By Boluwaji Obahopo, Lokoja

Ahead of the November gubernatorial election in Kogi State, party stalwarts and supporters have touted the state Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Asiwaju Asiru Idris, as the best person to sustain the development strides of Governor Yahaya Bello in the state.

While the November 11 election is set to usher in a new governor, after the completion of Bello’s second term in office, no less than 15 members of the ruling All Progressives Congress have picked the form to succeed the incumbent governor.

But some big wigs of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi, led by Hon. Opomulero Wande on Wednesday in Lokoja said that the Finance Commissioner, remains the best aspirant to sustain and vigorously pursue Bello’s dream of greater Kogi State.

They described Idris as a conscientious technocrat, party man and Bello loyalist, asserting that the he will make all Kogites proud, if he gets to the helm of affairs in the state.

According to them: “His performance has been nothing but impressive. It is absolutely nothing like those of his predecessor who were before him. 

“His expertise and experience is one of the major standards that has helped the New Direction administration in preparing a people focused budget for even years consecutively with the implementation performances peaked at 95 percent yearly. After about 10 years experience in accounting, 

“In any list of the world’s thankless tasks, being finance commissioner of a state would surely come near the top. Managing the State finance is an herculean task, attracting investors requires an economic development base that guarantees returns on investment, ensuring the financial security of a state is a daunting assignment that requires a leadership and foresight character, acumen and high level of intelligence, but with a stable and focused mindset.

“Getting deals done is difficult, as all MDAs in the States needed to agree on financial reforms as a result of paucity of funds. On top of that, the dwindling price of global oil market has made funds availability increasingly hostile to nations who are dependent on this resource, invariably it affects what comes to the states on a monthly allocation from the Central, posing a top strategic fiscal decisions on advising the governor on the States financial and priority direction. 

“Such is the challenge that Mukadam Asiwaju Asiru Idris faces as the Finance Commissioner in Kogi State. But a good challenge is something that the Finance Commissioner Mukadam Asiwaju Asiru Idris, relishes.”