We had not met before, but he acted as if we had known each other all our lives. He carried an air of importance and spoke in superlatives. He had unique features, thick and dark, and dressed rather lavishly. He looked like a man living “the life”. He talked freely and loudly and didn’t care a hoot what you thought about his opinions. He kept talking whether you listened or not. When he was introduced, he turned out to be an elected political office holder in Adamawa State. He spoke glowingly about Governor Muhammadu Umaru Jibrilla Bindow, but had a complaint, which he aired rather loudly:
“His Excellency has done rather well in just two years, but 90% of his efforts so far are centered on roads. People are complaining. He needs to loosen up and open up with money. He needs to begin to dash out money generously, like the typical Nigerian politician that people are used to. Roads and streetlights everywhere; is it roads that people will eat?” he asked rather agitatedly. Hmmm.
I was taken aback, but not entirely surprised, by that rather petty question coming from the lips of a political office holder who should know better. I agree, there is difficulty in the land and people are complaining, but Governor Bindow is not responsible for the suffering (Nigeria is still officially in a biting recession and oil price, the mainstay of the Nigerian economy, is still below pre-2015 figures) nor does it have anything to do with the road infrastructure being put in place across the State. In addition, the poverty will most certainly not be solved by a reckless and self-serving “dashing” out of scarce public resources. That is an irresponsible action on the part of politicians and public servants that is one of the main reasons why our hugely endowed country is on its knees today.
It is, therefore, wrong and even mischievous to blame Governor Bindow’s determination to deliver good roads all across the State, through corruption-free and prudencial use of scarce resources (doing much from very little available resources), for the challenges that a national economic recession has imposed on Nigerians.
As a matter of fact, Governor Bindow should be rather applauded, as discerning individuals and organizations across the country, and beyond, are doing. Over 119 roads, covering over 229 kilometers, at the cost of N16 Billion, in a period of two years! Now that is a Bindow magic; wizardry of statecraft steeped in prudence, accountability, carefully detailed planning, business acumen, managerial sagacity and, as a matter of personal commitment from the Governor, the fear of God. Try to imagine, for a moment, where Adamawa State will be today, in terms of development, if we have had this kind of visionary, transparent and committed leadership in the last 25 years since the State was created. I hear Dubai calling!
So, you ask: is it roads that we will eat? I ask: have you stopped for a moment and considered the net benefit of good roads on the community, family and individual? Do you know that roads tie into everything that the society needs to function well and attain its goals and potential? You see, roads take us to school, work, market, farm, hospital, church, mosque, club, etc., et al. Simply put, without roads, society as we know it today or even as we wish it to be, will not be. We will be living in the jungle, hardly going anywhere or doing anything productive. It is good road network that make for good villages, towns and cities. Roads are the circulatory system that turn communities into living, functional and productive beings.
Consider this facts:
• Good roads increase general connectivity between communities, families and individuals.
• Good roads ease the movement of people from community to community, thus boosting social interaction and communal functionality and growth.
• Good roads facilitate the movement of goods and services across various locations and the nation.
• Good roads boost economic activity by easing access to markets and the supply of goods and services.
• Good roads increase the general wellbeing and living standards of the general population by easing access to social services and social interventions.
• Good roads confer functionality and beauty on villages, towns and cities.
• Good roads boost security by providing easy access to security institutions/formations and easy passage for security vehicles and personnel all across the community.
The list of the benefits of good roads can go on and on. So, any one that builds roads is actually laying the foundation for sustainable development. That is exactly what Governor Bindow is doing; laying the foundation on which education, health, security, agriculture, commerce and industry, livestock and fisheries, solid minerals, etc., can be positioned and developed for the benefit of the good people of Adamawa State. It is a revolutionary concept whose time is long overdue. Governor Bindow is working hard to bring Adamawa State up to the times. He needs, in fact deserves, our support and not our condemnation. He is unto a winning formula.
• Dr. Agoso Huladeino Bamaiyi is the Principal Special Assistant to the Executive Governor of Adamawa State on Strategy/Technical matters.
