The All Progressives Congress governorship candidate for Nasarawa State in the 2027 election, Senator Ahmed Wadada, has said anyone wishing away the administration of President Bola Tinubu is either ignorant, unrealistic, or an open enemy, insisting that opposition should not be mistaken for hostility.
Speaking with journalists after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday, Wadada argued that key macroeconomic indicators had improved significantly since the President assumed office in May 2023.
“That is not to say all is well. Much more needs to be done. But for anybody to sit down and wish away this administration, then that person is either ignorant, not realistic, or an open enemy, because opposition is different from being an enemy,” he said.
Senator Wadada pointed to improvements in Nigeria’s foreign reserves, exchange rate management, balance of payments, balance of trade, capital market performance and infrastructure delivery as evidence of the administration’s progress.
“If the truth should and must be said, let us look at all the indicators. All the indicators that show economic growth and development of a system are all looking very glaringly promising and brighter than what they were.
“If you look at our foreign reserves, when he came in, it was below $28 billion and today it is about $56 billion to $57 billion. Look at the parallel market. All the windows have been closed and unified, which has greatly informed the stability of the naira against the dollar,” Wadada said.
Although he acknowledged that economic challenges remained, he maintained that the administration had laid a solid foundation for growth.
Turning to his governorship ambition, Wadada unveiled his five-point development agenda for Nasarawa State, captured in the acronym HEART.
According to him, the “H” represents human capital development, with emphasis on education and healthcare, while the “E” stands for energy and mineral resources.
He said the Electricity Act had empowered states to generate electricity independently, adding that Nasarawa was strategically positioned to benefit as host to Nigeria’s first and second lithium processing plants.
“In today’s world, there is virtually nothing you can achieve significantly without energy. And if you talk mineral resources, you are talking Nasarawa State; they are synonymous,” he said.
Wadada explained that the “A” represents agriculture and the green economy, with plans to establish three agricultural hubs across the state’s senatorial districts, each focusing on its comparative agricultural advantage.
He said the “R” stands for rural and urban development, while the “T” represents trade, investment and security.
The APC governorship candidate also pledged to sustain the achievements of Governor Abdullahi Sule, whom he credited with transforming the state’s economic fortunes and raising its national profile.
“There cannot be any mediocrity after a Sule. The present administration in Nasarawa State has raised the bar, broadened and deepened the scope of what Nasarawa State is. So much is expected of me, and God willing, we shall deliver,” he said.
Wadada further highlighted the historical significance of the Keffi Emirate, noting that its influence once extended to the area now occupied by the Presidential Villa.
“My emirate, the Keffi Emirate, used to collect taxes up to this point. So we have a lot to showcase and put out there for Nasarawa State,” he said.
He described himself as a grassroots politician with a deep understanding of the needs and aspirations of the people of Nasarawa State.
“I have been with my people. I am grounded. I know their problems, and I know their aspirations and wishes,” he said.