The most prominent political figure in the state was the Late Baba Oloye Olusola Saraki who, during his lifetime was credited to singlehandedly anointed and influenced the elections of Governor Adamu Attah of National Party of Nigeria (NPN) 1979-1983, Cornelius Adebayo of Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) 1983, Shaaba Lafiagi of Social Democratic Party (SDP) 1992-1993, Mohammed Lawal of All Peoples Party (APP) 1999 to 2003 and finally his own son, Bukola Saraki of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who served longest from 2003 to 2011.

Bukola Saraki has also been credited with influencing the nomination and eventual election of the current governor Abdulfatah Ahmed against the candidature of his sister, Senator Gbemisola Saraki.
The current administration in the state could therefore, be said to be an offshoot of the previous administration or a government of continuity of Bukola’s tenure.

While Governor Abdulfatah has sustained the essential kernel of the erstwhile administration, he nevertheless introduced new innovations for the benefit of the citizenry. It is therefore not surprising when debate on his style of leadership and activities are made on the basis of loyalty and performance.

During an Easter Break, this writer attended the annual meeting of Third-Estate Group in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State. At the meeting, contemporary issues bordering on socio-cultural and economic development including youth empowerment and education were discussed.

A day after the annual event, I honoured an invitation for one-on-one chat with Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed at the Government House, Ilorin. It was indeed an opportunity to interact as well as ask questions about economic development in the state.

Rather than dwell on politics, our interaction focused purely on the administration’s developmental efforts in the state. The Governor disclosed that the state was investing heavily in road infrastructure to allow the smooth movement of goods and people especially as the state was moving from the age of subsistence farming to commercial agriculture where access smooth and clear access to market is a sine qua non.

It came out that in the health sector the government has upgraded some of the health institutions including the Ilorin General Hospital with modern facilities . An international diagnostic centre has also been commissioned that would serve Kwara, Nigeria and West-Africa sub-region because of substantial level of partnership with the current operators.

While not neglecting formal education, the state focuses more on the human capital development, especially incorporating the non-formal educational sector into a system whereby it will be properly monitored for growth and development. According to Governor Fatai, the state set up an international vocational centre in Ajase for skills acquisition that would be beneficial to students, unemployed youths and graduates. Graduates of the centre will be employable in marine, civil engineering, electrical and oil and gas industries.

Some of the applicants are also compartmentalised into cooperatives under an entrepreneurship development scheme which creates a debenture where fund are made available by government, for onward lending to each of these cooperative groups on a revolving scheme basis. The funds are accessed through micro finance banks to enable the beneficiaries start their businesses and ensure sustainability.

A bridge empowerment scheme introduced by the state has helped over 5000 youth to be engaged in public and private sectors of the economy. There are also other centres encouraged by the state but run by individuals and groups under an association known as Masters Trainer Association. The skills taught at these centres in form of apprenceship are captured as standards and certified by regulatory bodies.

Kwara was one of the first states that embraced the minimum wage, because of the realisation that happy and contented workforce will ensure the success of government plans and programmes. The government has granted over N3 billion in car loans to civil servants. There exists a robust dispute resolution mechanism where aggrieved labour groups get redress through designated channels.
Though a predominantly a civil service environment, new businesses springing and throwing up an emerging middle class. With the ongoing private sector-driven projects that are encouraged by government, the state currently generates about N900m monthly from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

Meanwhile, due to the continued drastic reduction in monthly federal allocation, the governor said the state was in the process of accessing N23billion bond from the capital market to execute infrastructural projects. This is coming after successful completion and repayment of the N17billion bond accessed from the market in 2009.

The new bond would be expended on the International Vocational Centre, Metropolis water reticulation, solar power street lights, and completion of on-going road projects. The bond would also be used for renovation of the Indoor Sports Hall, Olympics-size swimming pool, volley ball and handball courts at the state stadium complex in Ilorin.

While some parts of the country are facing enormous challenges of insecurity, intolerance, illiteracy, poverty and disease, Kwara State seems to be one of most peaceful states where political class should avoid dirty politicking that could deprive the people the dividends of good governance.

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President Goodluck Jonathan General Muhammadu Buhari

By Yushau A. Shuaib

Nigeria’s president is Goodluck Ebere Azikiwe Jonathan; his first name is English with a very clear meaning…good lucks through destiny and God’s wishes. One of the middle names is of Ijaw which translates to ‘mercy’, Azikiwe is the name of one of Nigeria’s nationalist from the Eastern part of the country and it means full of vigour, while the last is a biblical name meaning ‘gift of God.’

The story of this Goodluck is full of ‘lucks’ that are ‘good’ from unexpected and reluctant contenders, from a Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State to Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In a twist of fate his bosses in the two powerful offices had to vacate their office untimely that enable him took over as a governor of the state and a president of the country without the electorates deciding on those choices. While his former boss, Governor DSP Alamieyeseigha was impeached for corrupt practices, President Umaru Yar’Adua died in office after a mysterious health-related problem. Goodluck is indeed a beneficiary of his name. With less than a year to the 2011 presidential election, the political pendulum is swinging.

There are some aspirants that are real serious contenders in the next election likewise there are some political jesters attempting to make names for themselves as mere presidential aspirants. Anybody can take the title of an aspirant by their aspiration. When compared with his predecessors, Goodluck Jonathan has many things going for him as well as some obvious weaknesses. He may not be as endowed with diplomatic clout like President Obasanjo who was visible in international arena with intimidating aura of the African leader. Obasanjo bulldozed his way to the position of prominence among the world’s top leaders; he even took prime positions for group photographs at global summits where George Bush of USA and Tony Blair of Britain always stood by his side or at his back.

So far, in his few foreign visits at the international arena, Goodluck’s has not exhibited any strong character among world leaders since he became Nigeria’s president. In his meetings with other world leaders, he has appeared like an obedient-servant-leader from Africa. No pun intended and I am not saying he behaves like a schoolboy.Goodluck also lacks the flamboyance and charisma of former President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) whose swagger, composure and dictions and in rhythm with that of his late wife Maryam were memorable attributes of that regime. Jonathan seems not to bother about those elements of sagacity as he tries to be sincere even his extemporal remarks at public forums indicate like of adequate rehearsals.

Dealing with issues decisively is the remarkable feature of late General Mohammed Sani Abacha. A man of few words: his decisions are final; enemies and friends did not take him for granted. We could remember actions he took after his famous enough-is-now-enough address when he said: “We remain silent not because we are weak to act… Our deliberate silence is to give errant organisations and individuals time to do a rethink… since that is not the case enough-is-now-enough.” He was genuinely brutal rightly or wrongly once decisions were made. He neither sought for external loans nor visited foreign powers and the economy was in the right footing with Professor Sam Aluko in-charge of economic intelligence. Goodluck Jonathan sometimes seems to be too slow in taking decisive actions and occasionally revises his own decisions like the suspension of Super Eagle from FIFA activities.General Mohammed Buhari and his lieutenant Tunde Idiagbon could not be forgotten in haste as they tackled corruption and indiscipline head-on not minding individuals and institutions involved. The duo hit hard on the untouchables, that many years after Ribadu-EFCC was seen as a replica of that regime. The current President Goodluck Jonathan is slow to act on various anti-corruption reports on his table especially on the allegations involving a member of his family in money laundering, Halliburton scandal, Siemen scam and the rot in other systems.He shares some characteristics with his immediate boss, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua: simplicity, sincerity and attempting to satisfy contending parties that are at variance on policy issues. Yar’Adua was colourless because of his health and the influence of the so-called cabals who surrounded him; nevertheless he was able to make some impacts which are obvious to Nigerians.An introvert to the core, Jonathan has made some remarkable outing worthy of commendations. In the last few months that he took over power as the President some of his utterances and actions indicate that he would not pursue a do-or-die agenda at winning in the next election. The appointment of a radical unionist and political scholar, Professor Jega as Executive Chairman of Independent National electoral Commission (INEC) is a pointer to his genuine intention for a transparent, free and fair election in 2011. He also made independent choice of Architect Namadi Sambo as his Vice President against recommended candidates by his godfathers and PDP machineries.

It is doubtful if he will emerge as PDP Presidential Candidate going by the threats of some Niger Delta leaders like Chiefs Edwin Clark and Albert Horsfall daring the Northerners for the post in provocative postures. It is a fact that PDP governors who did not accord respect to Jonathan when he was Vice President and while acting as commander-in-chief during Yar’Adua’s hospitalisation are not likely to endorse his candidature for the election. With powerful influence over PDP primaries, apart from feeling betrayed by his recent choices in appointment and awards without considering their inputs, the governors are unhappy that he is not approving enough money for their states from the Excess Crude Account.

Some of the Jonathan’s utterances too are not helping the matter as his bluntness exposes his party’s past misdeeds. Speaking at a meeting with Nigerians during a visit to Toronto in Canada, Jonathan said some chieftains of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) tried to persuade him not to appoint Professor Attahiru Jega as INEC chairman because they feared Jega would block the party from manipulating election results. He said he resisted the pressure because of his commitment to credible elections.He also used the occasion in Canada to say that election results would be declared at the polling units, leaving no room for manipulations at the collation centres. He added that a tribunal would be set up to try electoral offenders irrespective of status or party affiliation.

Not minding the recent pronouncement by the new National Chairman of PDP, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo that PDP had dumped zoning since 2002, northern political juggernauts are not taking the issue lightly. It is clear so far that if the retired generals who have declared their intentions for the forthcoming election could not have their way, a dark horse probably Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau of ANPP may spring a surprise at the Presidential election which could not be manipulated by the new INEC.President Jonathan’s disposition so far towards the election is quite remarkable. Though he is not a typical do-or-die politician, he could be a great leader if he refuses to get carried away by the euphoria of the office and sectional sentiments being expressed ethnic jingoists to push himself forward. Though he has more than 100,000 loyal fans on his Facebook, he should allow his party if not Nigerians to decide on his candidature for 2011 election rather than merely listening to praise-singers only. Great leaders leave the stage when the ovation is loudest, because they believe that holding a public office is not about how long but how well they serve the people.I wish our good looking, goodluck and humble President is smart enough to read the hand on the wall in setting a good record of himself, his Niger Delta region and Nigeria.

This article was originally published in in July 2010 in some national media including Daily Trust, New Nigerian, Thisday, Sunday Tribune, Leadership, Vanguard and Daily Independent.

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