Lamido: A shining politician at 69

From 1999 when Nigeria returned to democratic rule, the goal has been to run the country in an atmosphere of efficient reform, sound economic policies and good governance after many years of military rule. But that goal has virtually remained a moving target.  While some are of the belief that lack of vibrant political opposition […]

From 1999 when Nigeria returned to democratic rule, the goal has been to run the country in an atmosphere of efficient reform, sound economic policies and good governance after many years of military rule. But that goal has virtually remained a moving target. 

While some are of the belief that lack of vibrant political opposition and paucity of long time consistent politicians are responsible for the nation’s stunted growth, others believe that absence of development plan was responsible for that.

But is that the end of the road for the country?

A close look at the political life, leadership style and experience of Alhaji Sule Lamido would no doubt keep hope alive.

Lamido is just celebrating his 69th birthday. But while he chose to celebrate it without fun and pageantry, a close look at his antecedents as Minister and political leader would relieve people’s hope in the future of this country, particularly if he accept to contest the 2019 Presidential Election.

When he was elected Jigawa state governor, he met a state that was reeling off the track of development and was on the brink of collapse, economically. All indices of development are missing and people are losing direction of where to go. But now the state is set on the right track of development, courtesy of his sound economic, educational and social policies and good administration.

The Lamido style of administration has saved Jigawa state that was gradually slipping into abyss from going under, due to the effect of heavy debt overhang, infrastructural decay, bad governance and misuse of political power of the past administrations before his.

Prior to Lamido’s emergence as governor, Jigawa state was more like an orphan. It was a state without hope or a future to look up to. But now it has been rescued. His courage, vision and character have set the tone of the state’s steady growth, amidst challenges, and difficult tasks.

As 2019 inches closer, no one is in doubt that Lamido has a lot of wit. Politically, he has so much to offer. He is one of the most consistent politicians, the country ever had. Unlike some politicians who keep changing parties like they change their dresses, Lamido has never change his root. During the second republic politics in 1979, he was known and identified with PRP and from 1999 to date, he has been with the PDP.

Apart from bringing infrastructural development, when he was Jigawa State governor, people, particularly the indigents would eternally remember him for, his educational policies and healthcare programmes. 

His leadership style, good governance, political accountability and honest management of the state’s scarce resources have indeed put him at par with his predecessors and also the current one.

As a leader, he has a robust heart and tremendous humanism. That perhaps explains his views on why people whose education were paid with tax payers’ money should not personalize their achievements but should rather channel their successes to community development.

Jigawa State which was once regarded as a rural state and was considered too backward among its peers, has finally transformed and is becoming more accepting and a place for everyone, with power, transport, waste management, and public service sectors, among key areas of priority.

Lamido’s approach to issues has made him to weather the storm by bringing fresh new ideas that are ambitious in nature and his style of administration has convinced everyone that that Jigawa State must transform from its state of hopelessness to its present level. 

As he celebrates his 69th birthday, Lamido, can equally bring hope to Nigeria and move the nation forward. His record of performance as governor and minister of foreign affairs would no doubt stand out for him. He has convinced all that, progress is quite possible, no matter the challenges. Politically, Lamido was to Jigawa State what late Malam Aminu Kano was to the common man. In governance, he has remained an exemplary leader that has built a healthy and dynamic culture in the state’s administration. In politics, he has remained one of the leading and shining politicians in the country.

While Lamido moved up the ladder of public service, he had consistently lift up indigent students, provided cheap public health care to rural populace, q development that earned him the enduring loyalty of poor rural people and youth, who were not used to deriving much benefit from electoral politics.

In fact, for his political maturity, impeccable records of performance and patriotism, Lamido must be pressed upon to salvage the country in 2019, which he can do in an extraordinary way. 

When he was Jigawa State governor, he has won the people’s interpretation of what governance is all about and wins their confidence as well, a feat he can replicate in the country as a whole.

As a smart, prepared and a serious politician, who turned 69, Lamido cannot just fade away quietly but would rather work for the nation and rescue the people who have been left out and left behind, in order for them to enjoy broader prosperity in return of their political obedience.

The fact that, Sule Lamido has emerged as Jigawa State Governor after the rough times of Governor Saminu Turaki and was able to put behind the rough times and brought out the “Jigawa Dreams” into limelight,  has cleared him as a decent and capable leader.

You don’t have to become a political scientist, or an expert in governance and leadership or a soothsayer to notice or even predict how he can turn around the country.

Louis Pasteur, a scholar of refute once observed: “Chance favors only the prepared mind,” which is why, Lamido’s achievements, his virtues, qualities and vibrancy has made him one of the leading political figures in the country who can change rejected stones to a cornerstone and also look at local issues from global perspective.

Winston Churchill once said: “the empires of the future are the empires of the mind”, as such in learning from the experience and accomplishments of Lamido period which can be replicated in the country, Lamido’s programs of investment in youths through vocational training and nurturing of their intellectual capital, with strong funding to further their education would be a key to unlocking Nigeria’s challenges. These are legacies that are hard to erase, as well as pointers towards making Nigeria Project a reality.

Mago wrote this piece from Abuja