Aliyu Akwe Doma Is The Man
- By Super Admin
- Published 09/18/2010
- Speeches
- Unrated
Being Text of a Press Conference Addressed by the State Chairman of the Association of Local Government Chairmen, (ALGON) Nasarawa State Chapter, Alhaji Musa Saidu, on Behalf of all Elected and Appointed Local Government Office Holders in Nasarawa State, Lafia, Thursday, September 16th, 2010.
I welcome you all to this press conference which has been arranged to address some fundamental issues of interest to the people of Nasarawa State.
This press conference is the product of consultations, meetings and agreements between and among the following and on whose behalf I address you today:
Gentlemen of the press, we would like to use this opportunity to commend His Excellency, Alhaji (Dr.) Aliyu Akwe Doma, OON (Maduachin Doma), Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, for the able manner he has been piloting the affairs of the State over the past 3 years as the helmsman of Nasarawa State.
Testimony of this are the giant developmental strides which were unveiled during His Excellency's recently concluded Local Government and Development Areas tour. During the tour, His Excellency commissioned and/or inspected numerous projects which are of fundamental importance and benefit to the people of Nasarawa State. We are indeed grateful to His Excellency for having this unquenchable passion for the rapid socio-economic development of the State.
In the same vein, we also wish to thank His Excellency for commissioning/inspecting projects executed by the Local Government Chairmen and Administrators of Development Areas during the tour. There is no doubt that the leadership qualities of His Excellency were instrumental to the execution of projects at the Local Government level. We have resolved to complement His Excellency's leadership style by also ensuring that we touch the lives of rural dwellers in the type and quality of projects we undertake in our Local Government/Development Areas.
We note with delight the principled and focussed implementation of the 13-point Agenda which has brought fundamental changes to the socio-economic face of Nasarawa State. Permit me at this point to summarise the achievements of His Excellency in the three (3) years he has been the helmsman of the State:
Security: Provided working tools and gadgets for all security agencies in the State. He provided 50 multi-purpose security vehicles for all security agencies in the State. These vehicles are fitted with modern communications gadgets for rapid deployment of personnel in case of security breaches. Additionally, the State is a major player in the G6 security outfit that provides security cover for the FCT and all states adjoining the Federal Capital Territory. With these in place, security problems in the State have now been contained and reduced to a very minimal level. Interestingly, due to consultations with communities, almost all flash points of inter communal crises have been neutralised. Our people can now sleep with their two eyes closed.
Agriculture: Agriculture has enjoyed a significant boost under the Administration of Governor Aliyu Akwe Doma. During his first year in office, he provided, for the first time in the history of Nasarawa State, about 700,000 (Seven Hundred Thousand) bags of fertilisers to farmers at the highly subsidised cost of N1,800.00 only. There after, he launched an agricultural revolution in the State, tagged, the Badakoshi Agricultural Scheme. This scheme has become a standard reference point for an agricultural revolution in Nigeria, with many states visiting Nasarawa State to understudy the scheme. Indeed, only recently, at the launching of the 2nd edition of the scheme at Andaha, the Federal Minister of Agriculture, Professor Sheik Abdullah, praised the scheme and said that it would form part of the new agricultural policy being designed for the country. What is more, Nasarawa State yams are now regularly exported to the United Kingdom and other markets in Europe, under the product name, PEPA YAM. The export programme has contributed significantly to the income of our farmers in the rural areas.
Education: Information and knowledge are the most important factors of development and progress in the 21st century. The development of human resource through education is therefore of crucial importance to the development of the State. Governor Doma realised this at the commencement of his Administration when he set up the Education Reform Committee to understudy the state of education and recommend ways of restoring its lost glory. Upon the recommendations of the Committee, almost N20billion has been spent to renovate, rehabilitate, upgrade and equip educational infrastructures in the State. Instructional materials have also been provided while recruitment of teachers has been pursued with vigour. Teacher welfare has been given required attention with all new salary structures implemented. Scholarships for local and international courses have been restored as educational opportunities continue to be expanded. The result of all this is that today, the future of our youth is guaranteed as world class education is provided for them.
Health: Gentlemen of the Press, you are all aware of the saying that Health is wealth. There can be no prosperity when the population is afflicted by diseases. In this connection, preventive, rather than curative healthcare has been emphasised. At the primary level, over 150 multipurpose primary healthcare clinics have been constructed while each local government area now has a functional general hospital. Health personnel have been recruited for proper medical attention. The free malaria treatment for pregnant women and children under the age of 5 continues to bring succour to many families who could have found it difficult to treat the scourge. Meanwhile, the programme is being complemented by the free Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Mosquito Net programme. In order to stem the spread and stigma of HIV/AIDS, free counselling and anti-retroviral treatment is given in all government hospitals while a new Board for the AIDS agency, NASACA has just been constituted with His Excellency taking charge as the Chairman.
Tourism: To attract investors and investments to the State, a five-star hotel is to be constructed in Lafia. Meanwhile, the Farin Ruwa Eco-Tourism resort is being developed. The Nasarawa State Cultural Troupe has been encouraged to excel in various competitions. The troupe has consequently won many laurels which qualified it to represent Nigeria in various international cultural fiestas.
Urban Development: Concerted efforts have been made to bring our urban centres to status. Infrastructures in Lafia, the capital city of the State have been upgraded. The 16klm solar powered street lighting project is an example just as other solar powered city lighting projects are on-going. All local government area headquarters are now designated as urban centres for the purposes of planned and ordered development. These will be achieved through the Ariel mapping and Geographic information systems projects. Local Government Chairmen and Development Area Administrators have also followed the example of His Excellency by developing infrastructures in their localities for the good of their people.
Rural Development: Ladies and gentlemen, one of the ways that a government can be said to be meeting the aspirations of the electorate is to touch the lives of the rural populace. In this area, Governor Akwe Doma has done very well. The massive road construction programme of the Administration has opened up the rural areas to commercial and social activities. The programme has now been expanded with the construction of an additional 6 (six) standard feeder roads across the state. In addition, many communities around the state are now enjoying clean water thanks to the borehole programme of the Administration. The rural development programme also includes the provision of electricity to various rural communities.
Industrialisation: The following enterprises have been completed to boost industrial activities in the State:
Investment House, headquarters of the Nasarawa Investment Company Ltd.;
Construction and commissioning of Nasara Water Producing plant, producers of Nas bottling water;
Completion of Lafia modern market and the commencement of work on the Keffi and Akwanga modern markets.
Incorporation of a micro finance bank to be known as Nasara Microfinance Bank.
The reacquisition of Karu International market.
Setting up of two salt processing companies in Keana and Awe.
Economic Empowerment: Gentlemen of the press, this is one area where Governor Akwe Doma has done excellently. From the setting up of the Bureau for Economic Empowerment to the construction of four skills acquisition centres and the training of over 2000 youths in these centres, Governor Akwe Doma has set in motion the programme that will forever change the destiny of these young men and women for the better.
Solid Minerals Exploitation: You are all aware that the by-line for the name of Nasarawa State is "Home of Solid Minerals". To actualise this identity, Governor Doma has not spared any effort towards ensuring that the people of Nasarawa State get adequate value for their natural resources. A solid minerals development company has been established. The company is in the process of acquiring a mining license to ensure that Nasarawa State has the rights to her natural endowments. In addition to these, enormous resources have been committed to taking a mining census of the State to discover areas where these minerals are located and their quantities.
Housing: Governor Doma's achievements in Housing are outstanding. For the first time since the creation of Nasarawa State, a 500 unit housing estate has been constructed for civil servants in Lafia. Recently, a partnership agreement was signed between the Federal Housing Authority, Sharp Little City limited and Nasarawa State Government for the construction of 11,450 housing units at Auta-Balefi in Karu Local Government Area of the State. Currently, as I speak, negotiations are on-going with the Federal ministry of housing for the construction of another 6000 joint housing units at Karu.
Civil Service Reform: The civil service is the engine house of policy implementation. As an experienced civil servant, Governor Doma has left no stone unturned to restore the service to its pride of place in the scheme of things. Adequate infrastructures and working tools have been provided for workers to enhance service delivery while salaries and overheads are being paid regularly, as and when due. In-service training for workers has been reintroduced to sharpen skills and enhance productivity.
Cultural Re-Orientation: Our traditional rulers are the custodians of our history and culture. They represent the best of our traditions. Governor Doma has continued to ensure that there is a return to our cultural values among all segments of our society. Traditional rulers are being carried along and the revised local government law makes provision for them to lend their wisdom and wealth of experience to public administration.
Gentlemen of the Press, you will agree with me that the achievements enumerated above are earth breaking and are there for everybody to see. We are proud to be associated, at this time in the history of Nasarawa State, with the achievements, policies, projects and programmes of this man of vision, Alhaji Dr. Aliyu Akwe Doma, (Madauchin Doma).
As stakeholders in the politics and administration of Nasarawa State, we have watched with keen interest the various calls on Governor Aliyu Akwe Doma to contest the 2011 gubernatorial elections in Nasarawa State. We note particularly the rallies held in each of the 3 senatorial districts of the State. At these rallies, senior citizens and elder statesmen of our state joined all segments of the polity - youths, women groups, party supporters, and indeed, all and sundry - to pledge their support to Governor Doma and therefore urge him to contest the elections.
We wish to use this opportunity, as leaders at the grassroots level of governance in the State to lend our voices to this patriotic call on Governor Aliyu Akwe Doma to, without fail, declare his intention to contest the 2011 gubernatorial election in the State.
We are duty bound to make this call because we have observed lately that some charlatans who have nothing to offer the people of Nasarawa State are taking advantage of His Excellency's non-declaration to offer themselves as so-called candidates in the elections. These people are jesters whose pedigree shows a total lack of understanding of the dynamics of development in Nasarawa State. For this reason, we cannot sit aside and watch the gubernatorial race turned into an all comers contest. Therefore, the main MAN must enter the arena in order for the boys to pack their baggage and give way. Aliyu Akwe Doma is the Man. We are resolved that he must contest this election. The people at the grassroots in the 13 Local Government Areas and 16 Development Areas, whom we represent in various elected and appointed positions, have no other person or candidate but ALIYU AKWE DOMA. He must heed our call. No more, no less!
Gentlemen of the Press, we also wish to use this opportunity to, as leaders of our people at the grassroots, to reiterate our support for the call made on His Excellency, President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2011 Presidential election. The call was made recently by a delegation of senior citizens of the State, led by no other than our mentor, His Excellency, Alhaji Aliyu Akwe Doma, OON (Madauchin Doma). The call on Mr. President by our elders enjoys the full, overwhelming and total support of all our people who have promised us to massively vote for Mr. President during the Presidential election in 2011.
We are confident that with Governor Doma in charge of affairs in Nasarawa State and President Goodluck Jonathan doing same at the Federal level, the future of our state and country is assured. We therefore publicly lend our voices of support to both of them to contest the 2011 elections.
On this note, gentlemen of the Press, I thank you for you attention.
I welcome you all to this press conference which has been arranged to address some fundamental issues of interest to the people of Nasarawa State.
This press conference is the product of consultations, meetings and agreements between and among the following and on whose behalf I address you today:
- All the 13 elected Local Government Chairmen in Nasarawa State;
- All the 16 Administrators of Development Areas in the State;
- All 147 Elected Councillors in the State;
- All 64 appointed members of Development Area Management Committees;
- All 65 appointed Councillors in all Local Governments;
- All 39 appointed Special Advisers to Local Government Chairmen.
Gentlemen of the press, we would like to use this opportunity to commend His Excellency, Alhaji (Dr.) Aliyu Akwe Doma, OON (Maduachin Doma), Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, for the able manner he has been piloting the affairs of the State over the past 3 years as the helmsman of Nasarawa State.
Testimony of this are the giant developmental strides which were unveiled during His Excellency's recently concluded Local Government and Development Areas tour. During the tour, His Excellency commissioned and/or inspected numerous projects which are of fundamental importance and benefit to the people of Nasarawa State. We are indeed grateful to His Excellency for having this unquenchable passion for the rapid socio-economic development of the State.
In the same vein, we also wish to thank His Excellency for commissioning/inspecting projects executed by the Local Government Chairmen and Administrators of Development Areas during the tour. There is no doubt that the leadership qualities of His Excellency were instrumental to the execution of projects at the Local Government level. We have resolved to complement His Excellency's leadership style by also ensuring that we touch the lives of rural dwellers in the type and quality of projects we undertake in our Local Government/Development Areas.
We note with delight the principled and focussed implementation of the 13-point Agenda which has brought fundamental changes to the socio-economic face of Nasarawa State. Permit me at this point to summarise the achievements of His Excellency in the three (3) years he has been the helmsman of the State:
Security: Provided working tools and gadgets for all security agencies in the State. He provided 50 multi-purpose security vehicles for all security agencies in the State. These vehicles are fitted with modern communications gadgets for rapid deployment of personnel in case of security breaches. Additionally, the State is a major player in the G6 security outfit that provides security cover for the FCT and all states adjoining the Federal Capital Territory. With these in place, security problems in the State have now been contained and reduced to a very minimal level. Interestingly, due to consultations with communities, almost all flash points of inter communal crises have been neutralised. Our people can now sleep with their two eyes closed.
Agriculture: Agriculture has enjoyed a significant boost under the Administration of Governor Aliyu Akwe Doma. During his first year in office, he provided, for the first time in the history of Nasarawa State, about 700,000 (Seven Hundred Thousand) bags of fertilisers to farmers at the highly subsidised cost of N1,800.00 only. There after, he launched an agricultural revolution in the State, tagged, the Badakoshi Agricultural Scheme. This scheme has become a standard reference point for an agricultural revolution in Nigeria, with many states visiting Nasarawa State to understudy the scheme. Indeed, only recently, at the launching of the 2nd edition of the scheme at Andaha, the Federal Minister of Agriculture, Professor Sheik Abdullah, praised the scheme and said that it would form part of the new agricultural policy being designed for the country. What is more, Nasarawa State yams are now regularly exported to the United Kingdom and other markets in Europe, under the product name, PEPA YAM. The export programme has contributed significantly to the income of our farmers in the rural areas.
Education: Information and knowledge are the most important factors of development and progress in the 21st century. The development of human resource through education is therefore of crucial importance to the development of the State. Governor Doma realised this at the commencement of his Administration when he set up the Education Reform Committee to understudy the state of education and recommend ways of restoring its lost glory. Upon the recommendations of the Committee, almost N20billion has been spent to renovate, rehabilitate, upgrade and equip educational infrastructures in the State. Instructional materials have also been provided while recruitment of teachers has been pursued with vigour. Teacher welfare has been given required attention with all new salary structures implemented. Scholarships for local and international courses have been restored as educational opportunities continue to be expanded. The result of all this is that today, the future of our youth is guaranteed as world class education is provided for them.
Health: Gentlemen of the Press, you are all aware of the saying that Health is wealth. There can be no prosperity when the population is afflicted by diseases. In this connection, preventive, rather than curative healthcare has been emphasised. At the primary level, over 150 multipurpose primary healthcare clinics have been constructed while each local government area now has a functional general hospital. Health personnel have been recruited for proper medical attention. The free malaria treatment for pregnant women and children under the age of 5 continues to bring succour to many families who could have found it difficult to treat the scourge. Meanwhile, the programme is being complemented by the free Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Mosquito Net programme. In order to stem the spread and stigma of HIV/AIDS, free counselling and anti-retroviral treatment is given in all government hospitals while a new Board for the AIDS agency, NASACA has just been constituted with His Excellency taking charge as the Chairman.
Tourism: To attract investors and investments to the State, a five-star hotel is to be constructed in Lafia. Meanwhile, the Farin Ruwa Eco-Tourism resort is being developed. The Nasarawa State Cultural Troupe has been encouraged to excel in various competitions. The troupe has consequently won many laurels which qualified it to represent Nigeria in various international cultural fiestas.
Urban Development: Concerted efforts have been made to bring our urban centres to status. Infrastructures in Lafia, the capital city of the State have been upgraded. The 16klm solar powered street lighting project is an example just as other solar powered city lighting projects are on-going. All local government area headquarters are now designated as urban centres for the purposes of planned and ordered development. These will be achieved through the Ariel mapping and Geographic information systems projects. Local Government Chairmen and Development Area Administrators have also followed the example of His Excellency by developing infrastructures in their localities for the good of their people.
Rural Development: Ladies and gentlemen, one of the ways that a government can be said to be meeting the aspirations of the electorate is to touch the lives of the rural populace. In this area, Governor Akwe Doma has done very well. The massive road construction programme of the Administration has opened up the rural areas to commercial and social activities. The programme has now been expanded with the construction of an additional 6 (six) standard feeder roads across the state. In addition, many communities around the state are now enjoying clean water thanks to the borehole programme of the Administration. The rural development programme also includes the provision of electricity to various rural communities.
Industrialisation: The following enterprises have been completed to boost industrial activities in the State:
Investment House, headquarters of the Nasarawa Investment Company Ltd.;
Construction and commissioning of Nasara Water Producing plant, producers of Nas bottling water;
Completion of Lafia modern market and the commencement of work on the Keffi and Akwanga modern markets.
Incorporation of a micro finance bank to be known as Nasara Microfinance Bank.
The reacquisition of Karu International market.
Setting up of two salt processing companies in Keana and Awe.
Economic Empowerment: Gentlemen of the press, this is one area where Governor Akwe Doma has done excellently. From the setting up of the Bureau for Economic Empowerment to the construction of four skills acquisition centres and the training of over 2000 youths in these centres, Governor Akwe Doma has set in motion the programme that will forever change the destiny of these young men and women for the better.
Solid Minerals Exploitation: You are all aware that the by-line for the name of Nasarawa State is "Home of Solid Minerals". To actualise this identity, Governor Doma has not spared any effort towards ensuring that the people of Nasarawa State get adequate value for their natural resources. A solid minerals development company has been established. The company is in the process of acquiring a mining license to ensure that Nasarawa State has the rights to her natural endowments. In addition to these, enormous resources have been committed to taking a mining census of the State to discover areas where these minerals are located and their quantities.
Housing: Governor Doma's achievements in Housing are outstanding. For the first time since the creation of Nasarawa State, a 500 unit housing estate has been constructed for civil servants in Lafia. Recently, a partnership agreement was signed between the Federal Housing Authority, Sharp Little City limited and Nasarawa State Government for the construction of 11,450 housing units at Auta-Balefi in Karu Local Government Area of the State. Currently, as I speak, negotiations are on-going with the Federal ministry of housing for the construction of another 6000 joint housing units at Karu.
Civil Service Reform: The civil service is the engine house of policy implementation. As an experienced civil servant, Governor Doma has left no stone unturned to restore the service to its pride of place in the scheme of things. Adequate infrastructures and working tools have been provided for workers to enhance service delivery while salaries and overheads are being paid regularly, as and when due. In-service training for workers has been reintroduced to sharpen skills and enhance productivity.
Cultural Re-Orientation: Our traditional rulers are the custodians of our history and culture. They represent the best of our traditions. Governor Doma has continued to ensure that there is a return to our cultural values among all segments of our society. Traditional rulers are being carried along and the revised local government law makes provision for them to lend their wisdom and wealth of experience to public administration.
Gentlemen of the Press, you will agree with me that the achievements enumerated above are earth breaking and are there for everybody to see. We are proud to be associated, at this time in the history of Nasarawa State, with the achievements, policies, projects and programmes of this man of vision, Alhaji Dr. Aliyu Akwe Doma, (Madauchin Doma).
As stakeholders in the politics and administration of Nasarawa State, we have watched with keen interest the various calls on Governor Aliyu Akwe Doma to contest the 2011 gubernatorial elections in Nasarawa State. We note particularly the rallies held in each of the 3 senatorial districts of the State. At these rallies, senior citizens and elder statesmen of our state joined all segments of the polity - youths, women groups, party supporters, and indeed, all and sundry - to pledge their support to Governor Doma and therefore urge him to contest the elections.
We wish to use this opportunity, as leaders at the grassroots level of governance in the State to lend our voices to this patriotic call on Governor Aliyu Akwe Doma to, without fail, declare his intention to contest the 2011 gubernatorial election in the State.
We are duty bound to make this call because we have observed lately that some charlatans who have nothing to offer the people of Nasarawa State are taking advantage of His Excellency's non-declaration to offer themselves as so-called candidates in the elections. These people are jesters whose pedigree shows a total lack of understanding of the dynamics of development in Nasarawa State. For this reason, we cannot sit aside and watch the gubernatorial race turned into an all comers contest. Therefore, the main MAN must enter the arena in order for the boys to pack their baggage and give way. Aliyu Akwe Doma is the Man. We are resolved that he must contest this election. The people at the grassroots in the 13 Local Government Areas and 16 Development Areas, whom we represent in various elected and appointed positions, have no other person or candidate but ALIYU AKWE DOMA. He must heed our call. No more, no less!
Gentlemen of the Press, we also wish to use this opportunity to, as leaders of our people at the grassroots, to reiterate our support for the call made on His Excellency, President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2011 Presidential election. The call was made recently by a delegation of senior citizens of the State, led by no other than our mentor, His Excellency, Alhaji Aliyu Akwe Doma, OON (Madauchin Doma). The call on Mr. President by our elders enjoys the full, overwhelming and total support of all our people who have promised us to massively vote for Mr. President during the Presidential election in 2011.
We are confident that with Governor Doma in charge of affairs in Nasarawa State and President Goodluck Jonathan doing same at the Federal level, the future of our state and country is assured. We therefore publicly lend our voices of support to both of them to contest the 2011 elections.
On this note, gentlemen of the Press, I thank you for you attention.
