As Nigerians look forward to the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term in office, along with some re-elected governors in many of the states, on Wednesday, all eyes will be on some states across the country where new helmsmen will be taking over the baton, after having freshly won, for the first term of office, the governorship election conducted on March 9, in their respective states.
Among the new first-term comers are Oluseyi Makinde of Oyo State; Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State; MaiMala Buni of Yobe State; Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State; Babagana Zulum of Borno State; Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State, Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State; Bello Mutawalle of Zamfara State; Senator Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State and Honourable Emeka Ihedioha of Imo State.
Seyi Makinde, Oyo
The new helmsman in Oyo State was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the governorship election. He defeated his closest rival, Adebayo Adelabu, by a very wide margin to become the successor of the outgoing Governor Abiola Ajimobi who made history by becoming the first governor to secure two-term tenure in the state, having won the governorship election in 20112 and 2015, respectively.
The new Oyo governor, who, incidentally, is the only PDP governor from the South-West, has indicated at several fora that his administration would not derail from its campaign promises to the people of the state. Speaking at a recent press conference at his house, Seyi Makinde declared that, apart from fulfilling his people-oriented policies particularly in critical sectors of education, health and job creation, he would not leave any part of the state out of his plan.
While appreciating the people of the state for voting massively for him during the election, Makinde had likened the March 9 election to the Agbekoya struggle of 1968 in the old Western Region.
“Well, there is no need crying over spilled milk and it is for us to move forward together and for me to fulfill my campaign promises to you in the clear understanding that we will take realistic decisions together because you did not elect me to compensate me for anything, you elected me to fulfill your desire for a better life and God helping me, I will not disappoint you.”
However, it remains to be seen how far the new governor would go to fulfill all his electoral promises, especially in the face of the last-minute actions of his outgoing predecessor, Senator Ajimobi, some few days to the expiration of his constitutionally-approved two-term tenure.
Governor Ajimobi had, among others, gave an approval to the new N30,000 national minimum wage; renamed some roads and institutions in the state in his own name and some other prominent personalities; restored 100 per cent subventions to state-owned tertiary institutions; reinstated some workers sacked by his administration; appointed a new Head of Service; sworn in 11 new permanent secretaries and also appointed a new general manager for the state-owned Broadcasting corporation of Oyo State (BCOS).
While the incoming governor had publicly kicked against the last-minute actions taken by his predecessor, he also said his administration would surely look into the books and accounts of the outgoing government in the state. It is not without doubt that the new governor may reverse some of the policies initiated by Senator Abiola Ajimobi.
Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State
Jide Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) defeated his counterpart from the PDP, Jimi Agbaje, to emerge as the successor of the outgoing administration of Governor Akinwumi Ambode in Lagos State. The incoming new helmsman in Lagos State has promised to work assiduously to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of the state.
Speaking at a victory party organised by his campaign organization, the Independent Campaign Group (ICG), for him and his deputy-elect, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, the incoming Lagos State governor said he would hit the ground running immediately after his inauguration on Wednesday, adding that he would not fail in fulfilling all his electoral promises.
He declared that he was fully prepared for the challenges of governance and that he would give his best to take state to the next level. Among others, the governor-elect said he would proffer solutions to the perennial problem of traffic gridlock and the issue of waste decisively.
He also promised that his administration would give the education and health sectors as well as the other critical sectors priority, even as he declared that workers’ welfare as well as that of the residents of the state would not be neglected.
Towards this end, Sanwo-Olu said his administration would invest massively in infrastructure to make life better for all residents, adding that hard work would be the fulcrum of his administration, working tirelessly to meet up with the expectations of the people.
Dapo Abiodun, Ogun State
In the neighbouring Ogun State, Governor-elect, Dapo Abiodun, has promised to deliver good governance to the people of the state, commencing from his inauguration on Wednesday. Abiodun however acknowledged that the task ahead of him is daunting and the challenges numerous, even as the resources are limited.
Nevertheless, he expressed confidence that his administration would succeed, relying and depending on the support of the people of the state.
He said: “I am confident that once we have the most important currency in our piggy bank — the trust of the people earned through openness in the conduct of government affairs, accountability, integrity, engagement — our administration will have all it requires to deliver on our campaign promises and have the shield to navigate successfully through landmines.
“In all our decisions and conduct, the government will be fair, just, equitable and inclusive. These are non-negotiable principles that will underpin government operations.”
He also disclosed that, towards ensuring good governance in the state, he had set up an economic transition committee and work groups to work on his government’s agenda namely, “Building our future together.” He added that the agenda aimed at providing a roadmap that identifies specific initiatives and timelines.
The incoming administration in the state has, however, disclosed that his administration would not be distracted from its sight on good governance by seeking to probe the outgoing Governor Ibikunle Amosun administration.
MaiMala Buni, Yobe
In far away Yobe State, Governor-elect MaiMala Buni of the APC has declared that his administration would better the lots of women in the state as he assured that he would give priority in terms of political appointments and economic empowerment so as to improve their condition of living.
Buni, who spoke some few days after his electoral victory, also assured that his administration would consolidate and expand on the achievements of the outgoing Governor Ibrahim Gaidam-led administration towards improving the lives of the people
“We will lay emphasis on education, healthcare, road construction, agriculture, women and youth empowerment. Government will continue with the programme on free drugs for pregnant women and children below the age of five,” the incoming Yobe governor assured, even as he disclosed that his administration has plans to empower widows, especially those who lost their husbands to Boko Haram insurgency.
Babagana Zulum, Borno State
There in Borno State emerged an unusual governor-elect in the person of Professor Babagana Zulum. The incoming governor who was elected on the platform of the APC has been displaying unique character and traits uncommon of a typical Nigerian politician, especially his love for bicycle.
Speaking on his programmes for the insurgency-ravaged state, the Borno governor-elect has promised to adopt practical measures to enhance security and fast-track the rebuilding and resettlement of communities ravaged by the Boko Haram insurgents.
In his acceptance speech after emerging victorious in the governorship election, Professor Zulum said his administration would consolidate on the achievements Governor Kashim Shettima, adding that he would give priority to the protection of lives and property, reconstruction and resettlement, infrastructure development and economic reform programmes.
Other key priority areas listed by the governor-elect included poverty reduction, job creation and agriculture transformation as well as enhancing access to quality education and health care services.
He was however not oblivious of the daunting task ahead of him, coupled with the meagre resources, as he said he would need the support of the people in order for his administration to move the state forward.
“I shall be willing to work with everyone, including those who contested with us. I believe that what works better is cooperation rather than confrontation,’’ he said.
Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, Kwara
Kwara State governor-elect, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of the APC, shocked many and proved the bookmakers wrong by defeating the PDP and its candidate and victorious in the governorship election in the state.
In the aftermath of the euphoria of the electoral victory, the incoming governor of Kwara State has not been relenting in assuring that his administration would be a people-oriented government that is out to serve the best interest of the people of the state.
Speaking during the inauguration of a 80-member transition committee in Ilorin, Abdulrazaq said, “The huge margin of our victory at the polls suggests that our people are fed up with the status quo and want a new approach to governance. We, therefore, have a duty to serve the best interest of the people and run a people-oriented government.”
He was however quite aware of the dynamics of politics and governance as he said he team would study the current governance structure in the state to understand areas of immediate concern.
“We must understand the current governance structure in the state. We must know how the current system works in order to know where to begin. We must identify those policies that can be retained and those that must be dropped.”
The outgoing administration in the state must also prepare itself for a possible probe as the governor-elect gave a hint towards that end: “We also need to know what is in the books in terms of financial receipts, obligations, contracts and other things.”
Also speaking during the last May Day celebration in the state, the incoming governor assured that his administration would be fair to all workers in the state, declaring: “Whatever policy decisions taken by us will place public interest above all other considerations. Workers will get dignified treatment in all cases as they are the engine room of any government or economy.”
Emeka Ihedioha, Imo
Imo State governor-elect, Honourable Emeka Ihedioha, has promised to turn what he called the bad news of the state to a good story. He added however that he would leverage on the experiences of many professionals who were indigenes of the state to change the “bad news of the state.”
He said this during the inauguration of a transition committee even as he promised to consult widely in order to ensure a successful tenure in that respect. He also said his administration would consult widely and work as a team.
“In the course of the campaign, we promised good governance while stimulating development in all sectors and across all the zones of our dear state. Having recognised that we cannot deliver on that promise without leveraging the experiences and expertise of the broadest possible diversity of Imo people, we are here today to inaugurate the transition committee that will help us with a clear road map to achieve the goals we have set for ourselves.
“In constituting this transition committee, we were very careful and deliberate. We have selected from among the brightest and the best of our people in different fields of human endeavour.’’
However, as Ihedioha takes the centre stage in Imo State from Wednesday, all eyes would be on him to surpass the achievements of the outgoing administration of Governor Rochas Okorocha. He must also work round the clock to erase the noticeable lapses and controversies incurred by his outgoing predecessor.
Bello Mutawalle, Zamfara
As the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), last Saturday, declared Bello Mutawalle of the Peoples Democratic party as the governor-elect of Zamfara State, what readily comes to mind is that the incoming administration would be faced with lot of daunting tasks ahead.
The victory of the governor-elect did not come easy as it was almost thwarted in favour of the ruling APC in the state, but for the intervention of the judiciary. Ruling on a suit filed by some APC chieftains, the Supreme Court, last Friday, nullified the victory of the APC on the ground that it did not conduct valid primaries ahead of the elections in the state and adjudicated that the runners up in all the elections namely, the PDP and its candidates be declared the winners of the elections.
As the incoming PDP administration would inaugurated on Wednesday, it is not without doubt that Governor-elect Bello Mutawalle would have his worries on how to tackle the issue of banditry, insurgency and illegal gold mining which had assumed a frightening death dimension in the state.
Abdullahi Sule, Nasarawa
Nasarawa State governor-elect, Abdullahi Sule, has promised to run an inclusive government that woul recognise the opposition, irrespective of ethnic, religious and political differences.
According to him, “The development of the state in which our campaigns were anchored on should be channeled collectively into a common pool for the overall development of our dear Nasarawa since all cannot be governor at the same time. As a people, I want to call on all and sundry to be collectively engaged and participate fully in our government towards more infrastructural development and drive the industrialisation of the state.”
Senator Bala Mohammed, Bauchi
Governor-elect of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed, has promised to bring back good governance allegedly denied the people of the state.
Mohammed, the PDP candidate for the governorship election in the last elections, defeated incumbent Muhammed Abubakar of the APC, in the election.
In a speech after his electoral victory in March, Governor-elect Mohammed urged his supporters to celebrate the victory in peace and tranquility, as he added: “and with gratitude to God because what we want is peace and tranquility, harmony and good relationship with one another.