THE governorship election in Nasarawa State on Saturday presents an interesting scenario. It perhaps will be one of the toughest in the country and may be shaped by the same factors easily accepted to have determined the outcome of the just concluded presidential elections.

As campaigns are being wound up, it has become clear that it is going to be a straight fight between the incumbent governor Alhaji Umaru Tanko Al Makura of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and two other candidates, former Information Minister, Labaran Maku flying the flag of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and Alhaji Yusuf Agabi of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Al Makura who is concluding his first term aspires to take a second shot, while Agabi believes the PDP must return to the Shendam Road Government House where the party had called the shots for twelve years before Al Makura its former member crossed over to another party to clinch the seat. Both candidates are from the South senatorial zone which like the West has produced governors of the state for two terms of eight years each in the 16 years period of the return of democracy in the country.

Maku, vociferous as ever, drums it to the ear of everyone who cares to listen that justice and equity demand that his zone Nasarawa North should produce the next governor. This he claims is the principal reason he quit the PDP after the party’s primaries, aside a deep seated conviction that he has the requisite credentials for the task and had worked sacrificially to maintain the party in the past four years. This position is justified in line with the just concluded elections that produced a president from the North in keeping with the rotational option which Nigerians accept to entrench equity and justice, the corollary of peace and even development.

Since the return of democratic rule in 1999, Nasarawa has had three governors namely Dr. Abdullahi Adamu (Sartin Yakin Keffi) from Nasarawa West (Kefi axis and surrounding local government areas) 1999 -2007 and from the Nasarawa South (Lafia and adjoining local government areas) Alhaji Aliu Akwe Doma (2007 – 2011) and Al Makura (2011 to date). Nasarawa North (Akwanga, Eggon and Wamba councils) is yet to occupy the post.

For Maku in particular and indeed all the other candidates, the postponement of the elections for six weeks has helped to bolster their campaigns. The few weeks period between the conclusion of the primaries and the election as previously scheduled proved insufficient to engage in meaningful campaigns, more so for Maku who left a party that was easily his trade name to another party relatively unfamiliar in the state. Barely three months after, it is fascinating to see how APGA has become a household name in Nasarawa and is now among the top contending parties in the Saturday elections just because of the entrance of one man.

In the campaigns, besides zoning, three other issues are easily dominant namely security, infrastructural development and economic emancipation. It has been an interesting scenario watching each of the candidates show grasp of them. Infrastructural and economic development is key in every election discourse and indeed governance in virtually all clime. Nasarawa no doubt is in a haste for development in all areas.

One of the newest states created in the country in 1996, the state has contended with poor revenue base amidst infrastructural, human capital and social needs. Internally generated revenue has been a source of concern and its share of the statutory allocation barely scratches the challenges. The first civilian administration laid a solid foundation which yearns to be built upon as seen in education, health, rural roads construction, housing and other areas. Anyone who aspires to lead the state must have an articulated programme on how to harness the revenue potential of the state and administer it in the areas that will impact most in the development of the state. Maku by experience and character appear most suited for this onerous task. His manifesto is the best.

On security Nasarawa is a special case rivaled by a very few states in the country. In the past four years there have been serious security breaches that have tremendously threatened the good neighbourliness of the diverse groups in the state. So many lives have been lost including security men and properties destroyed. Some of the displaced persons are yet to return to their homes for fear of more attacks.

The other candidates believe that Al Makura has not done enough to check mate these skirmishes. In fact, that he has even fuelled them through his government’s programmes and activities. The state often witness communal clashes and conflagrations which pose serious challenges to governments at all levels. This has been the pattern since the creation of the state.

When the candidates met last weekend at the Mada Day celebrations, expectedly the issue of security was brought to the fore particularly as it affects this weekend’s elections. They embraced one another and spoke on the need to call their supporters to order to respect the will of the people at the polls. Indeed like Maku said at the cultural event, the political ambition of the candidates is not worth the blood of any person. Words on the marble.

Mr. Collins Obibi, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos.