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Nasarawa state is the Home of Solid Minerals blessed with abundant human and mineral resources and agricultural potential which if harnessed can change the fortune of the state. There is virtually no local government area in the state that does not have one or two mineral resources that can catapult the state to Nigeria’s economic and industrial hub. They include barites, lead, zinc, iron ore, copper, and gemstone, among others.
Unfortunately, Nasarawa state has not fared any better in all the indices of development despite these God-given wealth as well as the vision of its founding fathers who made a lot sacrifices to ensure the creation of the state. This situation has been attributed to lack of visionary leadership to propel the state towards socio-economic and political development. Nasarawa state needs a visionary governor with vast knowledge of political economy to build a new Nasarawa state of our collective dreams.
Onyi Anyado, in his theory of visionary leadership said, “A visionary is a leader of excellence who sees what others do not see, who achieves for now and plan for the future, who positively impacts different generations and raises more visionaries”, Helen Keller added that “The most pathetic person in the world is someone who has sight but no vision”. This sums up the political philosophy and ideology of one of Nasarawa’s finest politicians, business mogul and philanthropist, Distinguished Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada (Sarkin Yakin Keffi), chairman, Senate Committee on Public Accounts. He is a beacon of hope of his people.
Senator Wadada is a man of integrity imbued with the virtues of empathy, sacrifice, love for his people and above all, a proud legacy of committed and dedicated services to humanity. His political trajectory and intimidating record of achievements in public service speaks volume of his suitability far ahead of other contenders to lead a new Nasarawa state come 2027. Since his foray into politics over a decade ago, this political icon has moved ahead of time in Nasarawa politics, setting new standards for others to emulate in each election cycle with his strategic thinking and civilised approach to politics. Wadada’s uniqueness in politics has continued to distinguish him from the charlatans in Nasarawa politics, to the extent that his political template has become the barometer to assess other gladiators.
In the build up to the 2019 elections, Wadada was the first governorship aspirant to come out with what he called “State-wide consultation tour” to all the nooks and crannies of Nasarawa state which was subsequently adopted by other governorship aspirants. He engaged directly with the electorate. Little wonder, he emerged as the most popular and acceptable aspirant in the APC governorship primaries of 2019, and would have been the governor but for the then Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura’s last minute endorsement of Abdullahi Sule as his successor. Wadada has a heart of gold and milk of human kindness. Whenever he answers the clarion call of his people to vie for elective office no amount of landmines put on his way can derail him from his focus and conviction and he always emerged stronger in each election.
When most political gladiators are awaiting Governor Sule’s endorsement as his successor in 2027 to dish out peanuts to the gullible electorate with others even lacking the political courage to make their ambition public, Wadada has gone beyond making his aspiration known to the more serious task of engaging groups, organisations and other stakeholders on his mission and vision for Nasarawa state. He has also unveiled his blueprint tagged HEART Agenda for the development of the state. Wadada is living up to the expectations of the electorate by balancing his legislative responsibilities with meeting the demands of his people, executing people-oriented projects, supporting community development, the less privileged, victims of disasters, sponsoring motions and bills that have direct bearing on the lives of his people and adding value to the country’s socio-economic and political development.
His HEART Agenda marks a clear departure from the politics of the state where leaders emerged without any vision or documented action plan for the state on which the people can hold to account. Wadada’s 5-point HEART Agenda focuses on key sectors, namely, Human Development, Energy and Mineral resources, Agriculture and economy, Rural and Urban Development, Trade, Investment and Industry. Fortunately, some of the items on the agenda are what the people of Nasarawa state already know Wadada for, especially Human Development such as education, health, youths and women empowerment, job creation, community and infrastructural development which the people themselves can attest to.
During his time in the House of Representatives from 2003 to 2011, the governorship hopeful demonstrated a passion for education by establishing the Wadada Education Foundation, embarking on massive construction, renovation and rehabilitation of schools across communities, payment of scholarships, WAEC, NECO and JAMB fees, among others.
On health and road construction, he provided free medical services, constructed and equipped hospitals, constructed and expanded urban and rural roads, bridges and culverts, skills acquisition, youths and women empowerment, secured employment from government ministries, departments and agencies, business and financial support to the less privileged.
As a senator Wadada has demonstrated capacity, competence and credibility in the discharge of his legislative duties with his legacies and footprints scattered in all sectors across the state.
Some of his achievements in the senate include sponsoring many bills, attracting many projects to his people in the 2025 budget, dishing out pensionable employment from ministries, departments and agencies, payment of WAEC fees for 774 students, distribution of equipment to 10 general hospitals, among others. He has promised to replicate this feat as the governor of Nasarawa state, if elected.
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