From all indications, the people of Niger state are determined to produce a governor that will transform the state and make more visible impact on quality of life in the state. One can sense this from the victory of Umaru Muhammed Bago at the recent All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election in the state. There is no longer any certainty that money can predict the outcome of a primary election anywhere in Nigeria. As our most recent experience shows, there were Presidential candidates who spent millions of Dollars on the election delegates but they lost the primaries. We can not therefore blanketly assume that Umaru Muhammed Bago polled highest in the APC primaries in Niger state because he spent the highest amount of money. What we are rather seeing is a manifestation of improving political literacy of electorates in Nigeria. Of course, this experience may vary in other parts of the country, it is consistent with what we saw in the APC presidential primaries that led to the emergence of the President-elect – Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
If I am correct that an improved political literacy of the electorates has been demonstrated with the emergence of Umaru Muhammed Bago, then the result of the Niger state APC governorship primaries is an indication that you must write “Niger” before you can write “Nigeria”. This simply means that Niger state has set the pace for a more informed choice of candidates during the coming elections!
Those who are familiar with the history of the three-terms law maker – Umaru Muhammed Bago, as representative of Chanchanga federal constituency’ would testify that he is one of the few political leaders in Nigeria who have strong value for merit, and who have won the confidence of his own people with his numerous successful bills and constituency projects on education and health, among others. Just like Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Umaru Muhammed Bago does not believe in silos approach to thinking and working for the public. He is a strong advocate and an exemplifier of teamwork, and no one belongs in his team except those who merit the positions of responsibility and have the interest of the public at heart.
It is with this spirit of teamwork that Umaru Muhammed Bago is looking at harnessing the vast electricity potential of Niger state to develop irrigation farming, mechanize rice production among his numerous agenda to transform agriculture in the state if he is elected. As things are at the moment, Niger is one of the states in Nigeria that are yet to make Universal Basic Education (UBE) free and compulsory. Umaru Muhammed Bago is poised to achieve this! Consider what it would mean to the lives of the ordinary people in northern Nigeria, if UBE is implement as free and compulsory. Consider what it would also mean to the economic and political future of Nigeria if education is made compulsory for the Almajiri. How else can a political leader be honest than by taking deliberate steps to empower the children of ordinary people with education? of course he is aware that the greatest weapon you can five to any citizen is education. As a federal law maker, Umaru Muhammed Bago has invested in education for his own people at primary to tertiary levels through scholarships and provision of educational infrastructure. Now, he is asking to be elected so that he can take the best known measure to strengthen the foundation of education in Niger state.
As a gender-sensitive political leader, Umaru Muhammed Bago may not be able to implement 50/50 men-women empowerment proportion, he certainly believes in the rights of the women, the power of their education and has publicly committed to making women development priority if he becomes the Niger state governor. I hope the women are listening. Imagine that all LGA Vice Chairs and Secretaries would be women, if Umaru Muhammed Bago becomes Niger state governor! The husbands and families are on their ways to getting the support they need from their wives and children! Let’s see what the people will do for themselves during the general election on Saturday, 18th March 2023.
Yakubu Can be reached on 08036899917
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