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I Will Contest the 2003 Elections, Says Governor Adamu
Tuesday, October 01, 2002
The Lafia Township Stadium today broke into a tumultuous and thunderous ovation when Governor Adamu finally confirmed that he would be presenting himself as a candidate for the 2003 gubernatorial elections. In his words, "encouraged by the outpouring support of our good people and mindful of the fact that for one to be asked by the people to serve them in any capacity, be it elective or appointive, is the greatest honour a man or a woman can expect from his own people, I now have the honour and the humility to say YES, loud and clear to our people's kind request. I offer myself for re-election and the renewal of my mandate IN SHA ALLAH by the good people of Nasarawa State as governor of the state in the forthcoming elections.
Immediately these words came out of Governor Adamu's lips, the whole stadium broke into a spontaneous celebration. It was like a cue, front all fronts in the stadium, people rose in great relief as their prayers for Governor Adamu to contest the elections became answered. Governor Adamu when into the memory lane when he recalled the many struggles that culminated in the creation of Nasarawa state. He paid tribute to the souls of the many founding fathers of the state who unfortunately are not alive today to savour the fruit of their labour.
The occasion was the ceremonies marking the 42 nd Independence anniversary of Nigeria and the 6th anniversary of the creation of Nasarawa state. Governor Adamu urged the people of the state to use the occasion as a time of introspection when they should assess their individual contributions to peace and unity of our state in terms of its social, political and economic development and the upliftment of our people from poverty, ignorance and disease. If, in our own judgment, we have failed to put our shoulder to the plough, let us make a solemn promise to ourselves today to make positive and selfless contributions to the comprehensive development of our state.
Governor Adamu also used the occasion to request the administrations detractors to reconsider their actions. He said these detractors, together with their misguided supporters are busy sabotaging and destroying water, rural electrification and other projects undertaken by his administration. They have vandalized solar panels in a number of rural water supply projects, particularly in Gora, Agyaragu, Duduguru and Wamba. Anyone traveling between Keffi and Abuja will see the extent of their evil hands. They have removed electricity transmission lines for several kilometers. In some cases, they have pulled down and broken to pieces electric poles. He called on the people of the state to stand up to them and stop them from denying us our right to potable water, electricity and the modern facilities. According to Governor Adamu, "we cannot allow any rights not conferred on individuals or groups by the laws of our land to be exercised to the detriment of the majority of our people. Democracy thrives in peace, not chaos. Men and women who profess love of their people cannot afford to water their ambition with the blood of those they claim to love. We should allow no one to make the bones of the dead the ladder with which they hope to climb to political power".
The State Deputy Governor, Speaker of the state Assembly, Chief Judge, political and traditional rulers from across the state and beyond attended the ceremony.
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