Nasarawa PDP and Muazu Abari’s misrepresentation history

In that piece, the author cast aspersions on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the administration of the immediate past governor of the state, Alhaji Aliyu Akwe Doma, a staunch member of the party. And conversely, Abari, in a bid to justify his commission, painted the incumbent administration of Tanko Al-Makura of the Congress for […]

In that piece, the author cast aspersions on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the administration of the immediate past governor of the state, Alhaji Aliyu Akwe Doma, a staunch member of the party. And conversely, Abari, in a bid to justify his commission, painted the incumbent administration of Tanko Al-Makura of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in glowing terms, describing the governor as a superlative performer. Nothing could be farther from the truth!

For a better appreciation of the issues involved and like a  dexterous bricklayer,  I will dislodge the blocks of lies craftily laid out in that offensive publication, because lies repeatedly told, if not corrected, assume the status of truth in the minds of unsuspecting members of the public.

Mr. Abari tried unsuccessfully to white-wash the image of CPC  and, perhaps, to ingratiate himself with the powers-that-be in Nasarawa State when he wrote that ‘’there are reports that the PDP are (sic) making efforts to woo him (Al-Makura) back into their fold which appear to be a move to redeem the battered image of their party. The feeling from most quarters is that the PDP’s decision to court Al-Makura may not be unconnected with his wonderful performance so far.’’

It is simply preposterous for Abari to assert that PDP members are wooing Al-Makura back to its fold on the spurious allegations of non-existing performance. That claim smacks of an attempt to re-write history. Abari cannot even convince a drooling imbecile that his sponsors are indeed tackling the myriad of problems besetting the state.

Instead of fulfilling his electoral promise of imparting skills into the youths and making them self-reliant, the incumbent governor has so far succeeded in sacking over 8,000 workers from both the state and local government service. The last 15 months in the state have been characterized by arbitrary postings of civil servants without recourse to civil service rules; unilateral transfers of civil servants salaries from office of Accountant-General through the Ministry of LG and Chieftaincy Affairs to the office of Head of Service and diversion of LG funds under the guise of Joint State and LG Account.

It is also no longer a secret that the present administration, to the consternation of all and sundry, has hiked the rent on government quarters by as much as 200%: one bedroom apartment (from N24,000 to N72,000); 2 bedroom (N36,000 to N120,000); 3 bedroom (N84,000 to N216,000) and 3 bedroom with BQ (N120,000 to N336,000). Even the 40 mass transit buses which this administration commissioned with fanfare while celebrating its 100 days in office were procured by the PDP administration.

Equally, the writer’s claim that the present administration in the state ‘’has witnessed tremendous transformation particularly in the areas of construction, water and power supply, agriculture, transport and education among others’’, remains just that—wild claims, which cannot be substantiated with concrete evidences.

Abari also failed to tell his readers why his acclaimed performer chose to turn the state hotel at Lafia to office building for his appointees; while he is allegedly planning to sell his personal hotel, Ta’al Hotel to the state government at a price to be determined by him with a view to building a bigger one at his home town, Kwandere where he is also planning to build an airport; why he elected to elevate his senior brother, the Sangari of Kwandere, Alhaji Mohammed Al-Makura to first class position above his hitherto senior, the Chief of Shabu and why in spite of their claims of having provided water to the state, water taps in major cities like Keffi, Akwanga and Lafia remain dry most times.

Another fundamental lie the writer ascribed to is the claim that the present administration also contributed to improving electricity supply in the state through procurement and installation of transformers. To put a pin to this fallacy, it is necessary that we set the records straight by saying that the transformers were bought by the past PDP administration under the leadership of Aliyu Akwe Doma.

It is also ridiculous for Abari to say that the fortunes of PDP are dwindling, even when it is glaring that the state is predominantly PDP. That the party does not control the executive branch of the government does not translate into a decline in its fortunes. The history of the loss of Toto and Awe bye-elections is well known to the discerning members of the public—massive rigging aided by renegade members of PDP.

Currently, the government in Nasarawa State is systematically removing the street lights in Lafia. The questions to ask are: for what purpose are those lights being removed even when they are functional? Is it to create an avenue for the award of fresh contracts to cronies of the government at a time the same government is shedding crocodile tears over lack of funds?

Abari insulted the sensibility of the people of Nasarawa State when, without facts and figures, he said that the ‘’people of were tired of the party (PDP) and its track record of non-performance’’. What a convenient way of sidetracking the truth!  The writer for reasons best known to him glossed over several achievements of the party. At this juncture, it is only necessary that we remind the likes of Abari and his sponsors that PDP between 2007 and 2011 delivered monumental democracy dividends to the people of the state.

Some of the laudable legacies PDP bequeathed the people of the state included: revolutionalization of agriculture through ‘Badakoshi Scheme’; donation of over 50 vehicles to security agencies to enhance security; construction of 500 housing units which have been abandoned by the present administration; completion of Lafia Modern Market, Nasarawa Spring Water, Nasarawa Investment House, State House of Assembly Complex; establishment of six skills acquisition centres; payment of WAEC and NECO fees for indigenes; upgrading of facilities in General Hospitals at Toto, Doma and Wamba.

Others are renovation of over 157 MDGs clinics across the 13 LGAs; enhancement of judicial workers salaries; erection of 3 High Courts; enhancement of the status of traditional rulers via promotion and provision of vehicles befitting their status.

To boost economic activities in the state, the following roads were either rehabilitated or constructed: Doma-Akpata; Agaza-Agwatashi; Assakio Obi; Keana-Giza-Gadarko; Agyaragu-Doma; Nasarawa Eggon-Mada Station; Maraba-Rinze Angaza; Toto—Umaisha; Gitata-Panda-Mararaban Gurku; Mararaban Kokona-Agwada-Udege-Beki; Panda-Koron Kuje and Karshi Takalafiya rural roads.

With all these achievements, Abari still elected to twist the facts out of context to justify his illicit commission. Under the PDP, unlike what is obtainable today, there was peace, harmony and orderly development of the state. So it is uncharitable for Muazu Abari to assert that the PDP ‘’betrayed the confidence of the people of Nasarawa (people)’’.

Oyanki, Secretary of Nasarawa State chapter of PDP sent this piece from Lafia.