05/09/2023
TEXT OF PRESS CONFERENCE BY HON. ALIYU BELLO, NASARAWA STATE CHAIRMAN, ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS (APC), DELIVERED ON TUESDAY 5TH SEPTEMBER, 2023 AT THE STATE PARTY SECRETARIAT, LAFIA.
My Dear Gentlemen of the Press,
It is with great pleasure and humility, that I welcome you to this press conference, which is the first, after my nomination and subsequent confirmation by the State Executive Committee (SEC), as the Third Chairman in the history of our Great Party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Nasarawa State.
You may be aware that my assumption to this exalted position on Wednesday, August 30th, 2023, is sequel to the recent appointment of my predecessor, Dr. John D.W Mamman, as Commissioner, and Member of Nasarawa State Executive Committee (NSEC).
development of course also necessitated my having to vacate the seat of the State Party Secretary, which I occupied for years, and now taken over by an experienced retired civil servant, and also a politician of great worth, in the person of Mr. Yairus G. Dagusa, mni.
I therefore consider it most appropriate, to first of all thank Almighty God for making it possible for me to attain this position. Indeed, I also appreciate the of the Party in the State, His Excellency Engr Abdullahi Sule, the State Executive Committee (SEC) Members, as well as the entire members of the Party for the confidence reposed in me.
I am fully aware of the challenges of this new position, I am assuming, and wish to assure the Party Leadership, as well as the rank and file members that, Insha Allah, I shall deploy and utilise all my many years of experience in party politics to sustain and boost the popularity of the APC particularly in Nasarawa State, and the country in general. I shall not falter or disappoint you.
I intend to follow the footsteps of my predecessors by ensuring team work and synergy among Officials of the Party at all levels. While commending the rank and file of the members of the party for their support over the years, I appeal that you should now redouble your loyalty and commitment to the party, as well as to the under the leadership of our purposeful Governor, His Excellency, Engr. Abdullahi A. Sule.
Certainly, all sincere and truthful people within Nasarawa State, and across the
country, know for a fact that the Governor has done quite a lot to uplift the status of the state to a major business and economic destination in the country. The Governor's strides with regards to rural transformation are, indeed, visible for
all to see. A number of rural roads have been made more motorable, just as more
communities have been provided with potable water and electricity.
Similarly, the Governor Sule administration has made the greatest positive impact ever in the education sector from the primary school level through to the tertiary level. What is most commendable is the emphasis the administration has given to science and technical education, with a view to making the graduands more employable and self-reliant.
The story is the same in the health sector, as the hospitals and other health facilities are being made more functional, with substantial improvements in the supply and provisions of drugs and other medical essentials and equipments.
Gentlemen of the Press, surely even the most cynical critics of the Governor Sule administration have come to accept the fact that he has performed commendably in terms of flow of investments to Nasarawa State. The records are out there for those in to confirm that, the State is today among the top investment destinations in the country. A situation that is attributable to the sound and purposeful economic policies and programmes put in place by the APC led administration of His Excellency Governor Abdullahi A. Sule.
It is very unfortunate that despite these giant strides and achievements, there are still some political elements out there orchestrating a propaganda of disaffection against the person and government of His Excellency Engr. Abdullahi A. Sule.
As the man at the helm of the party's administration, I am therefore compelled to warn the opposition and critics to be constructive in their comments and analysis on the activities of our great party, and the person of His Excellency Engr. Abdullahi Sule. I wish to state unequivocally that henceforth the APC, under my watch will not condone any political mischief and misrepresentation of issues from whatever quarters.
An instance of such mischief is the issue of the ongoing distribution of palliatives. You will recall that two weeks ago the State Government flagged off the distribution of the palliatives, and explained that a comprehensive programme is being worked out for the distribution.
True to its promise, the State Government will from today commence the wholesome distribution of the palliative items. As it is planned, the distribution will be carried out in all the polling units across the electoral wards in the State. In that way, it is hoped that each person will have something substantive to take home. However, I wish to appeal to all and sundry to be patient and orderly during the distribution of the palliatives.
It is necessary at this juncture to say that the State Government is genuinely concerned with the economic hardship faced by citizens in the State, and would do everything possible to ameliorate the hardships. It is unfortunate that some cynics and blind critics capitalized on this situation to embark on campaign of calumny, and propaganda to disparage the State Government.
As a civilised and organized political party we shall not step low to gutter politics. Rather I and my dependable team of experienced party Officials will soon unfold our plans, not only to reposition the APC in the State, but to also be proactive in highlighting the good works of the Governor Abdullahi Sule led administration.
With the local government election around the corner, we shall soon embark on
strengthening of the APC at the Local Governments, wards and polling units to
function effectively.
We are also going to embark on a strategic programme in the pursuit of our manifesto aimed at wooing back our members who left the party for various reasons. Our target is to strengthen the APC and make it more formidable in Nasarawa State.
In this regard I wish to enjoin all political appointees in the government to key into the ideals of the party policies and programmes which have been designed to better the living conditions of all residents of Nasarawa State.
As the ruling party in the State, we shall monitor the performances of all appointees in the government to ensure that they live up to standard and expectations. That way the party will be confident of being in control of the government.
Gentlemen of the Press, let me conclude by calling on our teeming party members for their unflinching support to me and my dependable team, so as to ensure that our tenure succeed in sustaining the dominance of the APC in Nasarawa State.
Finally to you members of the Fourth Estate of The Realm, I wish to thank you for honouring the invitation to be here. It is my hope that today will mark the beginning of a positive rapport between you and my team. Thank you and may God bless us all.
