As the gale of declaration by the prospective candidates to contest or re-contest election at various levels ahead of the 2023 general elections continues, it’s imperative to the electorates to focus on the credibility, pedigree and antecedents of those who indicate interest to seek their mandates.
Thus, the decision we make in just a day at the poll in 2023, will surely make or mar our future, depending on the side we choose to belong – either to the way of credibility and development or implausiblity. So, the need for the electorates to put on their thinking caps so as not to end up making a wrong decision would not be overemphasized, especially as the desperate politicians who venture into the game to amassed wealth.
Of those who have already declared, we have seen some of them brandishing physical fitness as their major political selling point by just running in an open space with much media hype.
This is very strange to our democracy, I don’t know when one’s ability to run physically becomes a criteria and pre-requisite quality and credential of his leadership acumen. In sharp contrast to the recent ploys of running to run introduced by the APC, the 32nd American President, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, byname FDR, could not run on his legs as he was physically disabled due to paralysis he had suffered but because he was mentally sound, administratively upright and has what it takes to be a great leader, he was the only President of the United States to be elected in a position of leadership four times. FDR led the US through two of the greatest crises of the 20th century: the great depression and worl war II and expanded the powers of the State through a series of programs and reforms known as the New Deal.
Like the FDR, the selling point of any political office seeker, should be his mental and leadership capacity not the other way round.
In an absolute demonstration of capacity in leadership, the Adamawa state Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri is defining act of political practice and governance. The brewing politics of the 2023, is genuinely taking shape to sustain the phase and path of transformation and State’s development put in place through purposeful leadership in the past three years of his administration.
In fact, while others are trying to use all sorts of lies and stratagem to outwit the electorates for their selfish gains, for Governor Fintiri, his reputation and enviable record of achievements are speaking volumes for him, his people who have genuinely seen and witnessed his good hands in politics throughout his sojourn from member of the state assembly, speaker and later governor, are now mounting on him pressure to seek re-election. Luckily for the state and its entire population, he has decided to throw his hat into the ring again in 2023.
Endeared by his people, recently, a group of friends of Governor have bought the expression of interest and normination forms for the governor to contest for a second term in the 2023 guber elections on the PDP platform. After obtaining the form in Abuja, the group, called Special Committee for Fintiri 2023, in the company of numerous political organizations, presented the forms to the governor in Yola, Friday, 8th April. The the group said it decided to buy the form for Fintiri due to the ‘extraordinary’ achievements recorded by the Governor in various sectors of the state’s development.
The highly welcomed event, followed the massive endorsement and subscription to the PDP’s led administration in the sate where the people of all the 21 local governments areas and 226 wards of the state have trooped out en masse to vote for the Party’s candidates in the just concluded local government elections.
In his determination to test the strength of the party, Fintiri went round all the nooks and crannies of the state to campaign for the PDP and as envisaged, the feeble opposition in the state got overwhelming defeat. Of course, PDP won all the contested seats but through a well contested polls unlike the new normal in some states where the process is usually manipulated in favour of the government in power.
It’s no doubt that the state under the last three years has witnessed an unprecedented approach to governance, a total departure point from the era of deceit and indifference on the plights of the people by those who called themselves leaders and desperately occupied the seat of power to enrich selves.
Gov Fintiri, from his speech during the inauguration of the newly elected local government officials where he subsequently heeded to yearnings and aspirations of the majority to submit himself to the service of the state for the second time, one would be further convinced that the state will be piloted to the greater heights amongst its equals.
Equally, after rolling out his remarkable achievements, here comes to the acceptance, “Mr Chairman, Party Leaders, Distinguished Guests Ladies and Gentlemen, it is no longer news that the Nomination Form for Adamawa Gubernatorial race of our party has been picked for me. Because we have done so much and there is more to be done to better the lot of our people and our dear State; because we have built a trusting relationship with the electorates, majority of whom are the masses where our support (both in votes and prayers) is derived; because our party needs to continue on the path of victory; after a very wide consultation within our great Party and outside it; within the State and outside it; with my family, friends, associates and leaders, I wish to formally inform you that I have accepted to offer myself yet again, to seek for the endorsement of our Great Party, the PDP, to carry its flag in the 2023 Governorship race of Adamawa State. I believe you can trust me again as you have done before. There is indeed nothing about me that either you or the entire citizens of Adamawa State do not know. And there is nothing on the shelf of your developmental needs that I do not know. I have started the crusade for reinventing a new Adamawa where no one is left behind and nothing is left untouched. We have done so much in physical infrastructure and moving forward, Stomach infrastructure will take precedence.”
To those who knows how he transformed the state including his commitment to welfare of the civil servants, free education and free feedings in the schools, building of roads and hospitals and other critical sectors of development, with the declaration of his intention to run, the embryo his of his second term has begun.
Kera writes from Kaduna.
