History is made as Governor
Adamu hosts Bill Clinton in Nasarawa State
Nasarawa
state was all splendors on Friday, April 27, 2001 when it became the first
Nigerian State to host former American President Bill Clinton on a visit. The
former president who was in Nigeria for the African Summit on HIV/AIDS acceded
to the invitation of Governor Abdullahi Adamu of Nasarawa State to pay a visit
to a typical rural African village as part of his schedule while in the country.
 When
Bill Clinton finally arrived the state, it was to a tumultuous welcome from all
nooks and cronies of the state led by Governor Adamu. For many people, it was a
once in a life-time experience as the efforts of Governor Adamu made them to see
and touch a man who was the most powerful leader in the world.
Welcoming
Mr. Clinton to the village of Sabongida in Keffi Local Government Area of the
state, Governor Adamu declared that the visit was a historic one in every sense
of the word. He said that to the
people of Nasarawa State, the occasion was a celebration of the outpouring of
compassion for the people of Nigerian and its people and evidence that Bill
Clinton remained their brother. He then likened their meeting as the mother of
all meetings as earlier meetings could not be compared to this one. Governor
Adamu traced the 272-year history of the village of Sabongari and said that all
Nigerians took pride in their villages and will always return back to them at
the slightest opportunity. Thus, in democracy, everybody counts, no matter how
small.
In the
area of economic relations, Governor Adamu said Nasarawa State was aptly
described as the home of solid minerals and that the state was yearning for
investors in this area. He stated that already the state was in partnership with
some American entrepreneurs in developing a feed-lot and beef processing plant
and a solar energy plant for producing Terra solar panels. The other is a
factory for processing precious stones. All these are by-products of the African
Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA), which was enacted during the Clinton
presidency.
Governor Adamu finally
touched on the area of HIV/AIDS, the primary reason for President Clinton’s
visit to Nigeria. He stated that this was a disease that was no respecter of
persons, nations and boundaries. He therefore implored the developed world to
make HIV/AIDS drugs available and affordable for the world’s poorest victims
of the disease.
 In a
short response, President Clinton stated that he considered Nigeria as a
potential world leader and that it was a country full of resources. He reminded
the audience that he too came from a small village called Little Rock, which was
slightly bigger than Sabongida, and that he relished small communities. He then
advised the people to take preventive measures not to be afflicted with the AIDS
virus, as the disease was very deadly. He then thanked the people of Nasarawa
for the wonderful reception accorded to him.
After
the village ceremonies, President Clinton and Governor Adamu drove to the Keffi
market where they saw how the rural communities sold their farm produce. The
walk through the market was the high point of the visit as Clinton exchanged
hand shakes with almost everybody who had the opportunity to come close to him.
Indeed it was vintage Clinton, a man of the people, who took every opportunity
to demonstrate his love for humanity, that visited the state.
The
visit was witnessed by the crème de la crème of Nasarawa State and it reminded
everybody present of the benefits of democratic governance.
Saturday, April 28, 2001
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