PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2013
PAGE 39
Nasarawa: The antics of false critics By Rayyanu Bala
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onstructive criticisms helps one to seat-up to the responsibilities reposed in him, there is therefore no doubt about it that any one saddled with responsibility but becomes aversed to criticism especially constructive ones will certainly not end well. Most of our leaders who were today in the bad side of history, if we look at their reign critically, we will discover that they happen to be so aversed to criticism. It was Sidney Greenberg; I think who once said 'A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at him' Indeed, from Sidney Greenberg observation, criticism whether constructive or destructive or even distractive has some potentials for one to lay a foundation or build upon it to become successful in life. However some criticism especially in this our part of the world, comes neither in form of constructive nor destructive or even distractive, the criticism only comes, out of burning desire to attract attention or out of envy, hence if you study such criticism you will find out that they possess nothing to which one will lay a foundation to become successful. It is in this context that sometimes one becomes tempted to condemn or rather dismiss that kind of criticism that possesses neither elements of constructiveness or destructiveness as baseless and unfounded. In this wise, I personally see all the criticism so far leveled, against Governor Al-makura as neither constructive nor destructive or distractive, all the criticism were as baseless and unfounded as one can think of. Most of the criticisms against Al-makura led administration were only aiming at drawing attention or out of envy of the achievements his government was able to record within a short time that he is in power in the state. For purpose of this discuss, I shall however restrict my self with those criticism against Al-makura which were aiming at drawing attention with the view to either join the government or enjoy the patronage. Indeed, readily available example of this type of criticism were the ones constantly been air by one Hon Nurudeen Umar, a purported ACN top stalwart in Nasarawa state. In his latest diatribe against Al-makura in a Newspaper interview (Leadership 05/02/2013) Hon Nurudeen Umar was quoted as saying that Al-makura has not achieved anything since he came on board as Governor of Nasarawa state. He in fact specifically said since Al-makura came no single class room was constructed; no single primary health care was constructed in the whole state. Though Mr Nurudeen is entitled to his opinion but I think for him to decent as low as making such utterances smacks of either total ignorance of developments that is taking place in Nasarawa state or been hypocritical or both. However for the purpose of putting the records straight, Al-makura led administration within just less than two years in office; redeemed the entire state counter-part fund to MDG, an action which resulted in the constructions/ rehabilitations of dozens of primary health care clinics spread across the state. As for the General hospitals, at the moment, constructions/rehabilitations work is on going at 5 General hospitals in the state namely; Arikya in Lafia east development area, Awe in Awe local government, Akwanga in Akwanga local government and Mararaba in Karu local government as well as Toto in Toto local
Nasarawa State Governor
Umaru Tanko Al-Makura government. For primary schools in the state, it is instructive to note that since Al-makura led administration came on board, government has invested heavily in the sector resulting in the construction of 144 UBE classrooms across the state, in addition to the settlement of liabilities inherited from the previous government which stood at over N700million for construction of 163 primary schools. Only recently government awarded contract worth over N1.1bn to the state relevant technology board for the furnishing of old and newly constructed primary schools in the state. In terms of capacity building for primary school teachers, government is also doing a lot in this area as the entire counter-part fund for ECCD and GJSS for the last three years were also promptly settled. As if all these were not enough, Governor Al-makura out of his personal pocket renovated among other schools, LGEA primary school Ashige, St James primary school
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As if all these were not enough, Governor Almakura out of his personal pocket renovated among other schools, LGEA primary school Ashige, St James primary school Lafia and St Williams primary school also in Lafia as well as LGEA primary school at Tudun Wada. From the above brief achievements recorded by Almakura led administration in the two subsectors which Mr Nurudeen expressed his concerned over them, you will indeed discover that his criticism were only aimed at attracting attention but succeeded only in exposing himself as not only ignorant of development that is taking place in Nasarawa state but also exposes himself as been hypocritical and mischievous
Lafia and St Williams primary school also in Lafia as well as LGEA primary school at Tudun Wada. From the above brief achievements recorded by Al-makura led administration in the two sub-sectors which Mr Nurudeen expressed his concerned over them, you will indeed discover that his criticism were only aimed at attracting attention but succeeded only in exposing himself as not only ignorant of development that is taking place in Nasarawa state but also exposes himself as been hypocritical and mischievous. Equally mischievous and hypocritical were his allegations to the effect that it was Al-makura's daughter who executed the contract for the supply of official cars for members of the state House of Assembly without following due process as well as his allegations which bothered on 'it is only the governors cronies, sycophants, family and friends that are being given contract in the state' These allegations were indeed, products of not only a lazy man but a products of one desirous of recognition. As for the appointments which Al-makura did which include; his brother and in-law indeed, I did not see anything unconstitutional or immoral in it, as both his inlaw and brother eminently qualify to hold such offices by reasons of educational qualifications and requisites experience. The secretary of the state UBE board who is an in-law to Al-makura is an MSc graduate of urban and regional planning of 13 years standing and served the state in various capacities and until his present appointment was a senior lecturer with the state polytechnic. And for the avoidance of doubt, the office of chief of staff has since been abolished in the state. Nobody is answering chief of staff any more in the state and the immediate occupant of that office was Dr Shehu Othman, a non relation of the governor and he has since resigned voluntarily. Governor Al-makura's younger brother is but SSA (Special duties) He was until his appointment a Diamond Bank branch manager in Keffi. As a matter of policy, nobody gets any appointment under Al-makura led administration without been merited. Being from private sector, Al-makura knows and appreciates the values of merit in governance and as he noted himself in an address to permanent secretaries recently 'merit can not be altered or compromised in all we engage in' I have never come close to Hon Nurudeen but those who know him described him as one who cherishes lies and always find delight in deceit. Indeed, with this character in a person what else can one expect? I was informed reliably that Mr. Nurudeen decided to take to this dishonorable path against Al-makura because of Almakura's refusal to support his candidature in CPC for House of Representative in 2011 general election. And after CPC won election I was told, he made frantic efforts to be enlisted on board but all his efforts yielded no result, which explains why he turned to peddling lies against Almakura led government and also resort to deceiving the unsuspecting public about his false credentials and stature in Nasarawa state. Even within his ACN fold he is being regarded by many as inconsequential. The Nasarawa south zonal chairman of ACN, Alhaji Abdul Al-rahman, in an interview with newsmen recently decried the attitude of Hon Nurudeen and concluded that he is no less an agent of the PDP. Bala wrote in from Lafia< rayanubala@yahoo.com>