By Umar Faruk Birnin Kebbl
The Kebbi State Government has defended Governor Nasir Idris's frequent travels, saying critics misunderstand the benefits of his strategic engagements. According to Yakubu Ahmed Birnin Kebbi, Commissioner for Information and Culture, "criticizing a performing government requires well-founded evidence, and underestimating the people of Kebbi could be a grave error."
Speaking to journalists on Tuesday at the press centre in Birnin Kebbi, Ahmed emphasized that Governor Idris's travels have yielded tangible benefits for the state. "For instance, after Dr. Idris's visit to Indonesia, the subsequent visit by the Indonesian Ambassador and technical officials highlighted mutual benefits, silencing many critics," he said.
Ahmed also highlighted the impact of Governor Idris's travels on foreign investment, citing the interest shown by Brazilian investors in Kebbi State. "Unlike past administrations, these trips have begun to bring real change, challenging any skepticism about their purpose or results," he noted.
The commissioner also addressed criticisms of Governor Idris's frequent visits to Abuja, saying that Nigeria's political structure necessitates building and leveraging connections. "Take the Koko/Zuru road as an example. Governor Idris navigated federal bureaucracy and an ineffective contractor to revoke the contract and re-award it to three reputable companies, ensuring quality and timely completion," Ahmed explained.
The main misstep of opposition parties in Kebbi State lies in their hasty and impulsive criticisms of Dr. Nasir Idris's APC government. Underestimating the people of Kebbi and playing with their intelligence on the altar of political exigencies or just to score cheap political points could be a grave error.
Constructive criticisms are a hallmark of democracy, and where opposition parties play their oversights correctly, it strengthens the levers of participatory democracy. The rule, however, is that when you take it upon yourself to criticize a performing government, especially one that has come to be loved by the ordinary people, you must arm yourself with watertight proofs.
A significant error occurred when opposition criticized the official travels of Governor Idris and his team. These trips, both national and international, are on record to have yielded tangible benefits for the state.
Further strengthening the impact of these strategic travels, foreign investors from Brazil became interested in Kebbi following state officials' visits. Unlike past administrations, these trips have begun to bring real change, challenging any skepticism about their purpose or results.
This piece is written to prove critics of such travels wrong and to address misplaced misgivings over the seeming frequent visits by the Governor to Abuja in particular. It is clear that critics in Kebbi often misunderstand the nature of Dr. Idris’s travels to the nation’s capital city, expecting him to remain within the confines of the state at all times.
However, Nigeria's political structure and its ever-changing dynamics necessitate building and leveraging connections. Take the Koko/Zuru road as an example. Governor Idris navigated federal bureaucracy and an ineffective contractor to revoke the contract and re-award it to three reputable companies, ensuring quality and timely completion.
The delay in advancing the Koko/Zuru road project due to federal bureaucracy and an ineffective contractor exemplifies this. Governor Idris, fulfilling a campaign promise, navigated these challenges by engaging federal authorities persistently to revoke the contract when an incompetent contractor persistently fails to ensure progress.
This road has been on the table for decades without any of the past governments getting anywhere near getting it done; not even a look-in. To make matters even worse and more painful, the road project had remained merely on paper. The commitment demonstrated by Governor Nasir Idris in, firstly getting it revoked and secondly, in quickening the process of re-awarding it is not only commendable but unprecedented in the annals of this state.
Re-awarding the construction to three reputable companies ensures quality and timely completion. Successes like these are the product of tireless advocacy and strategic engagement, underscoring the governor's dedication to Kebbi’s development.
Had Governor Idris remained stagnant to placate a vocal few, projects like the Koko/Zuru road might never have seen the light of the day or move beyond planning. His strategic travels and networking are crucial for state progress.
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