Niger gov deserves commendation for completing abandoned projects —Aide

Malam Jibrin Baba Ndace, is the Chief Press Secretary to Niger State governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani- Bello. In this interview with ADELOWO OLADIPO, Ndace talks about the achievements so far recorded by his boss, adding that there is room for improvement.

WHAT is your take on the criticism that Governor Alhaji Abubakar Sani-Bello barely three years into his administration has almost nothing to show for it?

Talk is cheap. Many people have called to inform us that they have seen a lot of such vitriolic attacks on Governor Sani-Bello by his critics. But anybody who has been on ground in Niger State and who knows where we were coming from will not say that the governor has not performed.  To me, it is very obvious that in all strata, one of the key things is that Niger is a civil service state. In the last two and a half years, even at the period that some states of the federation were owing one year or nine months salaries, Governor Sani-Bello took the payment of workers salaries and welfare of workers in the state civil service on the first-line charge.

At one point in the life of this administration, the governor had to give the directive for bank overdraft just to ensure that salaries were paid as and when due and all of that. With this decision, will any rational person say the governor has not performed in that aspect?

Secondly, we came on board with restoration agenda predicated on certain cardinal priorities such as education, agriculture, health, youth and women empowerment, peace and security, as well as infrastructural development. In all these areas, I can say without mincing words that there has been some level of achievements to show.  So, it is obvious those who are commenting negatively on the incumbent All Progressives Congress-led administration in the state are living outside Minna, the state capital or the reports being talked about were written by the people on ground in the state.

Can you give us instances of the modest achievements you talked about by the Sani- Bello-led administration in the state so far?  

Yes, I will give you instances. One thing that Governor Sani- Bello has done that is significant and that is even seen as an aberration politically in some quarters in the state is carrying on projects that were for a very long time started by previous administrations and later abandoned. And you know that is an aberration in quote in Nigerian politics, for a sitting government to complete some of the projects started by previous governments from opposition political parties.  Even at the national level, we know the projects that were started by governments of the same political parties are even being abandoned. Talking about drainage across Minna, the last ones that were constructed were during the military administration of former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida. And since his retirement, no administration in the state had constructed the type of standard culverts and drainage being constructed by this administration in Niger State.  And whatever I tell you now, you are free to go and confirm it by yourself because when the governor appointed me as his Chief Press Secretary, the first thing he told me was that I should not tell lies to the people. But that I should always tell people what is verifiable and what could be seen that he has done.

And again, some of the projects that have so far been executed by the present administration in the state are in the domains of members of the opposition political parties.

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One of the projects executed by the Niger State Ministry of Health and was commissioned by the Health Minister, Professor Isaac Adewole in Beji community, in Bosso Local Government Area of the state. And Beji is the hometown of the chairman, Niger State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tanko Beji. But the present administration ensured the completion of the health facility project because the previous PDP-led administration in the state started it.

Sometime last year, it took the intervention of a member of the House of Representatives representing Chanchaga Federal Constituency, Honourable Umar Bago,  to rehabilitate some deplorable roads on the outskirts of  Minna, like Dutshen Kura Gwari and Barki Saleh.

Well, you can go round and see the number of roads this government has constructed in Minna alone. If a member of the House of Representatives had constructed or rehabilitated some roads that are in deplorable conditions in the state it should not be considered as a news item because he is also a member of our party. His role is to also complement the efforts of the state government. Even if a local government chairman or a private individual or even a senator did a similar thing, they have not done anything extraordinary or spectacular because they are supposed to complement the efforts of the state governor.  Under the present administration, Sani Bello has touched some areas considered as forgotten in Minna like inner Makera such as Lagos Street and Congila. These are roads that people, especially the residents, thought are jinxed. Another road that leads from Fadikpe to Gbegannu was constructed by the present administration. Nobody can say that in the last two to three years even in Minna alone that the governor has not delivered on his campaign promises. But there is room for more. Everywhere you go, you will see clear signs of what has been achieved.