Fintiri: A blend of courage, resilience, integrity and leadership excellence

By Ibrahim Mada

I must confess that Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri will never cease to amaze me with his awe inspiring and landmark leadership style. I must also put it on record that I was among those doubting Thomases and naysayers who never expected that anything good will come out of his leadership. This prompted me and my paper to launched an aggressive critique of his administration during the formative days of his leadership.

Hardly a fortnight passes by without my paper publishing a scathing editorial on the governor from our erroneous perception that he is one of the average leaders who sought to rule for the attainment of their personal goals. But after five years of his stewardship, I will say without hedging or the fear of being contradicted that my initial view of his person and the administration he leads was misplaced and unwarranted based on what I have seen in black and white.

Fintiri through effective and purpose driven leadership has shown us that our initial view of his leadership did not mirror his real and altruistic desires to govern Adamawa State well and leave the state far better than he met it. In his six years as leader, he has succeeded in converting and convincing even the most unrepentant and vicious antagonist that he means well for the state and its people.

Fintiri has in unequivocal language shown that with commitment, honesty, political will and determination, even the rock of Gibraltar can be moved. Fintiri’s awe inspiring and trailblazing stewardship has not only refined leadership in Adamawa State but has returned its lost glory and affirmed that it is the only substantive vehicle through which the condition of the people and the state can be turned around.

He has brought the fruits of leadership to bear in every nook and cranny of the state in his audacious desire to ensure an all inclusive governance. He has shown that leadership is not all about glamour or executive glitz and showmanship but about equitable utilization and allocation of state resources to service the critical needs of the populace. He first encapsulated that vision through his eleven point agenda during his first tenure which he mainstreamed into eight point agenda now.

The success story of governor Fintiri’s administration was premised on bold reforms, financial prudence, and the institutionalization of good governance via the open government partnership the state under his stewardship subscribed to, in order to enhance transparency and accountability.

These bold reforms in very clear terms have changed the landscape of the state for the better, manifesting into solid developmental strides. The governor also emplaced solid reforms, administrative and legal frameworks that will enhance good governance and service delivery which become the watershed and reference points of his landmark leadership.

One of such bold moves is his courage to create new districts, emirates and chiefdoms in response to the clarion call of various ethnic nationalities on the need to expand the leadership space and reduce the gap between the leaders and the led.

One very glaring attribute of developed or developing nations is their ability to embrace change whenever the need arises. It is often said, the most constant parameter in life, is change. There can never be progress without change and that is why nations which embrace and internalize reforms and changes develop faster than their counterparts who dawdle in apprehension and cowardice.

Change, is one of the most shining attributes of democracy which has been a key factor for the successes of our federating units. Those units which carry along change in their strides have enjoyed better dividends than their counterparts. The word change which is as old as democracy itself has evolved in many facets and colours in our checkered history. It has manifested in the clamour for restructuring, creation of states, creation of institutions, creation of chiefdoms and emirates, agitation for resource control et all.

These agitations for change have in no small measure brought massive reforms and positive development in Nigeria. For instance, at independence, Nigeria consists of only three regions the northern region, the western region and the eastern region. Following agitations and clamour for change over the years, these regions have now transformed to 36 states and the FCT.

The development has increased the pace of development, took leadership closer to the people and gave a number of ethnic nationalities the leverage to self determination which reduces cries of marginalization across many states. Adamawa State is itself, a product of that struggle. Most of our state capitals today will have been mere glorified villages have they not been accorded the status of state capitals and seats of government.

As is the usual refrain, change is always received with skepticism and rejection especially from the people who think it will distort the status quo, or even diminish their influence ignoring the other noble roles it plays at enhancing development, unity, cooperation and security. Some of the antagonist have pointed challenges which in their estimation is capable of derailing the process. In response to some of these concerns, I will say there is no human endeavor that will be deemed perfect as perfection is an attribute of God. But we cannot afford to throwaway the baby with the bathwater because of the teething challenges.

I believed the creation of the new emirates and chiefdoms is not an end in itself but a process which can be readjusted to take care of consequential concerns. Like I have pointed above, the governor has also re-echoed similar reasons such as enhancing unity, development and security in defense of the creation of the new districts, emirates and chiefdoms. These are no doubt laudable goals that should be considered by those opposing the new drive of the governor. I have no doubt that Fintiri means well for the good people of the state going by the transformational leadership he has showcased.

I don’t think the governor will based his move on selfish interest to destroy all the legacy projects, reforms and policies he has instituted including emplacing a water tight security in the state on the alter of trivialities. Let us support the governor to consolidate his laudable program for the state.

Mada, is the special content editor of Desert Herald Newspaper.