Many of the first-term governors-elect are coming on board without a well
articulated programme and policy for their people. The chang
phenomenon and the Buhari tsunami have brought in some unprepared
governors especially in the northern part of Nigeria. The society must
help these set of elected public office holders to start good and end
excellent.
The Sule Lamido model of development is an excellent working document for
most governors-elect to emulate and benchmark in their developmental
strives. I often christen Governor Sule Lamidostyle of development in
rural Jigawa as Big Project from Small Money. Sule Lamido
administration have initiated and completed many projects that are
milestones as well as being in line with Jigawaneeds.
The main reason the new governors-elect especially those in northern
states with similar geographical, cultural and economical terrain with
Jigawa should religiously adopt Governor Lamidodevelopment strategies
is; the governors development plans are based on new thinking and sound
decision making. Governor Lamido careful planning and execution of
people oriented projects and programmes, including the visibly enhanced
economic growth and quality of governance in Jigawa State is clearly an
indication that, despite the general poverty of ideas among most public
office holders and the scarce resources in most northern states, there are
leaders who are genuinely committed to people oriented and sustainable
development. For instance, while most states were crying and pointing
fingers at the Federal Government for their inability to pay workers
salaries; Governor Lamido has not only paid salaries, but busy
commissioning new projects.
Despite the meagre resources and the population of Jigawa people being
mainly rural dwellers and peasant farmers, the governor was able to
identify what the Jigawa people dearly want. This is how leaders ought to
be- futuristic in thinking.
Governors-elect who wholeheartedly want to bring real development to their
people must adopt the Lamido concept and strategy of development in
agriculture, roads, education, electricity, healthcare, water supply,
transportation, youth development and other sectors. Governor Lamido was
able to achieve the visible remarkable development in Jigawa through the
segmentation of the various sectors into their smallest unit, then a
head-on tackling of each unit.
Lamido has become a role model for those aspiring for and holding
political offices, because he has exhibited what is expected of elected
leadership. For first-term governors-elect who truly want to bring
development despite the current meagre resources; governor Lamidos
development strategies will be a great helping-hand.
Zayyad I. Muhammad writes from Jimeta, Adamawa State, zaymohd@yahoo.com,
08036070980. He blogs at www.zayyaddp.blogspot.com