Politics
I’Il Pull Bauchi Into 21st Century -Mohammed
Bala Mohammed, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, defeated the incumbent Governor, Abubakar Mohammed of the APC in the supplementary election held in the State last Saturday. Mohammed, described the four years of Governor Mohammed Abubakar as a nightmare with scandalous consequences.
He said that the activities of the outgoing government have made the majority of Bauchi people to doubt if their children will ever have a better future.Here is full text of the governor-elect’s acceptance speech.
Fellow citizens of Bauchi State, In the name of Allah, the beneficent, the merciful. All praise is due to Allah, the giver of all power, the nourisher and sustainer of the whole universe for the gift of this day, on which we celebrate the good fortune of our electoral victory.
As we celebrate this hard-earned triumph, I am humbled that you have found me worthy of your trust and confidence.
I accept this responsibility with humility and I truly understand it’s meaning, namely: that you expect me to be a servant of the people, and to lead the charge for the restoration of hope over despair and good over evil.
At the core of this mandate is the crucial drive to give Bauchi State citizens a better prospect and greater opportunity for a prosperous life. Reducing poverty and empowering our citizens in the areas of Agriculture, Education, urban and rural infrastructure among others.
In accepting this mandate, I want to sincerely thank the Chairman and members of our great party, the PDP, who laboured relentlessly for my victory.
I equally commend the Director General of the Governorship Campaign Council and his team for a job well-done.
I extend very sincere appreciation to my brother, the Right Honourable Yakubu Dogara, our father and elder statesman Alhaji Bello Kirfi, OFR, other outstanding statesmen, religious and community leaders who stood by us.
I must thank also the coalition that emerged from various political parties that wholeheartedly endorsed and supported my candidature, as well as numerous professional unions, civil society organizations, Women and Youth Groups.
Most of all I want to thank each and every member of our 2.4 million voters. This victory belongs to us all. Once again you have not only made Bauchi State proud; you have restored our State’s political culture to higher pedestal of integrity and credibility to our greater glory.
Four years ago, the citizens of Bauchi State accepted a clarion call with excitement from you and voted a government they believed would usher a new and radical beginning.
This dream turned out to be a nightmare with scandalous consequences leading the majority of our people to doubt that our children will ever have a better future.
As a matter-of-fact, it is the failure of the outgoing administration to fulfill virtually all its electoral promises that boomeranged to their rejection by the citizens of Bauchi State.
You have therefore chosen through the ballot box never again to leave the destiny of our State in the hands of those who lack the vision, the motivation, and the capacity to drive the change we desperately need.
Our citizens have been subjected to grave and unprecedented economic deprivation and political persecution. As a father, I feel a sense of moral outrage that many of our once very ambitious youths have become completely demoralized and reduced to thuggery and drug addiction.
There was a time when every child in Bauchi state was guaranteed a functional education in our schools, and we will work to restore all our educational institutions to their glory again. Contrary to popular belief, our greatest strength is not our lands or our businesses but our own human capital.
I shall consider it not only my duty, but it will be my ardent desire to labour for the empowerment of our teeming youths. It also goes without saying that saving the lives of our women and children remains close to my heart. We shall establish a system which can deliver on our priority of ensuring that pregnancy is generally safe and has a happy and healthy outcome.
We are determined to launch a pro-business, pro-market agricultural and economic revolution within four years. My aim is to win over majority of the people of Bauchi State to believe in our new ideas and to believe in ourselves.
It is my desire to rapidly pull Bauchi State into 21stcentury, and I see a world of opportunities and possibilities waiting for us to explore through pragmatic innovations.
In the coming days and weeks, we shall be engaged with officials of the outgoing government with what would hopefully be a hitch-free transitional exercise.
Once we have a clearer picture of the enormity of the task of rebuilding our State, I shall be honest with you about the challenges we would face because I know the road will be long and rough.
We are indeed at a historic cross road. From 29thMay 2019 and beyond, we shall be even more tested to the utmost. But I am persuaded that we have come to this task better equipped than many; and I promise you that we shall not fail you for want of determination and ideas.
I pledge to execute the duties of the high office of the Governor of Bauchi State with dignity and honour for the benefit of all our people.
As your Governor, I propose to work to earn your respect; I will engage men and women that are best qualified to run an efficient and transparent government, and I shall hold them responsible and accountable to my administration.
In this task, I am delighted to have the able and tested Senator Baba Tela as my partner; he has a distinguished record of service to our country, and Bauchi State will be proud and lucky to have him as our Deputy Governor.
This is one journey that was supported by religious and Community Leaders who led our people with dignity and provided them with clear head to choose. The people have spoken.
Lest I procrastinate, I must thank my wife for her unwavering patience and tireless support. I equally thank the rest of my immediate and extended family for coping with my absence while on the campaign trail.
I must put on record the wonderful services of our mainstream media as well as the social media. You have made a useful input to our political socialization
Finally, we promise to run an inclusive and participatory government, and so I hasten to extend a hand of brotherhood and friendship to my fellow contestants because I believe we have everything to gain by working together.
My fellow citizens, I bring to you a message of hope.
We are a blessed State.
We are a blessed people.
Let us rededicate ourselves to building a worthy State that the whole nation would see and celebrate.
The Tide source reports that Prof. Akinoso was elected alongside 38 other executive members of the party at the congress held on Saturday.
Other executive members are Dr Abiola Olaonipekun, who emerged as Secretary, Alhaja Latifah Latifu, Women Leader and Mr A. Adeleke, elected as Youth Leader.
It was learnt that the congress, which took place at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Oke Ado in Ibadan, was attended by representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Police, other security agencies and prominent members of the party.
The election was supervised by electoral committee members, among whom were Prince Diran Odeyemi, who served as Chairman, Hon. Awoniyi Tolulope, Mr Babatunde Gbadamosi, Queen Stepheine Oyechere, Alhaji Yusuf Abidakun, Mr Olumide Aguda and Dr Phillips Adeniyi, who served as Secretary.
Prof. Akinoso, in his inaugural address, urged members of the party to set aside intra-party differences.
He advised them to concentrate their resources on the promotion of the party, saying, “The primary responsibilities of party executive members are to coordinate party activities, ensure harmony among members, and ensure party victory during general elections.
“Our immediate assignments are to key into INEC released 2027 general election time-tables. As directed by the National Caretaker Committee of PDP, our party e-membership registration starts next week. We must be fully involved and do a membership drive.
“A political party is only relevant and benefits its members if it wins the election. This is our goal. We should set aside intra-party differences; concentrate our resources towards the promotion of the party. We will make necessary consultations and dialogue to actualise this”.
President Tinubu disclosed this during an interfaith breaking of fast with senior journalists and media executives at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Saturday.
He also disclosed that his administration had opened up on the principles of true federalism to the extent that local governments now get direct allocation from the Federal Government.
“There’s no morning that I ever leave my house without going through the newspapers. It’s an addiction. I read all of you.
“It might not be in full detail, but headline, the one that would hit me and the ones that won’t.
“At the beginning of this administration, I was just a little bit stubborn, looking at opportunities to correct things and make life more easier for the downtrodden.
“We’ve opened up the principle of federalism to the extent that local governments are now getting their money, but how they use it is in your hands. So, don’t bombard me alone,” President Tinubu said.
The ruling party said the ADC had turned criticism of the APC-led administration into its operating manifesto instead of presenting concrete solutions to Nigeria’s economic challenges.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Mr Felix Morka, the party dismissed the ADC’s interpretation of a report presented at a policy dialogue organised by Agora Policy which suggested that the country’s poverty rate had risen from 49 per cent to 63 per cent.
Mr Morka said the opposition party’s reaction to the report as a “damning verdict” on the government’s economic policies reflected either ignorance of economic realities or deliberate political mischief.
“The African Democratic Congress’ attempt to spin a recent report presented at the Agora Policy dialogue indicating a rise of poverty rate of 63 per cent from 49 per cent as a damning verdict on this administration’s economic policies speaks either to its shocking ignorance of economic policy or its wilful blindness to the justification for, and transformative impacts of, ongoing economic reforms,” he said.
The APC spokesman noted that the report itself recognised the necessity of reforms aimed at correcting long-standing structural distortions in the economy.
According to him, the ADC had failed to present any credible alternative policy direction for Nigerians.
“Clearly, the ADC does not recognise itself as a political party. The ADC has not articulated a single alternative policy position or prescription of benefit to Nigerians. Condemning the APC and its policies has become its operating manifesto,” Mr Morka said.
He explained that major economic decisions taken by President Bola Tinubu, including the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of multiple foreign exchange windows, were necessary steps to rescue the country’s economy from collapse.
Mr Morka said the subsidy regime had for years placed a heavy burden on public finances, consuming trillions of naira annually while encouraging corruption, fuel smuggling and inefficiencies in the system.
He added that the reforms had helped redirect national resources to key sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare, education and social development.
The APC spokesman acknowledged that economic reforms often come with short-term hardship but stressed that the measures were essential to build a stronger and more resilient economy.
“Economic reform is never cost-free anywhere in the world. The transient hardship experienced by Nigerians was an inevitable cost of reforms meant to build and guarantee a better future for all Nigerians,” he said.
Mr Morka maintained that the country’s economic outlook was already improving, citing recent growth figures and stronger external reserves.
“Our economy has rebounded and is expanding steadily. The country’s Gross Domestic Product grew by 4.4 per cent last year and is projected to expand by 5.5 per cent this fiscal year, with foreign reserves now exceeding $50 billion,” he stated.
He also pointed to government initiatives designed to cushion the effects of economic adjustments on citizens, including cash transfer programmes, student loan schemes and the rollout of compressed natural gas (CNG) initiatives to reduce transportation costs.
Mr Morka reaffirmed that the APC-led administration would remain focused on rebuilding the economy and expanding social investments to support vulnerable Nigerians.
-
News2 days agoNavy Destroys Illegal Refinery In Rivers, Intercepts Stolen Fuel In C’ River
-
News2 days agoYou’re The Backbone Of Our Society, Fubara Salutes Mothers On Mothering Sunday
-
Rivers2 days agoCounty Grammar School Old Boys Elect New Executive
-
Environment2 days agoIllegal Buildings On Embassies’ Land Will Be Demolished – Wike
-
Politics2 days agoHUNDREDS OF LATE BAYELSA DEP GOV’S KINSMEN DUMP PDP FOR APC
-
Politics2 days agoA’Court Voids Rep’s Sack Over Defection To APC
-
Rivers2 days agoElele Alimini Monarch Seeks Government Support … As NGO Trains Leadership Organs In Peace Building, Others
-
Politics2 days agoYou’re Misleading Nigerians, APC Slams ADC Over Poverty Rate Report