The report by Umar Muhammed disclosed that “The budget which was christened the budget of “sustainability” would be funded with resources from the Federation Account, internally generated revenue [IGR] Value Added Tax, and SURE-P.” Commissioner Danazumi, for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, who delivered the budget on behalf of ailing Governor Al-Makura, could be forgiven for not realizing that he had delivered the most unrealistic and unsustainable budget in the state’s history.

Outgoing President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, GCFR, should now start preparing for the longest journey he had ever undertaken in his life. He is going home. Although, given any of the fleet of ten aircrafts at his disposal, and a military helicopter, the trip should not last more than one hour. But, to a Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, of any country, who has just been defeated in an election, every nautical mile will appear like ten thousand miles. Each will be filled with unpleasant sensations. And, arrival at the destination will bring more pain – unlike previous visits to the small community which were joyful.

Virtually everyone who knows Umaru Tanko Al-makura, the incumbent Governor of Nasarawa State would testify that the man is an achiever having made a success of every previous assignment he handled. As if he was destined to take Nasarawa out of the woods, he sought to reverse with much passion his discovery that the state had “since its creation been held hostage to the folly and excesses of its rulers”, Governor Al-makura on assumption of office, did two rather simple things which his predecessor for inexplicable reasons couldn’t dare.

The last couple of days has been a roller coaster ride. And what a ride it was! It was a heart stopping highs and deepening lows with an exhausting and exhilarating finish. From start to finish, many of us were glued to the screens and other social media for updates.

As I argued sometime ago, democratic governance is a team effort, not a one-man show. Thus, no matter how disciplined or incorruptible a politician might seem to a certain segment of the population, he or she cannot make solid positive impact if the political structure is as skewed as what we have presently – indeed, it is the single most profound cause of our arrested development. So, expeditious restructuring of the Nigerian federation such that more political and fiscal powers are devolved to the six geopolitical zones is the most urgent political task at this period in our national development.