By Ali Abare Abubakar
For the umpteenth time, Labaran Maku, former minister and governorship candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in the 2015 general election, has again chosen an auspicious moment, when Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura rolled out the drums, albeit low keyed, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the creation of Nasarawa State, to seek to revive his fast receding political clout.
Judging from his past vitriolic comments on Al-Makura, the one-time deputy governor of Nasarawa State seems to have perfected a game plan which modus operandi is to seek to raise dust whenever Governor Al-Makura has the rear chance to celebrate his achievements in office.
This latest tirade by Maku was on the heels of Al-Makura’s showcasing of his effort at developing the state when he commissioned an avalanche of projects across the state as part of activities marking the 20th anniversary of the state. Instead of identifying with the laudable effort of the governor, Maku chose the moment as always to seek to draw attention to his fading popularity by casting aspersions on arguably the best administration in the state so far.
It’s however pertinent to note and according to a popular Hausa proverb which when translated into English means, “If somebody saying something is a fool, the listener is not”, Maku’s ranting therefore only amounts to the words of a drowning man clutching at straws to survive.
Maku, whose political relevance continued to dwindle since he lost favour from his former party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) just before the 2015 general election, has become the weeping boy of Nasarawa politics, always seeking to draw attention to himself even at the cost of throwing away the remnant of reputation he has as a stakeholder in the state.
It’s evidently clear that the people of Nasarawa state have never had it so better than under the present administration of Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, considering the complete overhaul in the management of the fortunes of the state, the strides in infrastructure as well as opening up on the activities of government whenever it became necessary.
Many people were at a loss as to understand what Maku meant when he gave his reason for not to attending the 20th anniversary of the state, even when it was clear to all and sundry that the APGA gubernatorial candidate never honoured previous overtures from the state government in a bid to bury the hatchet and to present a common front. Maku failed to appear before the investigative panel of enquiry set up in the wake of the Alakyo killings. He refused to honour similar invitation to a stakeholders meeting aimed at addressing pressing issues recently. In fact, Maku has since abandoned his right as a major stakeholder to offer any genuine advice on how to move the state forward but instead chose the ignoble role of a rubble rouser blinded by political ambition.
The issues for which Maku seeks to blame Governor Al-Makura are not only far-fetched but a futile attempt to distort reality. For a former minister to seek to blame Al-Makura over the prevailing economic situation in the state is not only laughable but a great disservice to the state and its people.
Does it mean that Al-Makura has a hand in pulling down oil prices that resulted in the downfall in revenue to the state that is responsible for the prevailing economic hardship? Is Maku not aware that the country is in economic recession with its attendant consequences?
The question begging for answer is that throughout his political career, what has Maku done to develop the state? Granted he’s not governor but Maku was ones deputy governor and as minister under former president Goodluck Jonathan, he helped superintend over what is arguably the most corrupt government in the country. What has Maku done to reposition Nasarawa State except propagating the politics of hate, acrimony and divisiveness?
The response of the state government in the wake of Maku’s invective is however worthy of commendation. That Governor Al-Makura chose to keep his silence even the face of such needless provocation marks him out as a leader that can hold onto his own in spite of the campaign of calumny mounted by his detractors. In this regard, silence is indeed golden just like Mandy Hale, renowned woman inspiration speaker, said, “Don’t waste words on people who deserve your silence. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can say is nothing at all.”
Abubakar wrote from Keffi, Nasarawa State and can be reached at [email protected]
