Ahmed Wadada, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Nasarawa state, has defended President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, saying only “an enemy” of Nigeria would dismiss what he described as the administration’s economic gains.

Wadada, who represents Nasarawa west in the senate, spoke on Thursday after meeting Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The senator said he was at the State House to discuss how he could contribute to Nigeria’s growth and development in line with the president’s vision.

“My mission to the Villa, as always, is to see how best we will all contribute our quota to the growth and development of Nigeria, which is the utmost objective of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Wadada said.

According to him, Nigeria’s economic indicators had improved under the Tinubu administration, citing higher foreign reserves, improvements in the balance of payments and trade, exchange rate stability, and growth in the capital market.

“If the truth should and must be said, let’s look at all the indicators. All the indicators that show economic growth and development of the system are looking glaringly promising and brighter than what they were,” he said.

“When he came in, it was below $30 billion, between $28 and $29 billion. Today we are talking about $56 to $57 billion in our foreign reserves.”

He also credited the administration’s foreign exchange reforms with stabilising the naira.

“All the windows have been closed, they have been unified, which has greatly informed today the stability of the naira against the dollar,” he said.

Wadada acknowledged that the challenges are not over yet but said the government had recorded measurable progress.

“There are glaring improvements, development and growth in every sector, but that is not to say all is well. Much more needs to be done,” he said.

He criticised opponents of the administration, saying criticism should not amount to hostility towards the country.

“For anybody to sit down and wish away this administration, then that person is either ignorant, not realistic, or an open enemy. Because opposition is different from being an enemy,” he said.

‘I’M NOT A FLYOVER POLITICIAN IN NASARAWA’

Speaking about his governorship ambition, Wadada said he remains connected to the people of Nasarawa and understands their needs.

“I am not a flyover politician. I have been with my people. I am grounded. I know their problems, and I know their aspirations, their wishes, and I have, over the years, lived to their wishes and aspirations,” he said.

The governorship candidate unveiled the HEARTS agenda, which he described as his development blueprint for Nasarawa, noting that it would build on the achievements of Abdullahi Sule’s administration.

“Nasarawa state is a gold mine. I have an agenda. It is called the Wadada HEARTS Agenda,” he said.

Wadada said the agenda would prioritise human capital development through education and healthcare, while also focusing on energy and mineral resources, agriculture and the green economy, rural and urban development, trade and investment, and security.

He said the Electricity Act had created opportunities for states to generate power independently and described Nasarawa as Nigeria’s mineral resources hub.

“With the passage of the Electricity Act and the president’s assent to it, it opened up the corridors of power generation by every state. Every state is sitting on one resource or the other that can be utilised in generating energy,” he said.

“If you talk mineral resources, you are talking Nasarawa state. The first and second lithium processing plants in Nigeria are all in Nasarawa state.”

Wadada stated that he would consolidate on the foundation laid by Sule if elected governor.

He said his administration would establish three agricultural hubs across the state’s senatorial districts based on their comparative advantages.

“We intend to create three agricultural hubs in the state. Each senatorial district will have its own hub based on its competitive agricultural advantage,” the senator stated.

Wadada added that Nasarawa’s proximity to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is one of its biggest economic advantages.

He added that Sule’s administration had raised expectations for whoever succeeds it.

“The present administration in Nasarawa state has raised the bar, broadened and deepened the scope of what Nasarawa state is. There cannot be any mediocrity after A.A. Sule,” he said.

“Whoever does that will be doing so at his own peril because Nasarawa state is now much more heard, much more seen and much more respected. With due respect and humility, so much is expected of me, and by the grace of God, we shall deliver.”

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