Second term: Administrative challenges before Gov Aliyu

After the events of the May 29 inauguration ceremony in Niger State which ushered Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu as governor for a second term, he seems to be confronted with challenges that go far beyond the swearing-in and the reality that he has been returned as executive governor of the state.

The self-styled chief servant is possibly saddled with the burden of out-matching the achievements of his last four years with quality policy thrust programmes by the state government and to also articulate all aggrieved stakeholders in the April general election.

Alas! the journey may be far from over as the governor ponders on how best to go about the Herculean mission of bringing the gains of democracy to the people who are ferociously looking for better infrastructure from the government in line with their manifestoes which seem to be why they voted in the first place.

Also among the myriads of issues tugging at the sleeves of the chief servant is the issue of security which he is marshalling all and sundry to smash out far away from the state with all cylinders blasting with full intensity towards returning the state back to its characteristic calm.

The most daunting of tasks before the newly sworn in governor is the task of doing better or sustaining the government activities of the past four years in the state without failing to substantiate the second term return which the people have given him.

Aliyu who was in his usual characteristic manner in laying all variables bare, declared that post election matters may have come and gone, the most important challenge before him is what comes at him next if his second term mandate fails to satisfy the expectations of the people.

Aliyu who spoke at his second tern inauguration, said that a popular vote into power as governor for the second time is a call to do more and an implied test which will either make of mar him politically and also as a rational human being, his peace with citizens of the state.

“Today is a day for sober reflection on the enormity of the task ahead, and most importantly a day for renewing our resolve and commitment to continue to serve the people of Niger State with utmost respect and the fear of Allah.

“While it appears tough to win the people’s trust for a second time in politics, its even tougher when you are asking for a second chance; and the burden of accountability is heavier once you have been given a second chance to correct your earlier shortcomings”, he said.

The battle, according to the governor has just begun as he has to uphold certain values that must translate to political gains for all if he wants to be relevant in the reckoning of God and man which he says form the most integral part of his being to make right at all cost.

A dispassionate look at the weight of moral issues as it relates to moral chastity which in itself translates to economic gains on the people from a government, should send cold shivers down the spines of those who begged to be allowed to saddle the reins of power.

When Governor Aliyu declared on that day that his second term will bring him to face those mistakes that may have been overtly or covertly caused during his past four years, people breathed a sigh of relief.

Aliyu’s submission was apt as most people are of the opinion that most politicians especially governors are known to sleep on their oars once they get the second term mandate.

For Hajiya Rukayya Salisu, a business woman, the most important issue is water supply in the state. She said that the governor who is on the path of resuscitating the water board should use the second term to complete the good work.

She also said she was elated to know that Governor Aliyu is aware of the burden of moral responsibility placed on him during his second term.

“All we are asking from him is to assist us in the areas of provision of portable drinking water especially now in Minna township,” she said.

The second most germane issue that seems to occupy the thoughts of the Niger State governor while looking ahead for the next four years is the issue of security which he has since harped on to sustain.

The governor has since the post presidential election violence that claimed some lives and left many structures destroyed in the state continued to engage the notable personalities in the state – key among those he canvasses are traditional leaders to help check the trend.

Speaking to traditional leadership in the state who were in Minna to congratulate him on his second term inauguration, he said the state government is ready to engage them in security vigilance.

He explained that there will be a form of partnership between the Niger State government and the council of traditional leaders headed by their chairman, Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar.

He said that the post election fracas in the state has raised a lot of issues which, he said, border on the perception of some politicians on the concept of election and on the need for people to take stock of activities of strangers in their midst.

Aliyu, in view of the posers which tend to lead to anarchy in the state has enjoined politicians and citizens of the state aggrieved by the conduct of the April 26 gubernatorial election to go to court instead of engaging in violence to push for their grievances. Now, it is left to be seen whether the chief servant will match word with action as he ventures into his second and final term in office.

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