Re: Agabi should concentrate in his campaign rather than castigating Gov Al-Makura

It is in the light of this truism that I concede Alhaji Yusuf Agabi, to speak in the manner he did in the advertorial entitled as above by one Iliyasu Yakubu, and published in the Daily Trust of March 19, 2014. Agabi, the Durbin Lafia, is a former public servant who retired honourably as a […]

It is in the light of this truism that I concede Alhaji Yusuf Agabi, to speak in the manner he did in the advertorial entitled as above by one Iliyasu Yakubu, and published in the Daily Trust of March 19, 2014. Agabi, the Durbin Lafia, is a former public servant who retired honourably as a federal director. Irrespective of his political ambition, he is entitled to criticize the Tanko Al-Makura government in Nasarawa State. That should not be out of place considering that Nasarawa State has received increased revenue allocation from the federal government and also increased internally generated revenue (IGR) since Al-Makura took office. Yet the level of development is not commensurate to the enormous revenue that accrues to the state. To say that a man of Agabi’s standing is blinded would be an affront, considering Agabi’s contribution to the youth and to development in the state at all levels. In the last couple of years, he built schools and contributed immensely to youth empowerment in both urban and rural communities through his foundation. That the state governor is constructing roads with drainages as the writer claims, is not a feat worthy of praise singing. Considering the rate of development with states created at the same time with Nasarawa State in 1996, the rate of development in our dear state is nothing to write home about. Nevertheless, I consider the article insincere partial and politically motivated.  
I was born in Lafia, therefore I write from the standpoint of knowledge, competence and absolutely without bias. I witnessed in 1978 when electricity first came to Lafia. I daresay that Nigeria as a nation is not even developing but, evolving; this is because development is measured in both human and material resources. Infrastructure is more or less evidence of development and not development itself. Therefore, for someone to say that Nasarawa State is developing betrays ignorance and should be discredited.
It is pertinent to note that Governor Al-Makura is not doing anybody  favour by carrying out his constitutional responsibilities; but he  has failed monumentally in the area of security as many lives have been lost in the state through ethnic violence and communal clashes since his assumption of office.
The writer spoke of improved power supply. If I may ask, where? It is only at UAC Road, Lafia where the timber dealers use financial inducement for members of PHCN, because of their need for constant power supply. To say that he is part of the state government planners to take electricity to some rural areas, when the state capital is run on generating sets including the Government House, the state secretariat, the House of Assembly and other government agencies and parastatals with PHCN headquarters inclusive, is evidence of improved power supply indeed!
The so-called giant strides in the education sector, as acclaimed by the writer is hogwash.  What is the state of state-owned schools in the state?  There are more students studying under mango trees in the state capital now that a few years back. Talk less of the schools in the rural areas.  
Al-Makura should face business of governance and bow out honourably at the end of his tenure. The heterogeneity of Nasarawa State is more complex that he can handle without the approval and acceptance of the people.

 Ubulu Dangatan Lafia