. Safiyanu, is one of the LGAs in Nasarawa State where the authorities ensured that the various national vaccination programmes against polio and other preventable child diseases was religiously undertaken.
8. Distribution Of Palliatives:
On account of the economic hardship in the country, the federal and state governments resort to distribution of palliatives, especially foodstuffs to the populace. The policy was adopted as a quick fix measure to cushion hunger among the people.
For the obvious reason of paucity of funds, local governments in the country could not initiate such policy. However, being the closest tier of government to the people, the palliatives were chanelled through them.
In Akwanga Local Government, the Hon. Safiyanu administration ensured that the palliativss reached those that needed them the most. With the help of ad-hoc committees, the local government share of the items of the palliatives were distributed to especially the poor, and vulnerable people.
Notwithstanding the paucity of funds, the Hon. Safiyanu administration, nevertheless implements its type of palliatives during the festive seasons of Christmas and Sallah, with a view to enable people mark such festivals. Items distributed in such periods include cows, rams and goats. Communities and key stakeholders accross the local government, are usually the beneficiaries.
In that way, the Hon. Safiyanu administration has related satisfactorily with most of the notable key stakeholders in the local government. His respect and goodwill to all, irrespective of political affiliation, religious, tribal and ethnic divide, has been unparalleled.
In this regard, it is pertinent to point out that in recognition of the important role traditional rulers play in governance, the Hon. Safiyanu administration has been doing everything possible to carry them along.
It is open secret that he consults regularly with the traditional rulers, enabling him to feel their pulse, and to tap from their wisdom. This has greatly facilitated the success recorded by the administration.
Indeed, this commendable gesture has helped greatly to promote synergy, understanding and unity among the Royal Fathers on one hand, and their subjects on the other. This has in turn facilitated support for the Chairman's policies and programmes at the grassroots.
9. Peace And Security:
No matter how much opponents may dislike him, they must however admit that Hon. Safiyanu is a man of peace. As chairman of Akwaanga Local Government, he has demonstrated great love for peace in his political activities, and this has impacted positively on others. Indeed his stand against political thuggery is acknowledged by majority of people in the local government.
It is a known fact that, in many instances Hon. Safiyanu demonstrated an uncommon tolerance in the face of deliberate provocation from political adversaries. This gesture has no doubt helped to significantly reduce violent political clashes that the local government had hitherto been associated with, by many observers.
In the aspect of security Hon. Safiyanu has equally liase efficiently with the security agencies to reduce to the barest minimum the rate of crime in the local government. It is on record that the Hon. Safiyanu administration has synergized in a proactive manner, with the Nasarawa State Government, under the leadership of the peace loving Governor, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, to curtail criminal activities in the local government.
Let Tomorrow Come:
It is therefore not surprising that most political observers are unanimous in their prediction that, when the chips are down, Hon. Safiyanu will emerge victorious, to continue with the purposeful and positive service he has been rendering to the teeming people of Akwanga Local Government.
It is certainly a long way to go. Yes, in politics the unexpected can happen. But still taking in to account the peculiar political factors which come to play during the local elections, most analysts of Akwanga politics agree that, the odds will be in favour of Hon. Safiyanu to be reelected as the next chairman of the local government. So, who the cap fits, let him wear it.
- Rabiu Abdullahi is a Senior Special Assistant To The Executive Chairman, Akwanga Local Government.
