Members of the Nupe community in Kaduna, under the aegis of ‘The Eyelo Nupe Association,’ have urged the Niger State governor, Mohammed Bago, to ensure good governance as he pilots the affairs of the state for the next four years.
Bago was a member of the 9th House of Representatives, representing the Chanchaga constituency in the National Assembly, from where he contested the 2023 governorship election of Niger State and won under the All Progressive Congress.
Members of the 40-year-old association said they believed Bago wouldn’t let down the people of Niger State because “he has long been recognised as a dedicated and passionate advocate for a better Niger State and for his tireless efforts to address the aspirations of an average Nigerlite.”
In a statement on Friday, jointly signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the Association, Salihu Ibrahim and Muhammad Shehu, respectively, they praised the governor for identifying areas that needed urgent attention.
They urged the governor to order the return of all contractors with the state government that might have abandoned the works to go back to sites for the development of the state.
The statement partly read, “We believe that as the governor on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mohammed Bago will enhance security, infrastructural and socio-economic development of the state.
“We are calling on him to collaborate with traditional rulers in Niger State to secure the state, as well explore the agricultural potentials in the state for the benefit of the people.
“We want the state government to collaborate with traditional institutions to curb insecurity. And as well improve the lives of poor people at the grassroots.
“There should be the empowerment of the youths through skills training acquisition to rebrand the state so that we can be part of the newest economy in Nigeria.
“The governor should take advantage of Niger as the largest state in Nigeria in terms of landmass to encourage farmers to go back to the farms by improving the security situation in the state.
“It is on record that Niger State has 76,000 square kilometres of arable land and four hydropower stations, and yet we do not have irrigation dams in the state, so the people only wait for the rainy season. In this case, the governor should ensure that the farmers become agricultural giants in this country.
“There is also the need for the state government to connect with its sons and daughters in diaspora for occasional advice that could help to improve the developmental status of the state, and by so doing, everybody is being carried along in the governance of the state.
“However, we wish to seize this opportunity to congratulate Your Excellency, over your success at the polls and your eventual inauguration as the Executive Governor of Niger State.”
