By Ali Abare
My dear fellow citizens of Nasarawa State. Come this Saturday, 18th March, 2023, we will all troop out to our various polling units, to carry out our civic responsibility, as we participate in electing our governor and 24 members of the state House of Assembly.
As we put finishing touches to our preparations leading to this defining moment, I am using this window of opportunity, to draw our attention on the need to do what is obviously of the best interest of Nasarawa State.
We acknowledge that, all the candidates seeking to become governor of our dear state, are eminently qualified. They all have what it takes to govern a state like Nasarawa State, with it's diverse people and idiosyncrasies.
We will also agree that, our dear Nasarawa State is presently at a political threshold, a defining politicsl watershed, whether to move on the path of growth and progress, which requires our total commitment and sacrifice. This may require further explanation.
The Nasarawa State of today, is not the same as the Nasarawa State of yesterday. Nasarawa State has, in the past four years, witnessed tremendous transformation, which has futher projected the profile of the state among the committee of states in the country.
During these past four years, a solid foundation has been laid for an economically viable state that is capable of standing on its feet, without depending on crutches, be it the monthly federation allocation.
Nasarawa State, under the leadership of His Excellency, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, has transcends barriers and limitations previously inhibiting genuine growth and develpoment, to evolve into new frontier of prosperity, progress and sustainable development.
Of course, these are facts that no opposition can deny, except those who are wont to deny reality. The reality of Nasarawa State today, is that, our dear state is solidly on the path to greatness, on the path to economic viability and on the road to sustainable development.
It has become necessary therefore, for the people of Nasarawa State, to renew the mandate they willingly gave His Excellency, Engineer Abdullahi Sule back in 2019, for another term of four years. This will afford our amiable Governor another four years to further consolidate on the gains thus recorded by his administration.
Voting for His Excellency, Engineer Abdullahi Sule on Saturday, will mean showing appreciation to him for all the laudable development initiatives that is bringing lots of acclaim and recognition to our dear state.
For those who may think otherwise, I wish to draw their attention to the speech of the first black president of the United States of America, Mr. Barrack Obama. Obama spoke on democracy in Africa and his words are apt, especially for those who think political opposition is rejecting what is good simply on the basis of either religion or tribe.
I agree with Barrack Obama when he said that, "a politics that is based solely on tribe and ethnicity, is a politics that is doomed to tear our Nasarawa State apart.
"It's a failure. A failure of imagination.
"We can all appreciate our own identities, our blood lines, our believes, that's the tapestry that makes us who we are.
"But the history of Africa, which is both the cradle of human progress and the crucible of conflict, shows us that, when we define ourselves narrowly, in our opposition to somebody, just because we have a different tribe or religion and we ignore who is a good or bad person, are they working hard or not, are they honest or not, are they peaceful or violent.
"When we start making distinctions solely based on status and not what people do, then we are taking the wrong decisions and we inevitably suffer."
I, therefore urge us to consider and digest this auspicious speech by Barrack Obama and to understand its import, as we all go to the polls come Saturday, 18th March, 2023.
Let us all ensure that we vote for His Excellency, Engineer Abdullahi Sule. A vote for Engineer Sule will mean a vote for prosperity, progress and sustainable development. We don't want to turn back the hand of time. We all want Nasarawa State to grow, prosper and to be economically viable.
Thank you all and God bless!
Abare is the Special Assistant on Media to the Governor of Nasarawa State.
