UNILAG AD
  • The Membership Club
  • #EndSARS Dashboard
  • PT Hausa
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
Wednesday, August 17, 2022
Premium Times Nigeria
  • Home
  • Gender
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Special Reports and Investigations
      • Health Specials
    • Features and Interviews
    • Multimedia
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Special Reports/Investigations
    • Features and Interviews
    • Multimedia
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • #EndSARS Dashboard
    • Parliament Watch
    • #PandoraPapers
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
  • AUN-PT Data Hub
  • Home
  • Gender
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Special Reports and Investigations
      • Health Specials
    • Features and Interviews
    • Multimedia
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Special Reports/Investigations
    • Features and Interviews
    • Multimedia
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • #EndSARS Dashboard
    • Parliament Watch
    • #PandoraPapers
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
  • AUN-PT Data Hub
Premium Times Nigeria
BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad

Niger State: Where billboards supplant dividends of democracy By Abdulkadir Isa

byPremium Times
December 26, 2012
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0

The writer says the bulk of the Niger State Governor’s work is seen only in the media and almost never felt by the people.

True leaders smile when majority of their electorates, particularly at the grassroots, smile. To get this smile, people must be the raison d’etre for and cause of any policies and projects, not the ego of those who hold the reigns of leadership in the society.

Ideally, a leader’s emergence, success and credence is not tied to their verbal gymnastics or financial cavern; though they could facilitate to some extent, but come rudely short when actions fail to match words. And here lays the beauty of democracy and the curse of inactive leaders.

In democracies like ours where votes don’t count, leaders just dance to the tune of their rigging machines and in deception, implement programmes only in the media to give the impression of a working administration.

This, perhaps, explains why elected leaders echo and re-echo their so-called achievements to permeate the nook and crannies under their jurisdiction, thereby bringing in the cranes of the mass media in the melee.

Good education may be a good ingredient for leadership, but it does not necessarily make for a better leader, and Niger State provides an excellent case study. If good education were the entire requirement to produce a good leader, “the power state” should be rubbing shoulders with the most advanced in terms of economic growth in the country.

As an academic doctor, veteran civil servant to boot, the incumbent governor of Niger State or Chief Servant as prefers to be referred, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu (Talban Minna) ought to be the pride of Niger residents.

Sadly, if anyone who journeys within the power state, the state of roads will only convince them that the only servants in the state are the poorly served citizens in the state.

The situation of Niger state under Babangida Aliyu explains why a senior colleague, Hannatu Musawa, described him as a man “suffering from diarrhea of the mouth”.

TEXEM Advert

Niger State stands as one of the best investor-friendly states – with boundless potential for agriculture, Industries, tourism, among other economic activities.

It has abundant fertile soil, with the evergreen River Niger to change the face of irrigation farming for good, and to the west lays the Babana seaport to boost foreign trade. The state also has the largest concentration of shea butter trees and the Maringa plant, thousands of acres of swampy areas for rice cultivation, sugarcane and fish farming.

In tourism, there is the Gurara waterfall, the Kainji wild life park, and the rich socio-cultural heritage of the Nupe and Gbagi people to make Niger Nigeria’s centre of tourism.

Governor Babangida Aliyu needs to use his billboards, numbering in hundreds to tell the world how he has maximised the National Cereal Research Institute in his state to fix agriculture, he also needs to justify opting for N519 million as rent for not residing in the Government House in Minna.

Unmatched is this administration’s use of the media to announce projects, most of which start and end in the media.

It is amazing that the Chief Servant, who regularly uses the Minna-Suleja road, to and fro, to mop the monthly federal allocation, never seem embarrassed by the grave-size potholes that ‘decorate’ the length of the road.

The Minna-Suleja road is just one of the many infrastructures crying for the chief servant to redefine his idea of development.

As a Nigerlite, I join millions of voices both purged and too relegated to leave the state in calling the attention of Babangida Aliyu to overhaul his definition of projects.

He should build a synergy between the Research Institute in Badeggi, Federal University of Technology Minna and the local farmers for improved seedlings and modern farming techniques; and revival of the sugarcane plantations to feed the Bachita Sugar Company.

There is also need for him to urgently draft and implement a robust irrigation programme for communities along the River Niger and other waterways within the state.

Niger State produces a chunk of the electricity needed for the whole country, Mr. Governor should look at the OMPADEC document as a whole and pursue a better policy on derivation formula not in finance-wise but the product. Niger state should enjoy electricity more than any other state, this will invite heavy investors.

Investors are finance conscience human beings who work with facts on ground not assumptions and media talks. These are some of the facts Talba must come to terms with.

As a concept, the “Talba youth programme” in the state is wonderful, but after five years of implementation, its success leaves much more to be desired.

Time without number, the governor has been on the media on self-appraisal for the numerous packages his administration has bought to the state. This is all “French politics”. Words are like drugs, its either they are used or expire on the shelves.

Talba’s alleged dream for a future national assignment isn’t going to be merry-go-round as usual. The paradigm has shifted and Nigerians (Nigerlites inclusive) have gone beyond mere onlookers. The country is bereft of qualitative leadership, and the doggedness of Nigerians to change this is no news.

To be sure, sooner than expected, the time is coming when crooked leaders are jailed; crooks dangle on hooks because the books are fully booked. Mr. Governor should know that development comes through the roads, therefore they must be built, the people must have access to portable water and the youth should be on board to help drive the economy forward.

For now, Niger State isn’t green, so we just have to leave for pasture. No thanks to your media-driven administration. But when your immunity is gone, you’ll be so porous with no iota of defence and oration, media might or billboards won’t be there to embellish you.

  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print
  • Telegram
  • More
  • WhatsApp
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Pocket


Support PREMIUM TIMES' journalism of integrity and credibility

Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.

For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.

By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all.

Donate



TEXT AD: Call Willie - +2348098788999






PT Mag Campaign AD

Previous Post

Zechariah’s Sentence, By Anthony Chuka

Next Post

AFCON 2013: Keshi admits Ameobi doubt as Eagles jet out to Faro Thursday

Premium Times

Premium Times

More News

Cheta Nwanze writes about the imperative of compromise in Nigeria.

Nigeria: Imperatives of a compromise that’s sure to come, By Cheta Nwanze

August 17, 2022
Rahma Oladosu writes about 100 days of Echono in office.

Echono: 100 days of progress in funding tertiary education, By Rahma Oladosu

August 17, 2022
Majeed Dahiru writes about Odogwu Bitters.

Odogwu Bitters: Nigerian brew making waves around the world, By Majeed Dahiru

August 17, 2022
Onyemaechi Ogbunwezeh writes that he does not envy the next president of Nigeria.

I don’t envy Nigeria’s next president, By Onyemaechi Ogbunwezeh

August 17, 2022
Rudolf Ogoo Okonkwo writes about Sam Omatseye.

The secret diary of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, By Rudolf Ogoo Okonkwo

August 16, 2022
Kolade and Oyinlola write about digital innovators in the management of plastic waste.

African digital innovators: Turning plastic waste into value; but gaps remain, By Seun Kolade & Muyiwa Oyinlola

August 16, 2022
Leave Comment

Our Digital Network

  • PT Hausa
  • Election Centre
  • Human Trafficking Investigation
  • Centre for Investigative Journalism
  • National Conference
  • Press Attack Tracker
  • PT Academy
  • Dubawa
  • LeaksNG
  • Campus Reporter

Resources

  • Oil & Gas Facts
  • List of Universities in Nigeria
  • LIST: Federal Unity Colleges in Nigeria
  • NYSC Orientation Camps in Nigeria
  • Nigeria’s Federal/States’ Budgets since 2005
  • Malabu Scandal Thread
  • World Cup 2018
  • Panama Papers Game
  • Our Digital Network
  • About Us
  • Resources
  • Projects
  • Data & Infographics
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2022 The Premium Times, Nigeria

No Result
View All Result
  • #PandoraPapers
  • Gender
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Health
    • COVID-19
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Investigations
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Multimedia
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • #EndSARS Dashboard
  • Projects
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • Parliament Watch
    • AGAHRIN
  • AUN-PT Data Hub
  • Opinion
  • The Membership Club
  • DONATE
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • PT Hausa
  • Dubawa NG
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Digital Store

All content is Copyrighted © 2022 The Premium Times, Nigeria