By Adefolarin A. Olamilekan

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Without any last minute change to upcoming President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2-day working visit to Nasarawa State, the entire state is set to erupt in celebration mood come February 17th and 18th, 2022. This is evident in the new look streets of Lafia the state capital and adjoining Local Government Areas in the state would wear in welcoming the president. Governor Abdullahi A. Sule disclosed this news to the public on the president’s working visit to the state.

For the indigenes and residents of Nasarawa State, in the last three years of the Governor Sule’s administration, most have come to believe and see the fundamentals of socio-economic development of the state as a drive towards individual prosperity. It is noteworthy that all the projects embarked even by previous administrations were prioritized by the Engr. Sule’s administration. And this are projects with inputs, informed by the needs of the people as expressed by them at different engagement fora that we provide, especially as it is the Nasarawa State Development Strategy (NEDS). With a framework agenda to promote development inclusiveness, equity, fairness in resource distributions, transparency and accountability in government finances, justice, respect and upholding rule of law.

Interestingly, the government of Nasarawa State has been so concerns and focused on creating purposeful business climate through qualitatively public private partnership medium. Nevertheless, the purpose of the visit was for the president to commission key projects. Engr. Sule with all modesty is one of the best performing Governors in Nigeria today. That is not bragging so much of his solid achievements in good governance. A look at some of his trailblazing projects in roads, housing estate, agriculture, human capital development, ICT, education, electricity power, youth and women empowerment, health, ease of tax administration, improving access to court and welfare of Judges, local government autonomy and many more. What will hope the government would demonstrate through the president visit as envisage. Critically, is the commissioning of fully completed projects that the Engr. Sule’s administration has delivered to the admirations of the people of Nasarawa State. Note worthy is that Governor Sule exemplified huge investment and commitment to security lives and property. And this in particular has made Nasarawa State one of the safest and most peaceful States in the Northcentral zone and investors’ destination of choice in the country.

Going forward, what need to be done? What will be the expected impression of Buhari’s visiting Nasarawa State? Significantly is foremost a steadfast toward 2023 general elections borne out of quality leadership that is piloting the state and APC party’s machinery in the state Consequently, what should be clear from the upcoming president visit. For us is a testament for more hard work intensification from Governor Sule and his team to meet the increasing expectations of the people.

From an agenda, built around developmental Infrastructure; social development inclusions and elderly people wellbeing, education of the youth and; agriculture and food security linkage to the manufacturing sector, our assessment of Engr. Sule political modesty has demonstrably gave credence by practically upholding Presidents’s Buhari popular May 29, 2015 swearing – in speech attraction dictums: “I belong to everybody and belong to nobody” in the running of the state affairs. The import of this is how His Excellency embraced
consultations with stakeholder’s, and political class to change the development trajectory been witnessed in Nasarawa State today.

Olamilekan, Political Economist and Development Researcher Writes In From Luvu-Masaka, Karu LGA Nasarawa State