INAUGURATION SPEECH

BY

THE CHIEF SERVANT, DR. MU’AZU BABANGIDA ALIYU, OON (TALBAN MINNA)

ON THE OCCASION OF THE SWEARING-IN CEREMONY AS THE GOVERNOR-RE-ELECT OF NIGER STATE, AT THE TRADE FAIR COMPLEX, MINNA; SUNDAY, 29^TH MAY, 2011

PROTOCOL;

2. FELLOW NIGERLITES; Let us give gratitude to Almighty Allah (SWT) for giving us the opportunity to witness today’s event. Today, we are a part of history again; witnessing the swearing-in ceremony by which I formally assume office as the re-elected Governor of Niger State. We must therefore give glory to Allah (SWT) for making it possible for us to be here today, especially when some people, who were part of a ceremony like this on that fateful 29^th May, 2007 did not live to see today. May the soul of the departed rest in peace; amen.

3. Today is not a day for grand speeches; for us, it is a day for expressing appreciation and gratitude to all Nigerlites - male and female, young and aged; various unions, associations and professional groups for the overwhelming support and wonderful outing, which made it possible for us to win over 60.8% of the total votes cast to win the gubernatorial election on April 26, 2011 thereby revalidating our mandate to provide leadership for our dear State for another four years.

4. Today is a day to express our profound gratitude to members of our Party – Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) for the successes recorded so far. However, we must use today to analyze what happened at the polls, commend those who did exceedingly well, chastise those who wanted to embarrass us and to reorganize our Party to enable it regain its proper place as the supreme organ of governance. The Party must therefore have officers and members who can project high moral standing, integrity and discipline. 

5. Indeed, today is a day for sober reflections on the enormity of the task ahead, and most importantly a day for renewing our resolve and commitment to continue to serve the people of Niger State with utmost respect and the fear of Allah (SWT). While it may appear tough to win the people’s trust for the first time in politics, it is even tougher when you are asking for a second chance, and the burden of accountability is heavier once you have been given a second chance to correct your earlier shortcomings. That is the reason we see this opportunity as a great challenge to prove to the people that we genuinely meant well by asking them to give us their mandate from the beginning. This mandate is a sacred trust between us, the people and Allah (SWT). May Allah help us to uphold the mandate to the commendation of the people and to the reward of Allah (SWT); amen.

6. The elections are over and we have no excuse to continue to habour ill-feelings and animosities towards one another, if we are really concerned with the development of our State. I therefore call on all Nigerlites, especially those who participated in the elections but could not make it this time around – as only one person is destined to emerge in any contest at any given time – to eschew bitterness and come to the fold to join us in forming a new coalition and partnership for the consolidation of the transformation of Niger State.  Our victory is not for vainglory; it is victory for committed service to the people of Niger State, in the same way that our government is not a government for members of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) only, but a government for all Nigerlites – party men and non-party men, wherever they may live, including those in the Diaspora.

7. We shall therefore continue to promote peaceful and harmonious co-existence to create the necessary environment for progress and development to take place in Niger State. We advise all those with grievances with regard to the elections to exercise their full constitutional rights by peacefully going to the Tribunals, if they so wish, while allowing others to go about their legitimate businesses without molestation, intimidation or coercion. We should remember that an individual’s right stops where the other person’s right begins; hence we should always promote mutual respect and understanding, to make Niger State a haven of peace, tranquility and prosperity.  

8. Fellow Nigerlites, Ladies and Gentlemen; it is our desire to use this renewed mandate to maintain and improve on the standards attained in the critical sectors of Education, Agriculture, Health, Infrastructural development, Housing, women and youth empowerment, and Culture and Tourism, among others, where we have been adjudged to have done exceedingly well. We shall specifically pay more attention to the welfare of all the people of Niger State - not just a few, not the elites, not the politicians, or indeed not those who think that politics and government patronage are their birth rights. We will be embarking on policies and programmes that will bring significant succor to the people while improving the quality of their lives.

9. In addition, we shall invest substantially in rural and urban water supply, rural development, youth empowerment, and the provision of the enabling environment for job and wealth creation as well as economic growth and stability. The provision of quality education remains the most secured path towards the realization of Vision 3:20:20, hence the educational sector will continue to be a major priority.

10. Consistent with our resolve to put the people at the centre of governance, we will strengthen the ward development projects initiative so that they are not only made to participate in governance at the micro level, but to encourage them to take care of themselves properly and to do things according to their own understanding and aspirations.

11. The provision of effective security for lives and properties remains the most fundamental constitutional responsibility of any government; we shall therefore rededicate our efforts towards preventive and proactive security measures to guarantee the safety and well being of all people residents in Niger State. In view of the increasing security challenges around the country, particularly in Niger State, we urge everyone to become more security conscious and watchful of any suspicious characters, with a view to reporting such promptly to the security agencies. We urge our community leaders to look into the modalities for reactivating our erstwhile traditional security systems of keeping close watch over visitors in our neighborhoods, with a view to fishing out and neutralizing people with questionable characters before they abuse the privileges of our hospitality. While we shall continue to support the security agencies to discharge their responsibilities, we must remember that enforcement of security is a collective responsibility. 

12. Fellow Nigerlites, I am delighted to note that we are witnessing the rebirth of Niger State, which we are determined to transform into one of the best, if not the best State in Nigeria – the best place to live, the best place to bring up children, the best place to lead a fulfilled life and indeed the best place to grow old. We believe in Niger State of high ethical and moral values and we believe in Nigerlites with high personal integrity, resilience and faith, as we remain your committed and humble servants, determined to continue to serve you diligently, honestly and respectfully.

13. Let me also use this occasion to, once again, congratulate the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, the Vice President, His Excellency Arc. Mohammed Namadi Sambo, GCON, all members of the National Assembly and State Assemblies, all re-elected and elected State Governors, including those with automatic tickets on the victory at the recent polls. There is no doubt that we all have a new covenant with the people of this country, and we must live up to their expectations by serving them selflessly. This may be the best opportunity for us to make the much needed difference in the lives of the people of this country, who are earnestly yearning for development and for better quality of life. All Nigerians should therefore rally round and support the President and all elected officials in our determination to unite the nation for the attainment of our national development aspirations. We must accept poverty, ignorance and corruption as our greatest enemies and fight them to finish.

14. Fellow Nigerlites, distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, at this juncture, it is pertinent that we appreciate the enormous contributions of the members of the Niger State House of Assembly who gave us their maximum cooperation throughout our first term. The House of Assembly lived up to, indeed surpassed the expectations of Nigerlites by the passing a record 42 Bills in the last four years (about the highest record in the State Assemblies in Nigeria as of today). We are equally appreciative of the unflinching support and co-operation of the Judiciary during the period under reference. We could not have achieved so much if we did not have a vibrant and articulate judicial institution which played its part effectively in the promotion of justice and the rule of Law. The Executive, Legislature and Judiciary must continue to treat each other as co-pilots in the navigation of Niger State to its desired destination; our mutual cooperation is therefore imperative to enable us achieve common goals and aspirations.

15. We must also recognize and appreciate all elected and appointed political office holders for their contribution to the activities of the government in the last four years, which made it possible for us to move Niger State forward from where we met it in 2007. We also appreciate the wonderful but subtle support and encouragement of our traditional leaders, who helped us with words of wisdom and prayers, under the Chairmanship of the Niger State Traditional Council, the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji (Dr.) Yahaya Abubakar, CFR. We will continue to accord our traditional leaders the respect and honour they deserve as the custodians of our cultural heritage, norms and values.

16. We acknowledge with deepest appreciation the unwavering support and wise counsels of our respected elders, represented on the Economic and Social Advisory Council of Niger State (ESACON). Special recognition must however be made of the outstanding roles played by our elder statesmen, former President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, GCFR, former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Alhaji Abubakar, GCFR as well as Mallam Ibrahim Aliyu, Sardaunan Minna. We are grateful to all of you for heeding my clarion call, as you may recall that at a similar ceremony on Tuesday, 29^th May, 2007, I solicited for ‘‘your endless support, encouragement and guidance’’ and declared that with people like you around us, we have no reasons to fail. We thank Allah (SWT) for sparing you to support, encourage and guide us towards the achievements we have recorded.

17. We also acknowledge with immense gratitude the support, understanding and cooperation from the civil servants of Niger State, the people who carry the burden of governance. Without the civil servants – the initiators and implementers of policies and programmes, governance and delivery of services would be almost impossible. We shall continue to reciprocate your kind gestures by obeying all the rules and regulations in relation to payments of workers’ salaries and allowances. Indeed, we shall continue to carry everyone along in the implementation of all laws.   

18. I am delighted to note that all the areas of policy highlighted in the foregoing are aimed at entrenching a new and better relationship between the people and government, while promoting a new social contract of shared rights and responsibilities, which should encourage the people to do their own bit as government does her own. We must note that government cannot do it alone; we have to do it together, since we are all united in a common purpose: the transformation of Niger State for the better. Together, in partnership, I believe, we can make it happen. Our future looks very bright, clear and hopeful. Indeed, Niger state and Nigeria will continue to be great, Insha Allahu, once we put our minds to it and put all our hands on deck.

19. May Allah (SWT) continue to bless Niger State and indeed Nigeria; amen.

20. I thank you all.