…On the stomach infrastructure, I want the whole world to know that all the projects done in Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) were contracted out to party men and women, politicians of all classes, all stakeholders in the state. Even the state chapter of the Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Muslim council were all direct beneficiaries. Then tell me what can be more stomach infrastructure than this…
Adamawa People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Alhaji Umar Bello Jada, aka Calculate, has in a seeming sarcastic manner retracted the calculated call on governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri to fine tune his “Fresh Air” initiative by directing the political weather to stomach infrastructure and constructive consultations with critical stakeholders, lest the Binani welfarist storm reduces the Fintree to a mere tree trunk bereft of leaves on the path to Dougirei Hill.
Calculate is undoubtedly, critically articulate when it comes to political Adamawa, considering his experiences with the past governments and the previous electioneering atmospheres, hence would rather live to remind the “had-I-knowns” than bandy words with the chronic-know-no-politics that arrogate to self the perception of the electorates and perhaps critical stakeholders while offering what could be considered as executive-political thoughtful advice.
Calculate, has a fortnight ago, offered advice to governor Fintiri to suspend awards of new contracts and re-channel his strategy to empowering the electorates, especially those of PDP stock now that the APC has survived turbulence hitherto conceived as dead, killed by the PDP governor, teasingly insinuated.
Calculate has called on the PDP governor to invest more in the people so as to counter the influence of the APC gubernatorial candidate Sen. Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed, a.k.a Binani, who has established a reputation of empowerment in the state in order to checkmate her rising popularity with the masses.
The party members and indeed the electorates in Adamawa state have been lamenting poor human development or the lack of it associated with the present administration, begging for a rethink, re-strategy and/or reconsideration; human development is a collective interest, while selective infrastructural development is rather selfish for a gain game, Tolstoy would in a story tell.
But a special assistant to the governor on mobilization, Saidu Sarkin Zana has in a terse riposte, said, the counsel of Calculate was uncalculative, uncritical as the governor has been running a mosaic of empowerment packages never seen in the contemporary annals of the state since he assumed the reins of power.
In Zana’s opinion, since the administration of Barde, no government established a well structured, practical and all encompassing stomach infrastructure like the Fintiri led government.
The hyperbole is enough for the administrative self assessment, whether or not Zana’s reflected history in reality, whether or not it is a propaganda aimed at deception and ill-advised.
According to Zana, the governor has allowed the Local Government councils to enjoy total financial autonomy and also allowed the people at the grassroots to conduct elections twice. He said such development represented a better way of meeting the socio-economic yearnings of the people
How totality is the financial autonomy said to be enjoyed by the local government authorities in Adamawa state?
”On the stomach infrastructure, I want the whole world to know that all the projects done in Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) were contracted out to party men and women, politicians of all classes, all stakeholders in the state. Even the state chapter of the Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Muslim Council were all direct beneficiaries. Then tell me what can be more stomach infrastructure than this?
“Is there any stomach infrastructure more than the school feeding programme that pupils eat three square meals a day? Under the free education programme, he introduced?” Zana queried.
Zana added that on the strength of the multi-dimensional empowerment, the Fintiri led government has given to Adamawa people, the state government has adequately taken care of the People’s empowerment needs.
“Governor Fintiri has put all the 226 Ward excos of PDP on the government’s payroll as they are collecting N10,000 monthly handouts. Local Government Excos of the party are getting N30,000 as allowances, which has never been done before,” Zana added.
Reacting to Zana’s submission, Calculate said he deemed it fit to withdraw his earlier advice because he could not challenge Zana’s position on account of being privy to the activities of the government.
In a statement he made available to newsmen, Tuesday, Calculate in a seeming sarcastic manner, articulated that “I have withdrawn the earlier advice I gave to our leader, Governor Fintiri on the need for us to halt physical infrastructure projects for now in favour of empowerment to our PDP supporters and also create time to engage with stakeholders to feel free in coming forward with useful information and advice that may be useful for the Excellency to act where necessary so that our soldiers will be properly mobilized to comfortably engage the opposition for our smooth sail in 2023.
“But I’m now guided by facts that Saidu Sarkin Zana has brought forward, confirming this aspect has already been taken care of.
“So, no need for us to waste our time/energy on repeating things already done, considering the fact that Saidu is closer to Governor Fintiri and has more access to government information, coupled with the fact that he serves as SA Mobilization to the Governor.
“He may know better than us that are outsiders, so I accepted the reality of those facts he advanced, hence my humble withdrawal of the advice I gave to his Excellency in that regards. Let’s move on with our campaign as already planned. May God crown us with success Ameen”.