From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin
A pragmatic politician, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara state is no doubt desirous of cutting a niche for himself in the state and Nigeria politics with concrete and decisive decisions. When he was the Zonal Coordinator of Intercontinental Bank, Northern Region, in Kaduna state, little did he know that one day, he would become the governor of his state.
Yes, Governor Ahmed was appointed as the Commissioner for Finance under the immediate past Governor, Dr Bukola Saraki, who is currently warming the seat of Kwara Central Senatorial District at the Upper House in Abuja. It was popularly acknowledged not only among his cabinet members that the former banker, was life wire of the Saraki's administration, but majority of Kwara state indigenes believe that Ahmed deserve to be the successor of Saraki junior after eight years in government.
As Commissioner under Saraki's, Ahmed, was empowered to liased with the investors within and diasporas. I was on the quest for repositioning of the state capital projects that the issue on N30 billion bond was brought into the history of the state which is now paying N400 million every months from Federal Allocation approved by the immediate Kwara state House of Assembly members.
Governor Ahmed, the former banker, who knows the secret links with such capital security, was mandated to seeks out how the state could utilize the bond.
Our correspondent investigation in Ilorin shown that the Aviation College which was commissioned by President GoodLuck Jonathan before May 29,2011 handling over ceremony was among capital projects N30 billion was expended on.
Others projects includes; Kwara state University(KWASU), Shonga Commercial Farm which harbour displaced Zimbabwean farmers; few road constructions within and outside the state; Diagnostic Centre which is now under construction on the old of office of The Herald Newspaper along Asa-Dam/New Yidi road, Ilorin.
Indeed, these projects are capital projects.
But the question many observers are now raising is; what are the benefit of the Zimbabwean farmer, Aviation College, Cargo tarmac, KWASU to the development and economy of the state?. For eight years Dr Bukola Saraki spent government, he promised potable water, 24 hours electricity, good roads and best education system to the citizenry. But today, all the on going roads being constructed before the departure of Saraki;s are still uncompleted. Thank God Governor Ahmed, due to ' Legacy Continues….' Syndrome, has vowed to complete all the abandoned projects.
Governor Ahmed, who addressed journalists penultimate Saturday, said his government has review the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology to Ministry of Education Science and Human Capital Development. Governor Ahmed said the reason behind the trend was reduce the high rate of unemployment in the state which is now posing threat to security of the state and the Country.
According to Governor Ahmed, all the Technical Colleges and Schools in the state would be resuscitates stressing that, it would not affect the education policy of the state but consolidate on it. He also explained the reason why Shonga Commercial farming had not been yielding any impact on the state's economy saying " most of the commercial banks that financing the projects want quick return on their investment and not long run return. But project like Shonga Commercial farm is not of that project and that is the reason Kwara peoples have not been receiving meaningful outcome form the bank."
With the Governor confessional statement, many people in the state had now concluded that Governor Ahmed has the purpose in government and he is not such Governor that would be telling people that there was 24 hours light,sufficient food and water in the state, whereas, nothing to show for it except on the pages of Newspaper.
To further confirm the determination of present Government on youths development, Governor Ahmed has introduced Kwara Bridge Empowerment Scheme (KWABES), the programme that is designed to provided job for able Kwarans residing in the state.
In a statement in Ilorin, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ahmed, Alhaji AbdulWahab Oba, who was the former Lagos state NUJ Chairman revealed that in the nine days of the programme, 50,000 forms had been collected across the state.
According to the statement, "KWABES was designed by the new administration of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed to provide employment for a minimum of 2000 unemployed youths within the first 100 days of his administration and also generate reliable data on unemployed youth in the state with a view to finding lasting and sustainable solution to the menace. The Employment Scheme should therefore not be mistaken for political patronage as it is meant for all youth's residents in the State, including non-indigenes irrespective of party affiliation.
"Nine days after the registration exercise took off in all the 16 Local Government Areas of the State, no fewer than 50,000 forms have so far been issued to youths of between the ages of 18-22 years, which indicates that the problem of unemployment among youths was far beyond expectation and therefore requires urgent attention from all and sundry irrespective of political leanings."
Governor Ahmed also maintained that the adoption of the voters card for the identification of the residents was base of the fact that the voter's card was collected by the people in the locality adding that they would started with the real indigenes before any foreigners could benefited from the scheme.
With the development, Governor Ahmed did not only intended to shed light on the governance in the state, but believe that he should be more closer to the people with policies of purpose that would have direct impact on the people.
Besides, Governor Ahmed, with his humility, has promised Kwara state Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ) that he would lay the foundation of the state Secretariat that was abandoned by the immediate past administration. The Council Secretarial formerly located opposite Government house was demolished by Saraki's administration for 'car park'. He promised the Council and National President. Mallam Muhammed Garba that he would pay N1.5 million Insurance scheme for working journalists in the state, but could not fulfilled before he relinquish power. All these are what Governor Ahmed vowed to amend within his 100 days in office.
However, the direction of this administration according to many political pundits has impression that with the shortest period, Governor Ahmed may not sustain the cordial relationship he has with his former boss if he want to perform. A source who wanted to remain anonymous told our correspondence in Ilorin they are waiting for the outcome of Senatorial Election Tribunal before new dimension in Kwara politic would take its cause. Already, Peoples Daily Weekend gathered that Dr. Bukola Saraki, who is representing Kwara Central Senatorial District has pending case with ACN Senatorial candidate. Mr. S. Oloriegbe who is contending his victory at the Election Tribunal.
But the Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in the state Hon Yemi Afolayan in an interview with Journalists after the Election Tribunal sitting in Ilorin said PDP has nothing inside it compound and it won the election open and transparences. The former House of Assembly member maintained that in some states ruling by ACN record has shown that they did not won the election but rigged it through double thumped printed of ballot papers. He added that his party, PDP would win all the challenges case before Election Tribunal before doubting Thomas's.
Nevertheless, whether Governor Ahmed and Senator Bukola Saraki would still be relevant to each other, the Election Tribunal has just begin carving new destiny the Kwara state Politics.
Subscribe to this comment's feed
