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By Omeiza Ajayi

ABUJA – Former vice president and a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC, Atiku Abubakar, has asked members of the political class, especially those of Adamawa extraction to first fix its politics before attempting fixing Nigeria.

Atiku gave the charge at the weekend in Abuja during a reception organized in his honour by the Adamawa Community in Abuja, to mark his elevation to the position of 7th Waziri Adamawa.

“I also implore us to fix our politics as well. We can have our political differences and political fights, but let us know when to apply the brakes to ensure that what is destined for Adamawa – be it projects, provisions or positions – are not lost because of our petty quarrels and what some call ‘pull-him-down syndrome.’ I believe we will be remembered not by the number of people we pulled down but by the number of people we lifted up”, he counselled.

According to him, Adamawa and the North East generally have been in the news in recent years often for the wrong reason, particularly the spate of insecurity occasioned by the Boko Haram insurgency in the area.

“But we are more than that. We have more than one story. Our story is not just the Boko Haram story. A lot has happened in Adamawa and Adamawa people have done a lot of good over the course of the history of this country and we continue to do so.

That is one of the things that give me hope even in moments of despair. Another thing that gives me hope and encouragement is the sight of thousands of Adamawa children and youth who, with little help, guidance and encouragement, can rise to the highest levels of the professions and the society. People who would in the future make enormous contributions to the development of the state, the region and, indeed, the country.

“Just think about it. Nigeria’s story would be incomplete without discussions of the contributions of Adamawa sons and daughters to the development of Nigeria. And they have done so in a variety of sectors of our national life. Just think of the contributions and sacrifices of such Adamawa elite as late Muhammadu Ribadu, Nigeria’s Defence Minister in the First Republic, Ahmed Joda; IGP Gambo Jimeta, Jibril Aminu, Bamanga Tukur, Mahmud Tukur, Haladu Hananiya, Murtala Nyako, Buba Marwa, late AVM Alfa, Air Marshal A. D. Bello, Air Marshal Bade, late IGP M. D. Sulaiman, late Senator Mahmud Waziri, Wakili Hassan Adamu, Nuhu Ribadu, Babachir David Lawal, and Musa Bello, just to mention a few. We even gave our President, Muhammadu Buhari, his very smart and beautiful wife, Aisha, an accomplished professional in her own right. I stress that this is certainly not an exhaustive list but just to underscore that Adamawa has produced distinguished sons and daughters who have contributed and continue to contribute to national development”, he added.

Atiku said there is a need for Adamawa leaders to uphold and deepen this legacy by fixing her educational system and other aspects of human development.

“If there is one other thing that unifies the Adamawa elite it is that they obtained good education. Education helped to open doors for them in the various professions where they have distinguished themselves and in their service to our country. Education opened doors for me also. It is, therefore, imperative, in my opinion, that we should do everything possible to invest in education for the young people of our state. There is no reason for any Adamawa child to be out of school. Let us, as a state and as a people, begin to plan our future without thinking that the federal government will be our saviour. Let us think of how we can build up our State: let us continue to encourage our State and Local Governments to repair and expand our schools, to repair our roads, and help our students to learn. The future of Adamawa State lies in the hands of its young people but we need to prepare them for that future by giving them good education so they can go out in the world and compete with the best of them. That is what produced the Adamawa elite who have not only done well for themselves but have made enormous contributions to the development of this country”.

He urged the leaders to visit home regularly rather than staying only in Abuja and other distant places, saying, “as you know, the little money you spend during a weekend visit helps not just the relations and friends you directly assist but also the small shop keepers that they buy from, the butcher that they patronize, the clinic they visit to get treatment, the bricklayer and carpenter they pay to fix their homes, and so on. But if we do not visit home, that little help, with all those multiplier effects, is lost to the community and the state.”

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