The foundation upon which a formidable society is built, lies in the ability of its leaders to recognize and harness the potentials of its people and to also align their potentials towards the development of that society remains vital.
After two and a half year of Captain Idris Wada’s stay in office, considered by many as been very turbulent initially as a result of the series of challenges he was faced with on assumption.
The governor's numerous court cases that are even yet to abate, the deadly flood which ravaged nine local government areas of the state, the face-off between Wada and some members of his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under the aegis of PDP Elders led by Senators Alex Kadiri and Muhammed Ohiare, who were insisting that the governor should have done better given the resources accruing to the state.
But despite the initial challenges, numerous achievements by the administration has been recorded amidst its slow start.
Though divergent views have continued to trail the present administration's performance.
The numerous challenges according to analyst had hampered governance. Others however say that the administration had failed to live up to expectation irrespective of the challenges.
But Wada the governor believes that the judgment of his performance belongs to the people when he said he has concentrated the administration's efforts in meeting the most essential needs of the people alongside the completion of on-going projects started by the immediate past Administration.
In his words, “The lean resources accruing to the State,he added demands the highest level of prudence to enable the administration make meaningful impact on the development of the State. A record of 169 projects, which spread across Agriculture, Education, Health, Tourism, Security, Human Capital development, Road construction and water supply according to Jacob Edi, Special Adviser on Media to Gov Idris Wada were constructed by the Wada administration in its first year.
He also said considering the silent landmark achievements of Capt Wada in just two years, many especially his party Edi pointed out are tempted to say he stands better placed to continue as Governor of the State beyond 2016.
Presently,the Peoples Democratic Party, a platform the governor used to win election in 2011 seem comfortable with his performances. The Party under the leadership of Alh Hassan Salawu, has offered to field him again in 2015.
The State Chairman said the governor has been able to galvanize members of the party to toe the same line. According to him members who had left at the wake of the crisis in 2011 have since return.
The PDP's decision to field Capt Wada according to pundits can also be buttressed by the fact that aside his performances, except for those who are not dwellers in the State, the opposition party All Progressive Congress has no chance in Kogi in future elections. Therefore fielding Wada the incumbent will further the party's chances.
Capt Wada is presently setting a foundation on which the future of Kogi State will rest. This according to Odaudu Sam,a political analyst certainly is not a subject of controversy. This he said is occasioned by the number of investors that daily visit the state.
Similarly, since he assumed office as Governor, Kogi State has under Wada being on the world map for good reasons. The State has remained an investor’s destination. Under Wada's leadership, the State has witnessed an unprecedented leap in economic activities caused by series of development that is related to all aspects of human endeavor.
Analysts are quick to say, that the State attained the leap by reason of Capt Wada’s approach to governance; an approach that is result oriented, legendary and novel.
A grassroots man by all standards, Captain Wada as Governor has left no one in doubt that he is committed to the realization of the dreams of the founding fathers of the state, a dream that is to make Kogi State a model in equity, fairness and a State where justice thrives.
The governor recently showed this equity and justice quality when he sets up a committee to look into the issues of marginalization, raised by a section of the State.
Through his uncommon zeal and an unwavering commitment, Capt Wada, has made the State peaceful with members of different political parties cohabiting peacefully, irrespective of political leaning and religious affiliation.
The relative peace been witnessed in Kogi State has remained unrivaled in the country. Kogi is a miniature Nigeria. Hassan Salawu, State Chairman of PDP said the accompany sustainable development witnessed in the State is a product of dint of sheer hard-work, courage and sincerity of purpose of Capt Wada.
Over the period Capt Wada has held sway as Governor, the various tribes in the state have co-existed peacefully. This feat can be said to have been made possible by his pragmatic, purposeful and resilient administrative style, that believes that no meaningful development can thrive in an atmosphere of acrimony according Omeiza Sadiku.
In Sadiku's words, "Captain Wada to my mind has brought to bear, as far as governance is concerned, within the first half of his first term, an uncommon feat, deserving of commendation." The ability to galvanize the people towards a goal has remained his staying power he added.
Corruption has no doubt remained a monster in the nation. But through the robustness of Wada's administration’s innovativeness, loopholes in revenue generation have been blocked. Presently, with an internally generated revenue that has risen to N500,000 million from N250million and likely to hit N1 billion in June, 2014, Captain Wada’s resoluteness in curbing corrupt practices Ameh Omede a financial expert says deserves commendation.
Over 5000 jobs have been created under the present administration in the state. The present administration's youths empowerment program has remained a reference point for other States to emulate.
The rehabilitation and purchase of standard hospital equipments across the state's general hospitals, the health sector under Capt Wada has continued to enjoy its own fair share of attention by the present administration.
The free rural medical began by Capt Wada has remained a flagship of the administration's health care program.
The programs focus is on the vulnerable group in the society, that is the poor and down trodden.
Also, with an urban renewal programme that is on course, a partnership with UN-Habita Atuluku Samson, a Town Planning expert, disclosed that in no distant future make the State become a tourist/investors delight as infrastructural development in the areas of beautification as well as massive road construction and rehabilitation projects spreads across the length and breadth of the State, which he said has continued to remain on top the priority list of the administration.
The short and long term multiplier effect of Capt Wada’s giant strides which has remained rivaled in infrastructural development, Edi says, strives towards making Kogi State one among the top three economies in the Country by 2020.
With an un measured impact in the Education sector, Capt Wada remain one Governor that has given the State desired Education attention. The administration has made impact in tertiary and secondary education, while efforts is on to make public primary schools regain their lost past. The pilot turned Governor stated recently, that he is bound to startle critics of public schools, soon as the clean up exercise in the State Universal Basic Education Board is completed, describing himself and his Deputy as product of public primary schools.
An advocate of egalitarian society, 2016 is the Governorship Election year in Kogi State. Analyst say It may still be far away, but a cursory look at the performances of Capt. Wada, Edi explained has made many to conclude that the governor and his Deputy remain a winning team.
And the Special Adviser Media maintained that as it is said in football parlance, you don’t change a winning team.
He added that with an impeccable records of Wada's mid-term achievements, and his passion for excellence, every indication Edi maintained shows that with his moral up rightness, the governor will finish well.
What is on the mind of every Kogite is consolidation on the gains already recorded by Gov Wada and on the need to actualise all the lofty objectives of making Kogi State one of the leading economies by the year 2020,which he said is his vision.
According to Edi,through the governor's midterm assessment score card and the many programs he has lined up for the remaining months, he called on the people to think beyond the primordial or personal agenda and political differences.
Edi urged that whatever will retard the state from the present speed it has attained must be put on the back seat.
According to him, "For us as a people to launch into the
comity of civilize states, doing things as it is done in other clime, then we must begin to think beyond 2016 for Capt Wada.
Capt Wada may not have indicated his interest to run for another term, our unflinching support is what he needs for the progress and sustainable development for our great state" he said.
The media aide described Captain Wada is a pacesetter, who has blazed the trail and should be prevailed upon to seek another term that will help launch the State into the future with renewed vigour and hope of securing a better tomorrow for all and sundry.
For now, every indication points to the fact that while Capt Wada works for posterity,the people by reason of his good works are asking for continuity and consolidation.
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