AS ADAMAWANS GO TO THE POLLS

If past and recent events happening in Adamawa is anything to go by, then the people who live in the land of beauty must as a matter of fact act fast before further impunity, undemocratic tendencies and below average performance engulfs the state in another four years.

As a first time visitor to the state, one would think it had been under the rule of myopic leaders, yet since 1999, the state had been ruled by the PDP, with Dr. Boni Haruna, completing two terms in office and secondly, by the oldest governor in Nigeria today, Vice Admiral Murtala Hamanyero Nyako. Travelling round the local governments, one would be dismayed to see wanton deprivation and lack of both Federal and State projects and most importantly local government initiatives. The State capital, Yola, might be one to give applaud to, coupled with two to three other local governments, but assessing the other local governments, one would agree with this writer that the connection and link between the government and the people had been one of sour taste and bitterness for years.

Government at all levels is about the social contract, which must be respected between the ruler and ruled. In Adamawa state, it seems nothing exists to justify the billions of naira accrued to it since the turn of democracy. Poverty, epileptic diseases, neglect, kleptocracy and feudalism are the simple evidences of what Adamawa could be described as in one sentence. It is for this reason that as Adamawa go to the polls, its people must realise that they have been left stark naked through corruption and rule by a clique interested only in their pockets and the susteinance of the life blood of their cronies. The people of Adamawa must for the first time take their destiny into their hands and seize power through the ballot paper, before the next four years become a round trip of nothingness and stagnantion once again. A credible candidate with a ear and heart for the people must be voted into the Dougirei Government House come January, 2012.

Having said this, Adamawa state in the last couple of months has been witnessing boisterous political activities with campaign posters of the different political parties and their candidates hanging around the nooks and crannies of the state, in readiness for the gubernatorial election in January, 2012. The most visible parties and their candidates include, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, whose candidate, Vice Admiral Murtala Hamanyero Nyako, is the incumbent governor of the state, while General Muhammed Buba Marwa is the candidate of the Congress for Political Change, CPC. The Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN on the other hand has as its flagbearer, Engineer Markus Gundiri, the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP has Alhaji Ahmed Usman as its candidate while the African Democratic Congress, ADC has as it's flagbearer, Dr. Zainab Kwonchi. Each of these candidates are well known individuals in the state and have cut a niche for themselves in their respective and chosen profession.

The CPC candidate in person of General Muhammed Buba Marwa, was once a military administrator of Lagos and Borno states. His track records there had been severally acknowledged and he is believed to have the tenacity to clinch the ticket, owing to his vast experiences in gubernatorial politics. The ACN flagbearer, Engineer Markus Gundiri, is a retired permanent secretary who has had a long career in the civil service both in the state and federal levels. He was also a one time commissioner in the state and this, many believe, gives him a better exposure and preparation for the Dougirei Government House come January, 2012. ADC's Dr. Zainab Kwonchi is the only female candidate and a one time member of governor Nyako's kitchen cabinet. A professional medical doctor who served as a commisoner in charge of the Health Ministry. Though a greenhorn in Adamawa politics, she is known to have put much in place to oust the PDP led administration come the 14th of January. The incumbent, Murtala Nyako, who is a retired and highly respected Vice Admiral in the Air force, has ruled the state for four years and believe his good works befit a second term. This assertion many believe is false and it is argued in many quarters that he has done little to merit a second term.

Vice Admiral Murtala Hamanyero Nyako have been harping on his populist skills acquisition programme, free medical services for nursing mothers and infant under five, among others as a reason for a second term, however, feelings among the people proves otherwise. The governor, many believe, has done little or nothing for the vast majority of its civil servants, despite being a party to the Minimum Wage deal. They pointed to the fact that when the issue was in the embryonic stage, Nyako himself had argued the 18,000 naira was too small, yet refused to pay his workers when the Bill was signed into law. This, to observers led to series of strike and as at November, workers were yet to be paid back log of salaries. In the area of education, observers argue that the governor's agenda for the state pays little attention to education and this could be seen in the falling standard of education from the primary, down to the tertiary level. Teachers and lecturers have gone on strike for months as the governor refused to pay them backlog of salaries agreed upon. Many of the schools have no visible structure, while children learn under the most horrific conditions. There are also lack of basic ammenities in the schools like chairs, tables, chalks, standard laboratories and even dearth of qualitative teachers.
Education to these observers is nothing to write home about in the state. They also argue that health workers have been treated badly, leading to month long strikes with little evidence of a viable clinic, health centre or hospitals in major towns and villages, while both state and federal government roads are death traps. A typical example is the Numan-Taraba expressway which has been in a state of disrepair for years and several others like the sahara road which is the only visible road in Lamurde local government and which has defied concrete repairs for years. Electricity has been non-existent in most part of the state, as electric poles, it is argued, lie wallowing in waste across several local governments without wires to connect them to the power authorities.

The environment which stares one in the face in most parts of the state are dirty and could cause unncecessary diseases to the populace. Senators and members of both the state and federal house of representatives have failed to commit constituency projects to their constituences. Poverty is extreme, while the people are relegated to the background. The recent closure of the legislative chamber by PDP thugs and stern looking policemen attests to the impunity and disregard for the rule of law in the state. A legislative chamber that is left closed is sending a message across to the people that the Nyako led administration is denying the people their right to feel the democratic pulse of their representatives.
 
However, the beauty of democracy is the opportunity it gives the people to vote in or out a government which has performed well or abysmally. It is for this reason that as election into the gubernatorial seat in Adamawa begins in January, the people must weigh their options well. They must not be fooled by politicians who are only interested in greasing the hands of the people in order to get their votes. They must open their eyes to the realities of a true democratic order where the people's votes matter. The people of Adamawa must as a matter of urgency see to it that politicians in their domain who have not improved the lives of the people democratically are shut out and made to face electoral failure. The people must use their vote to vote wisely, as it is their bargaining power. The use of religion by certain parochial interests to bolster the image and popularity of certain candidates should be disregarded while the use of ethnic affiliations should not be a criteria to vote. If the people of Adamawa fail to do the right thing, they must have no reason to compalin thereafter. Politics is not a do or die affair, but a means to get it right and getting it right must begin with Adamawa state and its people.

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