By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North Central, in Minna)
Group of youths in Niger state have made a case for only experienced persons in both age, education and training, including retired civil servants to be given opportunity to govern Niger state, expressing disappointment that the present crop of politicians are immature as their performances is below the expectations of Nigerlites.
Most of the present crop of leaders at the federal and states levels, the youths argue see governance as opportunity to only display powers instead finding out what the most pressing needs of majority of the populace are and strategize on how to tackle the problems.
The youths, under the auspices of, "Kolo Magba Association", in Wushishi, Wushishi Local Government Area (LGA) said the state needed a mature person that will consider the needs of citizens above personal political party interests as governor in 2027.
They made reference to the acclaimed developmental strides of the Governor Umaru Bago administration, arguing that, though there are visible evidences of changes by the ongoing roads and flyovers construction in parts of the state, what is seen as achievements can best be described as misplaced priority, 'because that is not the immediate needs of the majority of citizenry'.
The group recalled two of the best Governors, late Engineer Abdulkadir Kure and Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu whom according to them served the state effectively with high sense of maturity as examples of the kind of personalities Niger state needed to govern the state in the next dispensation.
"I think we should make it a policy that only successful retired seasoned civil servants should contest and govern the state, while politicians with heavy pockets should contest both State and National Assembly seats respectively for robust leadership across three tiers of government".
The statement said, "A situation whereby there are ongoing roads and flyover construction projects but no water, hospitals are lacking basic facilities and qualified personnel, no stable light, people are dying almost by minutes due to hunger and frustrations is not governance or dividends of democracy we all are craving for".
The youths in a statement signed by their President, Comrade Abdullahi Maina and made available to our correspondent in Minna on Thursday argued that, 'leadership is not about who talks louder but who listens to the people, and not only share in their pains but work out how to resolve their problems'.
The youths who have pledged their support for Dr. Mohamed Kpautagi, a Masters Degree holder in urban regional planning who retired as Director of Urban Development, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing decried the level of ongoing infrastructural decay and waste of scarce resources.
According to them, Dr. Mohamed Kpautagi is not only humble, but has witnessed life's challenges and have imbibed decency, discipline, tolerance and above all, incorruptible miem which no doubt will be exhibited if elected as governor come 2027.
"We want constitutional amendment that will allow only senior retired civil servants to aspire for governorship positions. This will bring about rapid change and decency in governance and as well restore democratic norms instead of allowing money bags with little or no knowledge of how to govern to hijack powers without thinking about what they can do for the electorates to takes over leadership positions in Nigeria". NNL.
