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OPINION Why Nasarawa People rejected governor Sule second term
By Abdulaziz Adamu,
Engineer Abdullahi Sule, the Governor of Nasarawa State came into office through an express mandate of the majority of the good people of Nasarawa State precisely, on May 29, 2019 when he took the oath of office at the popular Lafia Square.
At the exit as Governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura left a desirable record of success in projects execution especially rural and urban roads, hospitals, schools and markets to promote trade and commerce.
Besides Agara, other popular names were also mentioned including Architect Ja’afaru Ibrahim, from Toto LGA, Halilu Envulu’anza, and Shuaibu Kore. The postulation was very high from the All Progressives Congress, APC and that was not to undermined the threat of the opposition, PDP in the likes of Hon. Labaran Maku, Solomon Ewuga, Hon. David Emmanuel Ombugadu among several notable others.
Not many people stand out for Engineer Abdullahi A. Sule considering the fact that Sule was not physically present in the political scene in Nasarawa State. When his name eventually, began to filtered, a number of issues were tabled in discourse regarding his suitability or otherwise as one to be considered. Issues of origin, tribe became a factor, however that was quickly countered and was turned to positive.For instance, the argument was that he was not going to be encumbered by the issue of tribe when making appointments or siting projects since he was said to have migrated with his parent from somewhere in the North East or Niger.
It was further argued that Sule was a refined gentleman with vast experience in the corporate world and huge network base that he was bringing to Nasarawa State to add value to the State economy and the life of the people. However, when he won the 2019 election and was subsequently sworn in at a colourful ceremony laden with expectations from the people yearning for new vistas of development and building of relationship among the various ethnic groups which had broken down considerable, doubts began to creep into his style.
While they people waited with berthed breathe for the Governor’s first assignment which was the composition of his cabinet, it turned out to be a huge disappointment as most of the people were donated to him by either the exiting administration or some distant godfathers.His attempt to bring his own men was even more devastating as he assembled men and women that added no value to his administration, his support base further fueled the anger of the people and their determination to throw him out.
Even when he was warned that there was likely going to be a repeat of late Governor Akwe Doma of the PDP scenario in 2011; Governor Sule could not give ripe attention untill when he suddenly realized the danger he was into and trying to salvage the situation became a difficult issue to contend with. He got the boot, even with the civil servants that were visibly happy with the administration for few notable things he did, keeping to promises made were however hugely disappointing with his inability to implementation of the Anchor Borrower’s loan which they had waited for in vain.
Governor Sule’s inability to assembled men of quality as members of his administration stood him out and prepared him for the defeat at the polls as some of them had no contact with their constituencies.This apparent failure demonstrated only one fact and which is that Engineer Sule had not been quite on ground to know and understand the dynamics of the people he was serving and so when it was time, the result was devastating. This was the stumbling point for Engineer Sule’s lost in his re-election bid as many saw him as a man not on ground or in charge and so there was no need for further trust with their mandate.
The fact that Sule was coming from the corporate wall that people place premium on merit, it was hoped that Sule will replicate that in governance but reverse is said to be the case, people lost confidence in his style of governance as a leader.
Based on the perceived disaffection with non performance, people of Nasarawa were only waiting for the riped time to deliver their verdict, which they did on March 18, 2023. And the cut was the deepest!One other thing that got Governor Sule on the opposing side with the people was his inability to stand his ground on issues. For instance it was easy for Sule to vow to prioritize merit in appointment than favouritism. It is believed that he was promising what he could not implement and his eventual tilt to religion in appointment and siting development projects which was a further testimony of being a leader that easily carve in to pressure whenever one was pressed on.
He was largely seen as Engr. Sule in appearance but Governor Al-Makura in the implementation to evil policies and he has not hidden his love and avowed loyalty to “his Boss”, who he believes did him a favour by making him Governor.The people of Nasarawa State proved to him that it is God through them that made him governor and not any one single individual Prior to the re-election, the much talked about Investment were more of media propaganda that any tangible investment as land were sold and bought, memoranda were signed and delivered at high profile ceremonies and until now, no any investor seen again anywhere.This made the people to suspect the Governor’s too much talk about attracting investment in the state as executive fraud or scam.
The people waited for the appropriate time to deliver their verdict and this they did: No second term emphatically, rather than see the people’s verdict from his failure to deliver Beyond All Expectation in line with his mantra, turned a blind eye and alleged religion and tribalism. And in hasty response, Governor Sule allegedly recruited touts to record several video calling for jihad on voting along religious line of which the indigenous people who run plural families when it comes to the issue of faith were left nearly divided.
The threat was so severe that they even vowed that in 2027, the State will run all Muslim ticket and that sent shivers down the spines of many supporters of Sule and APC. And that was the more reason to defeat what was seen and as evil aimed at destroying the unity and peace of the state and her people.
And so when it was time, the people regardless of tribe and faith delivered a unanimous vote against Governor Sule and his co-travellers in this wise.Many more people who knew governor Sule were equally surprised at the turn of events and believing to go the way of religion in view of his antecedents relating so well with many notable Christians in the country and having lived in the united States for many years and saw how people relate devoid of religion. It is believed too that Engineer Sule and his group of friends from the corporate world are conniving to buy off the people’s farmlands that are laden with solid minerals and other potentials.
Nasarawa State people believed that Sule’s mantra “Exceeding All Expectations” was a fraud as they as they said he failed on his value as manifested in the poor delivery in terms of projects when compared to the achievements of the immediate past administration of Governor Al-Makura.
Many questions were asked before the election was where are they roads promised? Where are the hospitals, and the schools? What went for the rural roads were many uncompleted projects, poorly graded with only few and not more than three that were tarred and completed.One thing that is said to have angered majority of the people of Nasarawa State was his continued denial and lying that the State has no debt left behind for him to pick by the administration of Umaru Tanko Al-Makura while in actual fact much debt was left for him to inherit and has been grappling with.
They associated his continued failure to deliver on his promises to the people of Nasarawa State to the State’s high debt profile and which he has continued to deny; preferring to lie to the people than admit and offend the man he calls his boss, Al-Makura, prefers to lie to the people and under perform.
Even though, governor Abdullahi Sule has been commended for efforts at achieving peace and security, it is also believed that he could have done more, blaming him for being tolerant to corruption in high places even when such was obvious and exposed For instance, the case in the office of the SSG where some officers were accused of mismanagement of public fund where the governor could only asked the offenders to “Go.and Sin no more” rather than dealing with them decisively to serve as deterrent to others.The “sins” of Governor Sule in the scale of the people were so many and they grew daily so the decision to throw him out;
Except for the alleged happening during the election at Tunga ward of Awe, LGA and in Chiroma and Gayam wards of Lafia which is still holding Engineer Sule as a vein on an injured ligament as governor, he would have been listed as an “outgoing governor” of Nasarawa State as he was roundly defeated..Governor Sule’s defeat at the polls which is real, happened because the indigenous people feel sidelined in the management of the state and so revolted politically.They feared that leaving Sule for another four years will leave Nasarawa State totally sold out, especially land in and around Karu, Keffi and Awe axis.
They people believed that there was no need to reinforced failure which is glaring in Engr. Sule as they considered re-electing Engr, Sule a second time as waste of human resources and opportunity. These and many other factors are said to be the main reason why Governor Abdullahi A. Sule was roundly rejected at the polls by the people except for the connivance of INEC agents and some scrupulous top government officials that manipulated the electoral process.Looking at the voting pattern in the March 18, 2023, shows that the voting was much ethnic than any other fact except that it was fueled by the understanding that their farm land were being sold off
The indigenous people stay and watch hopelessly how people from elsewhere came to the state through the instrumentality of government to become owners of the state The other factor is that the people delivered a no second term on Governor Sule because of his poor delivery on projects as compared to Al-Makura’s era.There has been very poor value addition in the last four years and so wondered why such poor performance amidst high expectation at the inception of the administration, considering its mantra to achieve “Exceeding Beyond All Expectation”.
In Toto, LGA the vote margin between the APC and PDP in the Governorship is quite slim in favour of the APC, in Nasarawa the situation is the same while in Keffi the win is still in favour of APC but with a slim margin.This is due largely to the fact that the rejection of Governor Sule was unanimous across all parts of the State.Kokona, Akwanga, Nasarawa Eggon, Doma Obi and Lafia, Wamba and Keana Local Government
These Areas where the PDP recorded high votes shows that the rejection of Sule was total because of the abysmal performance.Except for the alleged vote manipulation which is currently being argued at the tribunal, one can safely say the people of Nasarawa State unanimously delivered a “No Continuity vote during the Governorship election in Nasarawa state”
Abdulaziz Adamu, a Political analyst writes from Keffi in Nasarawa State
