As Dr. Mu’azu Babangia Aliyu prepares to bid Niger State people farewell a meritorious farewell after serving as 2 term Governor, it is instructive to intimate that he came into the political terra ferma, saw the dramatis personae alongside the prevailing circumstance, then he conquered to emancipate the people from systemic rot and cyclical poverty.
Aliyu introduced free education in Niger state from primary to secondary school. He paid WAEC/NECO fees and was prompt in payment of scholarship for students in higher institutions. He introduced graduate employment scheme, he took several graduates for pilot and seafarer trainings in his quest to transform Niger as one of the top 3 states in the federation by 2020.
The Chief Servant introduced for the first time ever Ward Development Project (WDP) in Niger state which later formed template for grassroots development in parts of the country including countries outside Africa. The World Bank took interest and partnered.
Workers get paid on the 25th of every month without salary arrears. Pensioners get their gratuity promptly, and healthcare free. Between 2007 to 2015, the two-term governor transformed Minna, Niger State capital, turning it to an industrial haven – one of the livable cities in the world.
He used the graduate employment scheme established by his administration to stamp out poverty (making Niger state least poverty prevalence in Nigeria for more than 5 years), a strategy he combined with security alacrity to remove potential security threats in the state. His security decisions, his marshal plan on economic roadmap and his conscious human capital development agenda will remain indelible.
Regardless of his achievements, Aliyu is dreaded by enemies of democracy who often take to the media with bucket lists of blackmail against him. Interestingly by the time all the poisonous media simmer down, by the time the politically fashioned veil falls off the face of many, then people will start to realize that the concept of Servant Leadership introduced by the Chief Servant is the only way out.
Sadly, some people pick their pen and write what they think they know about the Chief Servant but failed to realize he built more houses across the state more than all past governors since the state was created in 1976. Many detractors may wish Nigerians do not know he constructed 250 kilometers rural roads (10 km each per local government). Those against him will not want Nigerians to know he constructed the longest rural bridge in Nigeria at Shiroro.
Ruling elites affected by his astute advocacy for the good of all Nigerians created a pseudo image to whittle his political mettle, a desperate attempt to silence him and eclipse his good work. Already an opinion has been formed about the Chief Servant by some elites. The myopic construct is sold to the gullible and carried about by bandwagon analysts. Now we are asking for change. Change from what to what?
The change of leadership has come but we must wait for transformation.
Yes the change has swept across Nigeria, taking along even the very best politicians, yes we must accept some collateral damages for the excesses of a few but we must also be ready to change our own ways too, which must begin with you and I.
Nigerians must understand that bandwagon judgment of leaders based on past excesses of others is never a good idea. For the Chief Servant, he has come, seen and conquered. He is set to step aside for now but his performance will linger forever. But once we refuse to accord the deserving respect to our own emancipators like the Chief Servant, we kill the concept of change we are all yearning for.
If our general understanding of ‘change’ is how much money comes to our pocket from our leaders, then General Muhammadu Buhari wouldn’t fit into the concept of change many are looking for. Governor Aliyu’s main offence was his refusal to share money. The billions spent on tangible and intangible dividends of democracy have failed to satisfy self-seeking electorates/politicians.
Aliyu chose to develop the state. He wanted a legacy of intangible dividends of democracy where young people in Niger state regardless of tribe, religion get free education to become leaders of tomorrow –a legacy well laid down by Chief Obafemi Awolowo, a legacy that has placed Yoruba race at position of advantage academically.
The people must place their priority right. They must understand the limits of stomach based followership or else they will have to contend with stomach based leaders. Tangible and intangible dividends of democracy are asset which adds value to the social, political and economic existence of the people of Nigeria. It is time we must realize that hand-outs from politicians only lasts for few days.
Politicians have indeed learnt good lessons from the political Tsunami in the just concluded elections. Now Nigerians will never be taken for granted. But it is instructive for Nigerians to also be mindful of impunity against their own leaders.
To maintain the balance, we must not be whole heartedly pessimistic about our leaders. Sometimes a bit of thumbs up will go a long way as a motivating factor. The same thumb that can be raised in praise for our leaders can also strike the ballot paper to exit them if they fall below expectation.
The story of the Chief Servant of Niger State, Dr. Mu’azu Banagida Aliyu has just begun. His fountain of contribution to national discuss will continue to remain a reference point for policy makers. He stood for the people regardless of whose ox is gored on national matters, hence the call for him to go to the senate (Sadly truncated by the Buhari Tsunami).
As an agent of change and proponent of transformation, Aliyu led a group of 7 governors across the country known as the G-7 (later new PDP) to change the soaring impunity in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). They wanted administrative impunity at the center to end too.
He refused to leave the PDP while orders marched to the All Progressive Congress (APC) on grounds of principle. He intimated he only wanted his party and the government at the center to correct certain level of impunity.
The patriotic advocacy of the G-7 paid off but Aliyu’s golden principle kept him in the PDP and the Buhari Tsunami failed to sieve between the Good, the Bad and the Ugly – the very best were swept away in the tide of political revolution.
Yes Aliyu has come to the political scenery, he has seen the intricacies of managing people and resources and has conquered to place Niger State where it is presently. Yes Niger state has won, yes Nigeria has won, yes 2015 election has brought change but transformation is sacrosanct to our national developmental aspirations. Soon the likes of Dr. Aliyu will be called upon to construct a marshal plan for a thousand years transformation agenda for Nigeria.
Written by Israel A. Ebije, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Aliyu.
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