In what can be described as a consolidation of friendship and brotherliness Gov Ahmadu Fintiri hosted separately Govs Nyeson Wike of Rivers and Bello Matawalle of Zamfara states who were recently in Adamawa to inspect and commission some projects including the first-ever fly over in the state. MUAZU ABARI writes.
Gov Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa state came to the Government House Yola through the popular mandate of the people who saw the need to put party considerations aside where for the first a sitting governor was defeated after only one term in office.Fintiri’s victory is seen in most quarters as a return of excellence that would further change the narratives of the state taking into consideration his performance within the short period he served as acting governor of the state. It was a journey full of bumps and obstacles charecterised by landmines all in a bid to stampeded him, but like a dogged fighter and with God and the people of Adamawa on his side, he refused to bend let alone break; instead he triumphed over his opponents. During his inagural speech, he said, “The journey to Dougerei House has been a long one for me and victory could not have been possible without your supports.
Those who followed my journey will know the hurdles, the accusations, my incarceration but God Almighty is the ultimate planner who gives power to whom he wills. I did not get this far because Iam the best politician or better than other contestants. I was simply chosen by God to be your governor once more.”With your supports, no mountain would be too high to climb or problems too difficult to surmount, after all, a leader is only as good as the people he leads. As people, we need each other to progress more than ever before. God hadt deposited on each of us a unique personality and talent our diversity should be our greatest strength not weaknesses. I did not claim to have all the answers therefore, each and every one of you who desires to have a say in how the state is governed is welcome to do so but constructively.”With these commitments and amids so many challenges, he swung into actions to fulfil his promises to the people anchored on his 11 point agenda and fresh air mantra of his administration and within a short time in office, he succeeded in changing the narratives especially in the area of security, education, roads, health, infrastructural development among other vital sectors.
Security as priority
Fintiri declared total war against kidnappers, armed robbers, dreadful Shilla boys terrorising the state as he took the battle to their hideouts. In the process, so many were arrested and jailed forcing most of them to repent and embrace the amnesty programmes of his administration while other fled the state in compliance with the ultimatum he gave to them when he assumed office.in addition to this, he launched a new security outfit codenamed Operation Farauta. He also restructured the security architectures of the state and increased funding of security agencies and logistics supports among many proactive security strategies that make it possible for the people of the state to sleep with their two eyes closed which was a radical departure from the past.
A leap in education
Fintiri revamped the educational sector and put the state on Nigeria’s educational map which saw the declaration and implementation of free education from primary to secondary schools, payments of WAEC/NECO fees as well as other examinations, introduction of schools feeding programmes, payments of scholarship to over 5,000 students, payment of UBEC counterpart fund of #1.2bn and massive renovations of schools across the state among other giant strides in the sector.The governor also embarked on massive infrastructural drive in the state that saw the completion of abondoned roads projects and constructions of new roads across the length and breadth of the state followed with constructions of over 341 kilometres of rural roads and the subsequent approval of over #18bn for the constructions of flyovers and underground flyover in the state capital, the first in the North-east among many other roads projects in seven local governments across the three senatorial districts.
Fintiri justifies need for projects
Speaking during the flag of the fly over project last year, Fintiri justified his administration’s decision to embarkation on this gigantic project as he said,”This event marks a major milestone in the fresh air administration’s commitment to actualising our key campaign promises of vigorously undertaking an urban renewal that would make Jimeta, Yola and other towns befitting models to showcase. “The contract for the flyover and grade interchange in the heart of Jimeta is in anticipation of the ever- expanding population and the attendant explosion in the urban traffic to those who have been counselling that we are bitter more than we chew. Government however assures of total commitments to delivery of these projects and would not concede an inch to failure.”It is therefore not surprising to most people that Gov Fintiri in his own wisdom decided to invite another performing governor in the person of Wike to the state to inspect some of these gigantic projects of his administration. Wike described Fintiri’s achievements as shocking and overwhelming and urged him to remain focused in his vision to turn Adamawa into a model of good governance and infrastructural development.
Wike overwhelmed
Speaking in an interview with journalists at one of the flyovers sites after the inspection, Gov Wike said,”We want to thank the government and people of Adamawa state for honouring us and our people and to also use the opportunity to see what the governor is doing to his people of Adamawa state. I can tell you I am shocked and overwhelmed with what I have seen. I was asking him where he was getting the money to do all those constructions as if the problem of Nigeria economy did not affect Adamawa state.”And that’s what I have always said. Whenever you have opportunity, try to make your people happy by providing them with basic infrastructure. This kind of construction I have seen here is not something that someone would say the governor have tried. Trying is an understatement; he has done very well and I am proud of him and you can only see these kinds of projects majorly in PDP states.”Everybody can be angry, but the truth must be told at all times. What the eyes can see is what the mouth can speak. So those of them that are angry that we are showing projects should not be angry but should also show people what they are doing. PDP governors are doing well. I have never seen these kind of gigantic flyovers in all the North-east states I have visited; not just flyovers but also underground flyovers which I have not built in Rivers state.”I comment my brother Gov Fintiri. Let him not be distracted about what people would say.”
Matawalle commends Fintiri
On his part, Zamfara state governor, Muhammad Bello Matawalle who was also in the state for a two-day working visit where he served as special guest of honor at the commissioning of over 340 kilometres of rural roads also used the opportunity to go round some of the laudable projects embarked by the Fintiri administration especially in the areas of schools, hospitals and roads where he commended Fintiri for his wonderful performance.”I want to congratulate Gov Fintiri for his wonderful performance in most critical sectors of the state. I have seen schools, hospitals, among many other gigantic projects. They are projects that touch the lives of the people especially in the rural communities. This is highly commendable.”I have also seen rural roads about 347 kilometres which would boost the economy of the state by allowing rural farmers to take their products to citizens. Adamawa people are lucky to have Fintiri as governor. All I will tell him is that he should please not be distracted with what the opposition would say. Let him continue to focus on developing Adamawa for the benefits of his people.”Most people in the state appreciated Fintiri’s development agenda and expressed optimism that 2020 to 2021 would witness massive projects commissioning.
