For a state otherwise referred to as Power State, Niger State has not disappointed in marshalling out men of power in the ensuing governorship contest between the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the All Progressives Congress, APC

By Wole Mosadomi

In the time past, the governorship position in Niger State had always been a no contest with the populace playing little role in the final decision. It was always a last minute decision by the many retired generals. That was until 2007 when President Olusegun Obasanjo played a fast one on them after it took the generals a long time to decide, and Obasanjo, himself also a retired general, brushed aside party rules and ordered the then permanent secretary ministry of Federal Capital Territory, Dr. Babangida Aliyu to belatedly fill the PDP nomination form and become the next governor.

Political survival

Now with Aliyu’s two terms about to expire and with the incumbent president fighting for his own political survival, the generals in Niger State have simply resorted to a war of attrition.

On one side is General Gado Nasko, former commander of the Brigade of Guards and minister of FCT presenting his 37 year old son, Alhaji Umar Nasko as the candidate of the PDP. The choice is backed by Governor Babangida Aliyu and the PDP establishment in the state. In arriving at the choice of Nasko, the governor was compelled to rupture the long loyalty of his deputy, Alhaji Musa Ibeto who he scorned in the PDP primaries.

On the other hand is General Abdulsalami Abubakar presenting his son-in-law Alhaji Sani Bello as the candidate of the APC. Bello is also fanatically backed by his father, Colonel Sani Bello and most of the opposition in the state who fume that Governor Aliyu’s eight year tenure has been mostly talk and talk with no action.

Of course, Gen. Abubakar being the national elder-statesman that he is, is openly not showing his hands though few doubt the inclination of his immediate family in the contest.

The state’s most popular citizen, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida is also not showing his hands given the tough decision for him choosing between the son of a steadfast loyalist, Nasko and the son-in-law of his bosom friend, Abdulsalami.

His children are, however, not given to any dribble as concerning their inclination. Mohammed Babangida, who was once projected for the governorship on the ticket of the PDP after some hesitation came out to identify with Nasko. Likewise his younger sister, Aisha Babangida. The two Babangida children have been sighted at Nasko’s campaign rallies.

Nasko, who passed through military cadet training before proceeding with his education abroad served first as commissioner for commerce and then became the chief of staff to Governor Aliyu.

He is, however, challenged by two major issues, his age and the allegations of being part of a government that has not really impacted much on the citizenry.

Defending his suitability for governor at 37 on one occasion he said:”What is important in this journey is not the age of a contestant but the quality of the age since how an individual feels about his age is largely the state of the mind of the individual.”

Expectedly, he has promised to vigorously pursue the outgoing administration’s 3:2020 agenda, which is to put Niger State among the three leading economies in the country by the year 2020.

Policy initiatives

“In addition to sustaining the laudable policy initiatives and fully implementing the transformation projects of the present state administration, we will create an investment corridor in Niger State to attract foreign direct investment that will leverage on our vast economic resources for the actualization of Vision 3:2020. Our Economic development blueprint will be anchored on the Agriculture sector where we will exploit our comparative advantages of abundant arable land and consolidate on the value chain in rice, yam, cereal, fisheries and livestock development across the state,” he declared.

Nasko also promised to look more inward to improve the revenue drive of the state saying,”we will explore alternative sources of Internal Tourisn aimed at creating additional income streams for the state.”

He also brought education to bear as he promised to revatilize the sector if elected.

“The education sector will remain the bedrock of our strategic development Agenda for the realization of Vision 3:2020. We shall therefore not only streghten all existing policies in the Sector which include free education, free NECO or WAEC examination fees, increased Bursary allowances among others but also build additional schools and expand the existing Infrastructure to sustain the tempo of increased pupils enrollments and the standard of quality educational services,” he remarked,

The PDP candidate who is also in his youthful stage has special package for the youths esoecialky on employment, under-development and general youth Empowerment.

“Undoubtedly, the future of our Nation and that of any Nation depends on the quality and vibrancy of the youth. We shall consokidate ob what us being done by the present administration to squarely address the challenges of youth development in the state by strengthening existing and public and private sector initiatives. We shall look into the issues of youth unemployment, underemployment and wrong unemplorement and indeed general youth empowerment to build the capacity of the youth in contributing to the overall development of our state and this will be the golden opportunity for us to prove ourselves and show that yes, we can do it better,” Nasko declared.

However, the APC candidate, Bello has continued to campaign on what he claims as the failures of the present administration and the need to bring a change.

He has pointed out that from what he saw during his campaign to nooks and crannies of the state, the people of the state are suffering from abject poverty because of their total neglect by the administration of the PDP.

Provision of good roads

Speaking in an interview the APC Candidate said, “the PDP scoreboard claims of providing potable water all around the state, provision of good roads, improvement in the Education Sector and Health Care Services in all Local Government areas of the state are mere propaganda and deceit.

“I cannot tell you all that I saw during my tour but I can say I have seen hardship, I have seen people that have no portable water to drink, people who do not know what government is or all about. This is very disheartening that they are part of us but unfortunately, government has not taken good care of them over the years,”

“I have seen areas which ordinarily should take you less than an hour to get to but you eventually end up spending hours. The Education Sector is so pathetic and unacceptable especially in the Girls schools left with no perimeter fencing in most of them and without toilet facilities. If we succeed in 2015, we will improve on all these sectors and transform the state into an enviable one and this is why I am desperate to become the Governor of Niger state not for myself but to better the lives of people if the state who have been neglected and made to be suffering,” he declared,