MINNA – A governorship aspirant for Niger, Alhaji Mustafa Bello, on Thursday promised to effectively utilise the state`s human and mineral resources for the benefit of the people after being elected as its governor in 2015.
He made the promise in Minna while declaring his intension to contest the state governorship position in 2015.
“This is a statement of notice to the good people of Niger of my decision to seek to render once again, selfless service to our dear state and more importantly to the citizens of the state,” he said.
He said that with huge potentials to drive and lead the state`s economic development, it had all it took to be positioned on the way of sustainable growth and development.
Bello, who was a former Executive Secretary of the National Investment Promotion Council (NIPC), added that he already had an action plan to develope and make the state a world class standard.
“We may have lost some historical values that bounded our people and the government together, but it is not to the extent that it is beyond redemption.
“There is this feeling or belief around that our best years may have gone past us or are behind us, but I say to you with all confidence that our state`s best are actually ahead,’’ he said.
According to him, the state could again live up to the majesty of its endowments and decency of its citizens if the right choice of leader was put in place.
Bello said that he stood distinct among other aspirants who might want to contest the state`s governorship position because of his records both in government and outside.
“I am not saying I am the best, but I believe I present the state with a variety to make a choice.
“And I surely believe my weight on the scale of quality may outweigh that of others put together on the other side of the scale. I may indeed be the better alternative,’’ he stressed.
He said that his vision for the state and its future had deepened and matured over the years, adding that he would ensure the right leadership with vigour and vision if elected.
He promised to ensure an aggressive drive to development, adding that it was about time the people of the state took a new look at the way the state was governed.
Bello stressed that it was about time the people moved away from the tradition of secretive system of governance to the modern form that was transparent and inclusive with resultant indicators.
He, however, said that though the state`s past government and the exiting one did their best within their beliefs and laid emphasis on their areas of interest for development of the state, there was need for improvement.
Bello, who was also a former Minister of Commerce, added that though the ranking of the state by the World Bank`s business report might not have been favourable, his administration would ensure its growth and development.
He said that if elected as the state`s next governor in 2015, he would use his vast contacts and ideas to make Niger a haven for investment.
He also said that he would create jobs and develop knowledge and skills to speed up economic transformation of the state.
In attendance at the event were PDP stakeholders in the state such as Alhaji Mohammed Ndata; Alhaji Maye Zungeru, Alhaji Isa Ara, and Alhaji Haruna Nakanaka.
Others were members of the state`s elders forum, chairmen of all PDP local government areas, students and women organisations.
Though yet to pick the PDP nomination and expression of interest form to contest the election, Bello said he would do this later and also unveil his action plan to the public at a later date (NAN)
