By Rayyanu Bala

Since pictures of Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu with some of Nigeria’s leading business figures, including Alhaji Aliko Dangote,  Wale Adenuga and others, in Monaco adorned social media platforms, some opposition commentators have tried, unsuccessfully, to rubbish the photographs, describing the engagements in all sorts of negative ways.
The attempt by these commentators to portray Senator Wadada’s meetings with Aliko Dangote and other business leaders in Monaco negatively does not come to us as a surprise. It is just another desperate attempt, as usual with the opposition, to paint anything associated with Wadada in a negative light. Their attempt to rubbish the engagements of these economic leaders with Wadada is a clear indication of how far opposition elements in Nasarawa State are willing to go to manufacture controversy where none exists.
For example, when they were busy engaging in their own empowerment programmes, nothing was said. But as soon as Wadada started his own, the noise began. However, all these criticisms cannot stop Wadada.
First, Wadada’s engagement with respected business leaders is not a crime, nor is it evidence of seeking a “shortcut” to the Government House. In any serious democracy, political leaders are expected to engage with investors, entrepreneurs, community leaders and other stakeholders whose ideas, experience and networks can contribute to the development of their state.
Nasarawa State needs investment, jobs, infrastructure and economic opportunities. Therefore, Wadada’s engagement with the Dangotes, the Adenugas and other business leaders is in the interest of Nasarawa State. Wadada has nothing to gain from sharing pictures of himself with his distinguished friends other than demonstrating that he is thinking big for the state. His engagements with the Dangotes, the Adenugas and other business leaders were not chance meetings; they are people he has known for a long time, as friends and business associates.
What the opposition commentators should understand is that Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu is bigger than what they think he is. Their principals know who Wadada is, and they understand what those pictures portray.
Their attempt to resurrect Wadada’s 2019 criticism of Aliko Dangote is weak. Politicians, like every other citizen, are entitled to express concerns, disagree with individuals and subsequently engage them constructively. Criticism of a policy or business interest at one point does not permanently prevent engagement at another point. In fact, even at that time, Wadada’s purported criticism of Dangote did not in any way affect their relationship. Hence, the ability to engage across differences is a mark of political maturity.
If anything, the Monaco engagements demonstrate that Senator Wadada understands that the development of Nasarawa cannot be achieved in isolation. The state must attract serious investors and build relationships with people who have the capacity to create economic opportunities for its citizens.
More importantly, the people of Nasarawa State are not children who need political gatekeepers to tell them what to think about a photograph. They are capable of judging candidates based on their character, competence, experience, vision and commitment to the state.
The argument that a meeting in Monaco amounts to an attempt to “impose” a candidate is therefore nothing more than political rhetoric. Nobody can impose a governor on the people of Nasarawa State through a private meeting. Ultimately, it is the electorate that decides through the ballot box.
And if these opposition commentators sincerely believe that Senator Wadada lacks popular support, there should be no reason for alarm over his engagements with influential Nigerians.
The real issue should not be where Senator Wadada meets people, but what he intends to achieve for Nasarawa State. Does he have a vision for economic development? Can he attract investment? Can he create employment? Can he improve infrastructure, education, healthcare and security? Can he unite the people?
Those are the questions that matter. Already, his HEART Agenda has captured these key areas and priorities.
Nasarawa State does not belong to any individual, political camp or self-appointed group of gatekeepers. It belongs to the citizens of the state. Their mandate cannot be predetermined by either those supporting Senator Wadada or those opposing him.
So, rather than panic over Wadada’s engagements with the Dangotes, the Adenugas and other business leaders, the opposition should focus on presenting their own ideas to the people. Elections should be about competing visions, not about discrediting every engagement by Senator Wadada.
Wadada does not need anyone to “broker” the mandate of Nasarawa, because the people believe in his vision and leadership.