By Alfred M.Akwe
Though 2027 is some two years away from now, there is certainly nothing wrong to start thinking and planning those with verified capacity to succeed the government of Engr Abdullahi A Sule, Barayan Lafia. No matter how much he is loved, he can’t repeat the class more than once, and he has done it, and 2027 will be time to take a bow and exit Shendam Road Government House. Finding a suitable Successor can be pretty difficult looking at the avalanche of men that parade themselves as willing successors hoping to be chosen. What I am about to present is not a sponsored bill but as a journalist and one time custodian of the State information and astute manager of it, I think I well placed to see good individual and speak about his or her quality and believing too that the state is in dare need of quality leadership to further the interest of the state. Going forward and consolidating on the gains so far made, the state state requires a man of peace, someone who is accessible to all and can be patient with the people. The state requires a man who is forthright, and his his passion for the development of the state is thoroughly deep. He loves the people and is ready to make the necessary sacrifices to achieve the desired development envisioned by the founding fathers of the state; to create a state with equal opportunity for all to achieve their aspirations without regards to tribe or faith. 2027, my Nasarawa State Governor should be someone who is totally detribalized, a motivator of the people who will inspire them to achieve unite, love, and be able to, together build an egalitarian state with opportunities for wealth creation and self reliant. In view of the foregoing review of the quality of leaders for the state, particularly that can succeed Engr Abdullahi Sule, are very few from the scores of men angling for opportunity to be. Some are merchants and not true patriots. Others see a vacuum being created and hope to cash using old fault lines of religion or tribe.Now that the contest is thrown and having completed the first round of zoning, I dare to present the following individuals based on my personal perception of them, and it may not tally with other opinions. This opinion does not have any ulterior motives, cast aspersions on anyone aspiring to be, as many of them presented here do not know personally, but as a media man that is trained to watch more and talk less, I had cause to watch them very closely without them knowing I was. It is also based on conversation i have had in the case of my job interacted with colleagues and some politicians of the APC family.
Nasarawa West Senatorial District:
My first choice from Nasarawa West, should Governor Abdulahi Sule would wants tostart from there, if he decides to, is Professor Abdulkarim Abubakar Kana.
A Professor and about the only second Professor of law after Professor Onje Gyewado from Wamba, Professor Kana is a perfect gentleman and currently APC National Legal Adviser and Chairman Nigeria Steel Council is the most fit choice.
As the State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, I have had cause to watch him closely as he conducted his affairs at the State Exco Chamber. He did not exhibit the air of self-importance as others were wont to do. He could be very straightforward, frank in taking decisions and in defence of the state. He demonstrated his love for the people and the state in seriesofevents, and that explains why when the state exco was being dissolved at some point in time while he served, his office was not touched. Such a rare display of trust by Governor Abdulahi Sule demonstrated high quality of leadership and knowledge, commitment and dedication by Professor Kana. The way he conducted himself with everyone as he carried out his business in the Exco chamber each time he had cause to be there made me admire his quality as a leader. He showed transparency and honesty and acknowledged hard work and merit. He had caused to fight for an additional High Court judge when was short changed or so as to accommodate a very industrial staff.
A good leader which Professor Kana is, must work to inspire growth and development in those around him and that was exactly what he did. With the support of the governor and other stakeholders, he got that sorted out and Nasarawa State gad additional slot of High Court judge.
Recently, Professor Kana has been on the news report for the best reasons. He initiated peace a conference in Afo land with a view to achieve lasting peace in Mararaba Udege. The peace conference brought together young people and other stakeholders to address the festering blood bathe that has remained a recurring decimal in Mararaba Udege between Udu and Ambu clans.
This, no doubt, demonstrates love and care for the people not just Afo land but reflected the state as a whole. This selfless services all are his contributions to support the state government to achieve peace for development. He could do more, I believe for the state if GovernorSule decides choose as his successor. Like his father, whom i know sufficiently well as Commissioner of education, Registrar in Keffi and UniJos he not shy to tell the truth and have no room for pettiness.
My second choice from the Nasarawa West Senatorial District is the current Accountant General of the State, Ahmed Mohammed (Barade Nasarawa) This is my personal testimonial of him while he served as Speaker Nasarawa Assembly. At that time, I was the Director News, Nasarawa Broadcasting Service, NBS. Our production was discussed, and how the assembly under his leadership perceived our relagation of their news to the background and the House demanded to know why. Rather than take a decision, he pleaded that the Director be given the opportunity to explain, and he chose that I spoke with him not in the Assembly but in his private residence. He gave me the opportunity to explain, and we understood ourselves. With that singular act, he demonstrated leadership. This means that he could be fair to people very low and believes that they have a right to be heard Throughout the period he served as Speaker, the Assembly was the most peaceful, and the state witnessed peace, progress, and development.
He is a leader who could inspire and motivate people towards progress. He is a bundle of humility and very detribalized in his conducted, and I believe he could make a good successor of Engr Abdullahi Sule. He, like Sule, sees Nasarawa State and her people as deserving better in opportunities for self-actualization. Above all, Barade is humility personified, dedicated, loyal and above accessible by the ordinary people most importantly. Accepting to serve as AG having served as Speaker is quite remarkable, humbling, and it speaks it all of humilityanddesiretoservethe people.
Engr Sule may wish to consider him as a worthy successor if for any better reason he would not consider the first choice.
My 3rd choice from that western zone that Engr Sule could trust and pick as his successor, should these two not be considered and by no means the least, is the current secretary to the government of Nasarawa State, Dr Labaran Magaji, Esq (Mattawallen Toto).
Barrister Magaji had a humble rise to the current level and position, and in all the positions he held in Nasarawa State and at the federal level, Magaji demonstrated loyalty, dedication, humility to serve as well as hard work and transparency. These are the qualities of a good leader Nasarawa State would be requiring in 2027 and beyond.
I watched him grow from Adviser youth and sports to become Director General, rural development and empowerment under the Aliyu Akwe’s tenure. I was privileged to report several of his programmes, hosted as guests in my radio and television series, democracy today in NBS, I could speak of his passion for the rural people in Nasarawa State. He very uncommon virtue such as loyalty, dedication, and thoroughness in the discharge of assignment responsibility. This explains why, despite opposition, Governor Sule stood with him for the SGS of the Nasarawa Government. He could be a trust allay to sustain and continue a legacy already begun by Engr Sule. As a federal law officer, Barrister Magaji demonstrated the capacity to fight corruption and corrupt officers as he was ruthless in prosecution. Nasarawa State could benefit immensely if given the opportunity to serve in the number position, and already he promised not to disappoint. 2027, Nasarawa State is yearning for his leadership quality.
Nasarawa North Senatorial District is almost bereft of quality personality for the top job in APC. Most that are there are worn-out coins who have been into the tombola several times over winning nothing and are not worth public trust and, above all, can not sustain Governor Sule’s legacy. The quality men and women from the zone are sadly in opposition exceptforSilasAliAgara, thecurrentDG NationalDirectorateof Employment, NDE. He is sych a veritable young man with character, loyalty and the required capacity to Govern. However, Governor Sule can deploy his creative ingenuity and bring out someone even if he is the opposition now. It has happened before in this state. Aliyu Akwe of blessed memory was not of the PDP, but on the even of Governor Abdulahi Adamu’s administration, he was asked to decamped to PDP and was handed the ticket. It could happen one time more.
Hon Silas Agara, though a very good material, the guardian angels of the state may not be comfortable with his choice. He is the only survivor from the zone.
Nasarawa South Senatorial District:
Nasarawa Senatorial District, from my crystal ball, only one man fits. He Dr Joseph Haruna Kigbu.This is one perfect gentleman, which the job most fit. He is loyal, dedicated, very humble, and committed to the people, anprogress and development of the state and her people.
Dr Kigbu, popularly called Doctor Talakawa, has a passion for helping the less privileged get access to quality health care servicesHe has demonstrated that by organising a series of free medical outreaches not just in Nasarawa State but across the country at no extra cost to those able to access his services. He is hard working, detribalized, humble, and transparent and accessible to the people.
He is a loyal party man with a proven passion for the development of the rural communities. Currently, his hospital project is located in a remote community located along the Lafia-Nasarawa Eggon-Akwanga highway While he served as a member of the House of Representatives, Dr Joseph Haruna Kigbu, he was able to carry all the people in the zone and the state along without distinction of tribe or religion It is hoped that when Abdullahi Sule points the direction as to who succeeds him, Dr. Joseph Haruna Kigbu will be the choice.
He is well fitted for the job. I hope he earns the trust of Governor Sule, the party APC, and the people of the state who will make the final choice come 2027.
These are my picks for 2027, from the array of men and women from the ruling APC and I believe at that the best will be the governor of Nasarawa State, come 2027. (www.krestnews.com).
Very good advicer