Ahmed Wadada, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Nasarawa state, has defended President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, saying only “an enemy” of Nigeria would dismiss what he described as the administration’s economic gains.
Wadada, who represents Nasarawa west in the senate, spoke on
Thursday after meeting Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The senator said he was at the State House to discuss how he
could contribute to Nigeria’s growth and development in line with the
president’s vision.
“My mission to the Villa, as always, is to see how best we
will all contribute our quota to the growth and development of Nigeria, which
is the utmost objective of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Wadada said.
According to him, Nigeria’s economic indicators had improved
under the Tinubu administration, citing higher foreign reserves, improvements
in the balance of payments and trade, exchange rate stability, and growth in
the capital market.
“If the truth should and must be said, let’s look at all the
indicators. All the indicators that show economic growth and development of the
system are looking glaringly promising and brighter than what they were,” he
said.
“When he came in, it was below $30 billion, between $28 and
$29 billion. Today we are talking about $56 to $57 billion in our foreign
reserves.”
He also credited the administration’s foreign exchange
reforms with stabilising the naira.
“All the windows have been closed, they have been unified,
which has greatly informed today the stability of the naira against the
dollar,” he said.
Wadada acknowledged that the challenges are not over yet but
said the government had recorded measurable progress.
“There are glaring improvements, development and growth in
every sector, but that is not to say all is well. Much more needs to be done,”
he said.
He criticised opponents of the administration, saying
criticism should not amount to hostility towards the country.
“For anybody to sit down and wish away this administration,
then that person is either ignorant, not realistic, or an open enemy. Because
opposition is different from being an enemy,” he said.
‘I’M NOT A FLYOVER POLITICIAN IN NASARAWA’
Speaking about his governorship ambition, Wadada said he
remains connected to the people of Nasarawa and understands their needs.
“I am not a flyover politician. I have been with my people.
I am grounded. I know their problems, and I know their aspirations, their
wishes, and I have, over the years, lived to their wishes and aspirations,” he
said.
The governorship candidate unveiled the HEARTS agenda, which
he described as his development blueprint for Nasarawa, noting that it would
build on the achievements of Abdullahi Sule’s administration.
“Nasarawa state is a gold mine. I have an agenda. It is
called the Wadada HEARTS Agenda,” he said.
Wadada said the agenda would prioritise human capital
development through education and healthcare, while also focusing on energy and
mineral resources, agriculture and the green economy, rural and urban
development, trade and investment, and security.
He said the Electricity Act had created opportunities for
states to generate power independently and described Nasarawa as Nigeria’s
mineral resources hub.
“With the passage of the Electricity Act and the president’s
assent to it, it opened up the corridors of power generation by every state.
Every state is sitting on one resource or the other that can be utilised in
generating energy,” he said.
“If you talk mineral resources, you are talking Nasarawa
state. The first and second lithium processing plants in Nigeria are all in
Nasarawa state.”
Wadada stated that he would consolidate on the foundation
laid by Sule if elected governor.
He said his administration would establish three
agricultural hubs across the state’s senatorial districts based on their
comparative advantages.
“We intend to create three agricultural hubs in the state.
Each senatorial district will have its own hub based on its competitive
agricultural advantage,” the senator stated.
Wadada added that Nasarawa’s proximity to the Federal
Capital Territory (FCT) is one of its biggest economic advantages.
He added that Sule’s administration had raised expectations
for whoever succeeds it.
“The present administration in Nasarawa state has raised the
bar, broadened and deepened the scope of what Nasarawa state is. There cannot
be any mediocrity after A.A. Sule,” he said.
“Whoever does that will be doing so at his own peril because
Nasarawa state is now much more heard, much more seen and much more respected.
With due respect and humility, so much is expected of me, and by the grace of
God, we shall deliver.”
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