The achievements the administration of Captain Idris Wada has recorded amidst the challenging journey of governance is the issue X-rayed by Abu Michael, Chief Press Secretary, Kogi State Deputy Governor in this commentary.
He concluded by saying that with the feat attained, the Governor may not know it that he is silently working his way to a smooth transition in 2016.
Many are of the opinion that In this period of our democratic experiment, what Kogi State need is a man of moral courage in government.
A man whose actions is motivated by the public good, and not a man who will not stretch the purse of the State for his own good.
Within the last few years of the Administration of Captain Idris Wada as Governor, there seem to have been a smoothness and progress on all fronts in the State.
All of these positive indicator was because the governor has placed service to the people far and above the allure and comfort of the office of the governor.
Never has it been acknowledged as a fact that there is a responsible administration operating in the State as is presently observed.
Even the worst of critics at inception of the Wada administration have now made a U-turn in their opinion and have openly attested to the fact that Kogi is now a work in progress.
Come 2015 and as Kogi people elect another Governor, Captain Wada by performance indices and the civility he brought to governance, holds the best hope for growth and development in the State.
With the good works been showcased by the Wada led administration, there will be no need asking angles to come and govern the State.
Literally speaking, Wada is the devil we know that has a human face.
Captain Wada without mincing words as Governor of Kogi State has come to equity with clean hands.
So far, the public assessment of Capt Wada in office and in all front has been favorable.
Today, Kogi people cutting across the academia and other professions have rated the governor high on performance.
This rating is however coming amidst several challenges he met upon assumption of office. Presently, it is not out of place to see politicians from other political divide openly supporting Captain Wada based on his excellent performance.
For such politicians, it is not about political platform but about service delivery that is in line with best practices.
To such persons also, Wada’s transformation agenda has revealed the test of leadership.
The Governor many say have performed excellently in most critical sectors, especially infrastructure, education, health, empowerment and agriculture where they ranked him high.
A pilot turned politician, that Captain Wada is effectively the leader of the People’s Democratic Party in Kogi State is not in doubt.
The PDP in Kogi despite the defection of two former speakers, remains peaceful and united. This is the product of his reconciliation moves with some aggrieved members within and outside the PDP.
To a large extent, without much controversy, the governor controls even the opposition political parties in the State as his style of governance and achievements has silent their activities.
There has been wide spread call for Wada to run another term. Though the Governor is yet to give in to this genuine demand.
Already, his Party the PDP, labour unions, elders of the State, believed the Governor has done well and have volunteered to campaign for him for another term.
Under, the Wada administration, there has been a fair distribution of project. No town or community is short-changed in the State. In all, the Governor has been excellent in human relations.
With daunting challenges known to all, the present time in the country is the most difficult times in the period of governance in Nigeria.
But Captain Idris Wada, working together with the people,has been able to serve the people selflessly, a reassurance that better days lie ahead.
From health care delivery to road construction, and Education to youth empowerment, the Wada administration is forging ahead with the over all objectives of making life a little easier for the people.
Amidst scarce resources, there abound several testaments to the single minded determination of Captain Idris Wada who have shown that he is serving well even under the most challenging of circumstance.
This therefore makes him a better material and puts him at a vantage beyond 2016.
Through his dogged political will, and in creating an enabling environment, the administration has attracted foreign partners into the State’s economy and for businesses to thrive.
Today, Kogi is the most sought after bride by investors.
The last few years has seen an inflow of consortium of investors investing in Kogi because of the confidence the leadership has created.
Through the benefits of these inflow, jobs are created, there is also the Economic and social development aspect advantage with so much of backward integration advantage accruing to communities where investors have located their projects.
With new thinking and assurances displayed by the Wada administration, the State for the first time is now listed in the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
The purposeful and focused Wada administration has no doubt placed Kogi State on development track.
Through his bold identity of creative leadership and enterprise, he has seen to the completion of all inherited projects from the immediate past administration.
So far, what little other administration were not able to achieve in the building of new and the rehabilitation of General and cottage hospitals across the state, captain Wada has more than double Government commitment in repositioning the health sector.
In a space of challenging and dwindling statutory allocation, the absence of collapsed and decayed infrastructures, but armed with a transformation agenda,anchored on a blueprint that is people oriented, touching the critical sectors of the State’s economy, the present administration has been resolute in justifying its mandate.
Overwhelmingly voted into office, Captain Wada knows that he can’t give less back in terms of service to the people.
The administration has gone to a remarkable extent in making the State a food basket.
Agriculture has placed the State on the front burner. Aggressive farming of Rice, Cassava and palm tree plantation, an area the State has comparative advantage, is the flagship of the Wada’s transformation agenda in the Agriculture sector.
Aside the opening up of Rural roads, a massive construction of township roads across the State, Kogi in the area of the transport sub-sector is a massive construction site.
The administration inherited 36 road projects and initiated new ones. Majority are already completed while others are on-going.
The Hall mark of the Wada’s administration’s Housing programme is the on-going construction of 500 housing units in Ganaja and crusher areas of Lokoja.
This is after the completion of 270 post flood housing estate.
The on-going construction of Kogi House, an eleven story state of the art edifice in Abuja, also made the administration a jinx breaker.
With sufficient reasons, the present administration has made the remarkable pace, development and progress in almost all spheres.
The administration has provided over 60 rural water projects. This involves providing motorized bore holes and 20m3 capacity pressed steel over head tank installed with 30 KVA generator and a generator house across the State. Furthermore, the drilling of bore holes in about 150 locations, completion of 40 rural electrification schemes, provision of transformers to boost electrification in some communities across the State remains a high point of the administration.
Aside the recruitment of medical and teaching personnel numbering over a thousand, the youth advancement programme of the state has provided employment to over 5000 youths.
The developmental revolution that has been experienced in Kogi State can be better appreciated when viewed from the odds against Capt. Wada and challenges the administration met on assumption.
For him to have made the state an investor’s bride and amongst the fastest growing economy in the country, one is tempted, to conclude that, the transformation agenda of Captain Wada should stretch beyond 2016.
Governor Wada before and after becoming governor, knows that Kogi State is a State that holds so much for the future.
While working to offer service for posterity, and not for political reason, It will therefore not be out place to say: Silently and unknowingly, Capt Wada is working for a smooth transition in 2016.
This can be viewed from the unprecedented records of achievements thus far attained amidst a challenging journey through thick and thin.
Making a choice of candidate for the next office of the governor of Kogi State therefore should be through achievable programs and policies, practical logic and debates as well as altruism of the candidates based on their antecedents and character both in public and private domain over the years.
As usual, a support for Capt Idris Wada is a support for progress,prudence and sustainable development that will always stand the test of time.
The governor is more than ready to bring to bear his astute leadership endowment and creativity in his quest to take Kogi State to the promise land.
