By Awwal Hudu<\/p>\n
There is, at least, in Nasarawa State, a time in the reign of every
\ngovernor, when he becomes the problem, not the solution to existing
\nproblems of the state.
\nSometimes, it happens so quickly.
\nThe people do not take to his methods, development rarely occur,
\ndisillusion sets in. This period is called the \u2018dead cat bounce\u2019.
\nAfter a few months, the governor cuts his losses, admits he made some
\nmistakes and change gear.
\nSometimes, it takes the governor a longer time to know the depth and
\nreality of the mess he plunged the state and its people into.
\nMaybe there is an initial improvement and the governor is acclaimed for
\nthe changes he makes. Things go well. The state witnesses some artificial
\nchanges. The changes are artificial because they seldom affect peoples\u2019
\nliving conditions. New projects initiated and or completed. Maybe there
\nare honours for the governor. A school renovated. Few roads tarred. For a
\nlittle while, it\u2019s hard to imagine that this could ever sour.
\nBut then, perhaps after a couple of years, progress stalls as it is the
\ncase in the state now.
\nMaybe an important political ally of the governor becomes his foe. Maybe
\nfew allies start grumbling. Maybe there are differences and cries of
\nmarginalisation. Maybe the money runs out. Maybe there are rows between
\nthe governor and the party. Maybe the thugs grow deaf to instructions they
\nonce heard loud and clear.
\nAnd amid the friction, development projects tail off and, perhaps, the
\nspectre of crises looms. There\u2019s a recognition that the magic has gone and
\nthat things have grown stale and ordinary.
\nThe state\u2019s governors are limited like that. They find it hard to maintain
\nsuccess. They have a shelf-life of two or three years and then they get
\nthemselves enmeshed in crises.
\nAnd then there is a history like the history Umar Tanko Al-Makura has with
\nthe state.
\nA history at its most glorious in the early years, certainly, but a
\nrelationship sustained through mutual loyalty and confused state of minds.
\nA relationship that survived the considerable strains placed upon it by
\nthe seismic move from PDPs underperforming years to Al\u2014Makura\u2019s performing
\ndays.
\nA relationship nurtured by the recognition that Al\u2014Makura laboured under
\nsevere communal crises for years.
\nRecognition, that despite those restrictions, despite the crises,
\nAl\u2014Makura has kept his state and APC in the mix of positive public glare.
\nThere is gratitude to Al\u2014Makura in the state for that. There is gratitude
\nfor everything he has achieved.
\nNasarawa State could, for instance, have had Plateau\u2019s history over the
\nlast 10 years of perennial killings. It is down to Al\u2014Makura that the
\nstate has witnessed some physical developments.
\nBut now Al\u2014Makura faces a horrible dilemma. Because slowly, Al\u2014Makura,
\ntoo, has become the problem, not the solution, in Nasarawa State.
\nSeasons after season, the people lament Nasarawa\u2019s failure to mount a
\nprolonged challenge for true peace and development.
\nFor some months, the unrest is more voluble than other months but it is
\nalways there.
\nSometimes it sticks in the throats of the Nasarawa people because they
\nknow how much they owe the APC governor.
\nThey know that, in many ways, they owe him plenty. He built the modern
\nNasarawa State. He has become one of the greatest figures in the
\nopposition politics in this country.
\nAnd yet a terrible paradox is gripping Nasarawa now: The state is awash
\nwith bright, young talents and yet it feels as if it is a state of
\natrophy.
\nIt takes a step forward and then it takes two steps back. Problems are
\nidentified but they are not quickly fixed. And by the time they are
\nremedied, there is another problem to fix.
\nThat feeling of progressive change and vitality has gone. It has been
\nreplaced by a reluctant acceptance that we admire Al-Makura now for what
\nhe once was, not what he might yet achieve.
\nMany people, in the state, know this and yearn for change. Some hold it in
\nas their guilty secret.
\nEven though some politicians broke ranks recently and criticised
\nAl-Makura, there is little appetite in especially Lafia to dump him.
\nHow can you dump Al-Makura?
\nBut even if there is great appetite among the electorate to usher him
\ntowards the door, that will not change whatever the number of people that
\nwill die in clashes bound to occur because solutions are not implemented
\nwhere the problems are detected by this government.
\nRegrettably, Al-Makura, too, was the solution once, of course.
\nHow sweet it would feel if he could be once again, but that is a dream
\nthat is fast fading.<\/p>\n
Hudu wrote from Makurdi Road, Lafia<\/p>\n
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