The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for the 2027 Nasarawa State election, Senator Ahmed Wadada, has declared that the state cannot afford “mediocrity” in leadership after the tenure of Governor Abdullahi Sule.
Wadada made the assertion on Thursday while speaking with State House correspondents after a closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He praised the Sule administration for transforming the state’s fortunes, saying it had raised the standard of governance and expanded Nasarawa’s economic potential.
“There cannot be any mediocrity after Sule.
The present administration in Nasarawa State has raised the bar and broadened and deepened the scope of what Nasarawa State is. So much is expected of me, and God willing, we shall deliver,” he said.
The senator representing Nasarawa West Senatorial District said he possesses a deep understanding of the needs and aspirations of the people, having remained closely connected with communities across the state.
“I have been with my people. I am grounded. I know their problems, and I know their aspirations and wishes,” he said.
Reflecting on the historical significance of the Keffi Emirate, Wadada noted that the emirate once extended its influence to the area now occupied by the Presidential Villa.
“My emirate, the Keffi Emirate, used to collect taxes up to this point. We have a lot to showcase and put forward for Nasarawa State,” he added.
On the national economy, the APC governorship candidate commended President Tinubu’s economic reforms, arguing that key macroeconomic indicators had improved significantly since the administration assumed office in May 2023.
According to him, Nigeria’s foreign reserves have risen from below $30 billion to between $56 billion and $57 billion, while the unification of the foreign exchange market has contributed to greater stability of the naira.
He also cited improvements in the country’s balance of payments, balance of trade, capital market performance and infrastructure development.
While acknowledging that economic challenges persist, Wadada maintained that the current administration had laid a solid foundation for sustained growth.
“That is not to say all is well. Much more needs to be done. But for anybody to sit down and wish away this administration, that person is either ignorant, unrealistic or an open enemy, because opposition is different from being an enemy,” he said.
Wadada also unveiled his development blueprint for Nasarawa State, tagged HEARTS, which he said would guide his administration if elected governor in 2027.
According to him, H represents Human Capital Development, with emphasis on education and healthcare; E stands for Energy and Mineral Resources, leveraging the state’s abundant solid minerals and new opportunities created by the Electricity Act; A represents Agriculture and the Green Economy, with plans to establish three agricultural hubs across the state’s senatorial districts.
He said R stands for Rural and Urban Development, while T represents Trade, Investment and Security.
Wadada noted that Nasarawa is strategically positioned to benefit from Nigeria’s growing solid minerals sector, pointing out that the state hosts the country’s first and second lithium processing plants.
“In today’s world, there is virtually nothing you can achieve significantly without energy. And when you talk about mineral resources, you are talking about Nasarawa State they are synonymous,” he said.
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