By Abdullahi Sani, Toto

The recent article titled “Let the Facts Speak: Senator Wadada’s Scorecard is Built on Propaganda, Not Performance”, written by one Ibrahim Musa Andafu is a deliberate distortion of Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu’s impactful representation in Nasarawa West.

Rather than engage with verifiable facts, the article peddles falsehoods and ignores the senator’s concrete achievements. Below, we provide evidence-backed responses to the claims, using documented projects, legislative records, and testimonies from constituents.

Firstly, the claim that Nasarawa West lacks federal projects under Senator Wadada is false and misleading. Key interventions by the lawmaker include and is not limited to: Facilitation of the ongoing reconstruction of dilapidated federal roads, including: Keffi-Gunduma-Gitata-Kwoi Road (addressing erosion at Gitata Bridge and potholes in Papari-Tattara-Bade axis), Keffi-Laminga-Nasarawa Road (road wash repairs at Pyanku, El-Kabir Estate, and Marmara), Nasarawa-Toto-Abaji Road (fixing collapsed bridges at Kurudu, Sauka, Gudun Karya, and Buga), as well as 11km road plus 35-pan bridge construction at Karshi Jeje, Takalafia (Karu LGA), and Ara Road (Nasarawa LGA).

In the areas of water supply and electricity, particularly solar power, Senator Wadada intervened through the installation of 39 motorized and hand-pump boreholes, sunk across Nasarawa West, including: Kofar Hausa (Keffi), Angwan Tofa (Keffi), Gidan Zakara Primary School (Keffi), High Court Keffi, Saka Town (Karu), Uke Town (Karu), GSS Toto West, and Gadabuke.

Also, 476 solar street lights installed in markets, motor parks, and rural communities, including: Keffi (Kara Market, Ganuwa, Angwan Kaura), Karu (Masaka, Karshi), Kokona (Garaku, Agwada), Nasarawa (Loko, Tunga), and Toto (Shege, Gwargwada).

Senator Wadada equally approved 10 new 500KVA transformers for communities in Keffi, Karu, Kokona, Nasarawa, and Toto (2025 Constituency Projects).

Secondly, Senator Wadada’s legislative work is not just paperwork, it translates to real development. Key bills and motions include: School of Fishery & Aquatic Sciences, Umaisha (Toto LGA) established via the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (Amendment) Bill (Oct 2023), upgrade of Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa to a Federal University of Mining, Engineering & Technology, as well as Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (Amendment) Bill (Oct 2023) aimed at attracting businesses to Nasarawa West, amongst others.

In the areas of security and welfare of the people, Senator Wadada remains unrelenting in his commitment to better the lots of the people. His interventions in these areas include: Motion on clearing illegal pick-up points in Abuja, geared towards easing emergency vehicle access, Audit Service Bill (Oct 2023) in order to strengthen government accountability.

Similarly, Senator Wadada recorded tremendous achievements in the areas of empowerment and job creation, which are beyond “Tokenism” as claimed by …. Indeed, Wadada’s empowerment initiatives can not be dubbed ” political favors” but are structured programmes aimed at uplifting the standard of living of the people.

In this regards, 61 constituents secured federal jobs in: NSCDC, NDLEA, NBS, Federal Fire Service, NELFUND, FAAN, and Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa.

Also, in the area of vocational training and start-up grants, 106 women received tablet computers plus ₦100,000 each for business startups, 290 sewing machines, 106 welding machines, 105 farm harvesters, and 71 irrigation pumps were distributed. 400 beneficiaries received ₦50,000 monthly grants (Bank of Industry Nano Scheme).

In the areas of agriculture and food security, Wadada distributed 10,000 bags of rice (12kg) across 59 wards, 190 farmers received seedlings, herbicides, and pesticides.

On the aspects of education and healthcare, the lawmaker constructed and renovated classrooms in A.A. Sule Memorial Primary School (Keffi), GSS Kube-Panda (Karu), AZA Primary School (Nasarawa), Toto West Primary School, and Zamata Primary School (Gadabuke).

He also expended ₦25m on WAEC fee sponsorship for 744 students (2023), ₦25m NABTEB fee sponsorship for 500 students (2024). Wadada equally donated hospital equipment to 10 General Hospitals (Keffi, Karu, Nasarawa, Toto), built entirely new primary healthcare centers in Ganuwa (Keffi), Ajuye (Kokona), Ittah (Nasarawa), Aisa (Nasarawa), and Loko (Nasarawa).

He also donated ₦2m to FMC Keffi for emergency beds.

Indeed, Senator Wadada has proved himself reto be a Senator for All through his grassroots support. It is glaring that the claim that Wadada’s support is “fiction” readily ignores the undeniable facts that Wadada provided inclusive appointments, particularly for his aides across the five local government areas making up Nasarawa West senatorial district, including 30 percent women, palliatives for crisis victims (₦3m to Gwagyi community, ₦2.5m to Fulani community), as well as donations to mosques, churches, and cultural festivals (Izala, ECWA, Tattara Festival).

It is apparent that Andafu never visited Nasarawa West nor spoke to beneficiaries before making false claims. Senator Wadada’s achievements are documented, photographed, and verifiable.

Contrary to this attempt to distort the facts, Nasarawa West deserves fact-based debates, not propaganda. We challenge critics to present superior alternatives rather than spread misinformation.

Sani writes from Toto, Nasarawa State.