Gov. Almakura and the bailout issue

I was emotionally baffled and equally amazed when I receive a text message in my cell phone from an anonymous person who by all intents and purposes deliberately refused to disclose his identity, and who actually sound so cocksure. He wrote in the text and I quote: “I read your piece in the Daily Trust […]

I was emotionally baffled and equally amazed when I receive a text message in my cell phone from an anonymous person who by all intents and purposes deliberately refused to disclose his identity, and who actually sound so cocksure. He wrote in the text and I quote: “I read your piece in the Daily Trust of 1st April, 2016 titled, “well done Ta’al” I am terribly disappointed in you when you mention that Governor Umar Tanko Almakura has transformed Nasarawa State. So why do you refused to talk about how he destroy our LGC’s? Why do you refused to talk about how he diverted our bailout money given to the state by the Federal Government?” The man expatiated vigorously in order to draw my attention to the text.
I was baffled because it will be a political suicide to some of us who actually believed that Nasarawa State is undergoing what we may rightly called “Tremendous Development”, to continue to keep mute in the sidelines while some political traducers or mercenaries are on the prowl to rubbish the governor with silly allegation that he diverted the bailout funds for unofficial purpose.
I wonder why some people choose to ignore facts, even if such facts are so glaring and impregnable. In a swift and commendable manner, the duo of Hon. Commissioner for Local Government and chieftaincy Affairs, Chairman Nigeria Labour Congress NLC Nasarawa State Chapter and the NULGE Chairman, Nasarawa State all condemned the ICPC for publishing the report which claimed that Nasarawa is among the states where the funds were not disbursed appropriately.
The Hon. Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs explained in details how the government received the funds and how they disbursed it. Also the state’s NLC Chairman shed more light on the issue. He said the funds were utilized judiciously under the supervision of Labour Unions. He further said that when the funds were received, the State Government inaugurated a committee with representative from various trade unions to oversee the disbursement of the fund, to ensure that every worker in the state got his due.
Similarly, the state chairman of ALGON faulted the claims by the ICPC for publishing the report without conducting a thorough investigation into how the government utilized the bailout fund.
If we are going to be fair to Governor Almakura, we must tell the whole world that the governor insisted times without number that the problems of overstaffing and ghost workers must be addressed for the revitalization of local government administration.
Constructive and effective criticism is what Governor Almakura and the good people of Nasarawa State expect to see from opposition, not the kind of mudslinging hatched to denigrate his administration in order to score cheap political point.
Awwal B. Mohamnmed, Lafia, Nasarawa State.