Shagari Tasks Politicians On Campaign Promises

Sokoto State Deputy Governor Muktar  Shagari has charged politicians to learn to deliver on their campaign promises.

Shagari, who gave the charge  in Sokoto when the Peer Review team of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) Secretariat visited him, said that was the only way they could secure re-election.

The team was in the state in continuation of its project inspection and peer review exercise, an initiative of the 36 governors and National Economic Council.  

“If politicians do what they are supposed to do by delivering on their campaign promises, they will spend less time and money on campaigns as their developmental efforts would speak for them,” Shagari said.

On the state government‘s developmental stride, Shagari said, the government had been utilizing the limited resources at its disposal judiciously to provide basic amenities for the people.

“We maximize the little resources accruing to us as a state, to deliver on our campaign promises and to ensure that we meet the desires and expectation of our people”.

“The ongoing construction of a flyover bridge at the Ahmadu Bello Way to ensure free traffic flow in that area and several other road network constructions both within and outside the state capital are all part of our campaign promises which we are already delivering”.

“This is in addition to several other developmental projects that we have embarked on, although we may not be able to complete them all before we leave office,’’ the deputy governor explained.

He commended the peer review exercise and expressed optimism that the report that would be submitted at the end of the exercise would help guide future governments on how to tackle developmental issues and challenges.

He also commended the Nigerian media for bringing out the lapses in government through their reportage, adding that objective and constructive media criticism should be encouraged.

Mr Asishana Okauru, NGF director general, said earlier that the peer review exercise was to encourage healthy competition among the governors.

He noted that the mandate to drive the initiative was given to the NGR secretariat after the decision was reached.

“The whole objective is to encourage healthy competition among the Governors with a view to  ensuring equal development across the federating states as well as deepen democracy and good governance in the country,” Okauru said.

Sokoto is the 31st state the team is visiting.