The All Progressives Congress governorship candidate for Nasarawa State in the 2027 elections, Senator Ahmed Wadada, on Thursday outlined what he called his five-point development agenda, HEART.
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This was as he declared that Nigeria’s key macroeconomic indicators had improved significantly since May 2023.
This was as he declared that Nigeria’s key macroeconomic indicators had improved significantly since May 2023.
Wadada addressed journalists after visiting President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja.
On the national economy, he said, “If the truth should and must be said, let us look at all the indicators. All the indicators that show economic growth and development of a system are all looking very glaringly promising and brighter than what they were.
“If you look at our foreign reserves, when he came in, it was below 28 and 56, $57bn in our foreign reserves. Look at the parallel market.
“All the windows have been closed and unified, which has greatly informed the stability of the naira against the dollar.”
He also pointed to improvements in the balance of payment, balance of trade, capital market capitalisation and infrastructure delivery while adding that it is not yet Uhuru for Nigerians.
“That is not to say all is well. Much more needs to be done. But 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,” he said.
On his own agenda, Wadada said the HEART acronym encoded his entire development philosophy for Nasarawa.
“The H stands for human capital development, covering education and health. The E stands for energy and mineral resources, with Wadada citing the passage of the Electricity Act and its presidential assent as having opened the door for states to generate their own power, and noting that Nasarawa was home to Nigeria’s first and second lithium processing plants.
“The A stands for agriculture and the green economy, with a plan to create three agricultural hubs, one per senatorial district, each anchored on the comparative agricultural advantage of that zone.
“The R stands for rural and urban development, while the T stands for trade, investment and security
“In today’s world, there is virtually nothing you can achieve significantly without energy.
“And if you talk mineral resources, you are talking Nasarawa State; they are synonymous,” he said.
He pledged continuity with the outgoing administration of Governor Abdullahi Sule, whose tenure he credited with raising Nasarawa’s profile and deepening the state’s economic potential.
“There cannot be any mediocrity after a Sule. The present administration in Nasarawa State has raised the bar, broadened and deepened the scope of what Nasarawa State is.
“So much is expected of me, and God willing, we shall deliver,” said Wadada.
He also drew on the historical significance of the Keffi Emirate’s territorial reach, which he said once extended to the Presidential Villa.
“My emirate, the Keffi Emirate, used to collect taxes up to this point. So we have a lot to showcase and put out there for Nasarawa State,” he said.
Wadada explained that he is a candidate with deep grassroots knowledge of Nasarawa’s needs and a structured blueprint for the state’s development.
According to him, “I have been with my people. I am grounded. I know their problems, and I know their aspirations and wishes,” he said.
