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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for Nasarawa State, Ahmed Wadada, on Thursday defended President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, declaring that only “an enemy” of Nigeria would dismiss what he described as the administration’s growing economic gains.
Speaking to State House Correspondents after meeting President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Wadada said his visit was aimed at discussing how to contribute to the country’s growth and development in line with the President’s vision.
“My mission to the Villa, as always, is to see how best we will all contribute our quota to the growth and development of Nigeria, which is the utmost objective of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.
Looking ahead to the Nasarawa governorship election, Wadada expressed confidence in his grassroots support, describing himself as “not a flyover politician.”
“I am not a flyover politician. I have been with my people. I am grounded. I know their problems and I know their aspirations, their wishes, and I have, over the years, lived to their wishes and aspirations,” he stated.
The APC candidate argued that key economic indicators had improved under Tinubu’s administration, citing increases in Nigeria’s foreign reserves, improvements in the balance of payments and trade, exchange rate stability, and growth in the capital market.
“If the truth should and must be said, let’s look at all the indicators. All the indicators that show economic growth and development of the system are looking glaringly promising and brighter than what they were,” he said.
According to him, Nigeria’s foreign reserves had nearly doubled under the current administration.
“When he came in, it was below $30 billion, between $28 and $29 billion. Today we are talking about $56 to $57 billion in our foreign reserves.”
He also credited the administration’s foreign exchange reforms with stabilising the naira.
“All the windows have been closed, they have been unified, which has greatly informed today the stability of the naira against the dollar.”
While acknowledging that challenges remained, Wadada insisted the Tinubu administration had made measurable progress.
“There are glaring improvements, development and growth in every sector, but that is not to say all is well. Much more needs to be done.”
He, however, took a swipe at critics of the administration.
“For anybody to sit down and wish away this administration, then that person is either ignorant, not realistic, or an open enemy. Because opposition is different from being an enemy.”
Turning to his governorship ambition, Wadada unveiled what he called the HEARTS Agenda, a development blueprint he said would build on the achievements of Governor Abdullahi Sule’s administration.
“Nasarawa State is a gold mine. I have an agenda. It is called the Wadada HEARTS Agenda.”
Explaining the acronym, he said H represents Human Capital Development, with education and healthcare as top priorities.
“The major ingredients are education and health, which we shall face squarely.”
The E, he said, stands for Energy and Mineral Resources, noting that the Electricity Act had opened new opportunities for states to generate power independently.
“With the passage of the Electricity Act and the President’s assent to it, it opened up the corridors of power generation by every state. Every state is sitting on one resource or the other that can be utilised in generating energy.”
He described Nasarawa as Nigeria’s mineral resources hub, pointing to recent investments in lithium processing.
“If you talk mineral resources, you are talking Nasarawa State. The first and second lithium processing plants in Nigeria are all in Nasarawa State.”
According to him, his administration would consolidate on the foundation laid by Governor Abdullahi Sule.
“We will continue from where Engineer Abdullahi Sule’s administration stopped.”
Wadada said the A in HEARTS stands for Agriculture and Green Economy, revealing plans to establish three agricultural hubs across the state’s senatorial districts based on their comparative advantages.
“We intend to create three agricultural hubs in the state. Each senatorial district will have its own hub based on its competitive agricultural advantage.”
The remaining pillars of the agenda, he said, include Rural and Urban Development, Trade and Investment, and Security.
He also highlighted Nasarawa’s strategic proximity to the Federal Capital Territory, describing it as one of the state’s greatest economic assets.
“There is no way you can wish away Nasarawa State as long as the FCT is concerned.”
Wadada concluded by saying the achievements of the Sule administration had raised expectations for whoever succeeds him.
“The present administration in Nasarawa State has raised the bar, broadened and deepened the scope of what Nasarawa State is. There cannot be any mediocrity after A.A. Sule.
“Whoever does that will be doing so at his own peril because Nasarawa State is now much more heard, much more seen and much more respected. With due respect and humility, so much is expected of me, and by the grace of God, we shall deliver.”
