BY HENRY UMORU

ABUJA — CHAIRMAN, Northern   Governors’ Forum and governor of Niger State, Muazu   Babangida Aliyu, disclosed yesterday that one major challenge he had to contend with when he came on board, was the fact that he inherited a political class with a mindset that saw politics as a profession and an avenue for making money.

In his keynote address yesterday on the 7th years of his stewardship, organised by Civil Society Alliance of Nigeria in Abuja yesterday, Governor Aliyu noted that the attitude was very retrogressive as it encouraged indolence, parasitic tendencies (maula syndrome) and discouraged industry and productivity among the teeming youth.

“We have, however, been able to move away from that mindset as every politician now has something to offer and adds value to the development process,” he said.
Represented by his deputy, Ahmed Ibeto at the event, the governor said that with Vision 3-2020 he has laid as foundation for good governance in Niger State. He envisioned the state to be among the top three most economically developed states in Nigeria by 2020 (Vision 3-2020).

He said:   “It is significant to highlight that the Vision 3-2020 document has since laid the foundation for good governance in Niger State, within the wider context of our overall development aspirations.

”The vision has remained our guiding principle and the barometer with which we measure our programmes and projects in every sector with the aim of improving the quality of lives of the people we serve.
”Indeed, not only has the Vision 3-2020 law been passed by the State Legislature to ensure sustenance of development projects even beyond our tenure, other