By Sunday Ani
Alhaji Mohammed Ibrahim Attah is Commissioner 2 in Adamawa State Pension board and served as Chairman, Yola North Local government.
In this interview, he spoke on the laudable works the governor of the state, Umaru Fintiri is doing in the areas of roads, education and health. He also said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will win the 2023 general election through its candidate, the Waziri Adamawa, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
So far, how has it been since you assumed office as Commissioner 2 in Adamawa State Pension board?
Well, to the glory of Almighty Allah, things have been working out well because of the governor’s interest in pensioners in the state. You know recently the governor released the sum of N1.3billion and six months ago, he released the sum of N1.5 billion for the payment of gratuity to pensioners in the state.
And I so much believe that before the end of his first tenure in office, he will release more funds for the payment of gratuity to pensioners in the state. The governor is trying so much to carry everybody along.
Generally, what is your assessment of the governor’s performance since he assumed office in the last three years in Adamawa state?
Sincerely speaking, he has done very well and you see if I tell you that the governor has done well in every area in the state, you may think I am saying it because he is a PDP governor and in my party; it is not it at all.
If you know Yola very well before and now you come to Yola, you will not recognize it again because of the massive infrastructural development in the areas of road network, education and health.
The road leading to government house, Yola road, airport road and flyovers are now in good condition and has been transformed by the governor.
He has done well and so many good things in the areas of education, health and the general welfare of the people and the state in general.
But the All Progressives Congress (APC) is saying that the PDP government in Adamawa is a failure. What is your reaction to that?
They are in the opposition and there is nothing they will not say to get relevance among the people but those who know the truth know that they are playing to the gallery to be relevant.
When they were in power, we in PDP were also talking but telling the truth not the lies they are parading up and down to be recognized but let me tell you, it will take years and a very long time before you hear about APC government again in Adamawa State because this government has placed PDP back to the heart of Adamawa state people due to the numerous good work the governor is doing in good governance, quality service and leadership.
You have been a very strong member of the People Democratic party (PDP) since the inception of the party in 1998. What are the chances of the PDP winning the governorship seat in Adamawa State and the presidency in 2023?
You see, so long as there is going to be a free and fair election, the PDP will win the governorship election in Adamawa and the waziri Adamawa, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar will win the presidential election next year except they decide to play funny games but I don’t think president Muhammadu Buhari will allow that because former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is today one of the world’s recognised and respected leader and democrat because he conducted a free and fair election in 2015. Therefore, President Buhari should know that the world is looking up to him to know what will happen in Nigeria next year. In fact, I was happy with what he said during the last UN meeting in New York that his government will conduct a free and fair election next year.
People never expected that former president Goodluck Jonathan will handover power to Buhari but he did and wrote his name in gold; so we expect Buhari to do the same thing for prosperity to judge him well. We will win the 2023 general election by the grace of God.
What is your take on the festering crisis rocking the stakeholders in PDP especially the refusal of the governor of River State to work with other party members to ensure victory for the party?
I think Governor Wike is just trying to give himself a bad name.
It is very unfortunate that the governor of Rivers State who has worked very hard to make PDP to be where it is today is so careless with his behaviour that he is forgetting so fast his contributions to the growth of the party. There is no way you will write the good story of PDP and Nigeria democracy in the last 23 years that you will not see Wike’s name there but I don’t know what is pushing him, whether it is bad advice from PDP enemies. In fact, I don’t know why he is still behaving the way he is doing.
You know that the PDP is the only party in this country that is built and formed for the interest of all Nigerians because no single person can come out today and claim ownership of that party; whether you are from the North, South, East or West, no matter how wealthy you are, a Muslim or a Christian, nobody will claim PDP. The PDP is the only party that is meant for Nigeria and for Nigerians alone, but the way things are going now, he wants everybody to follow anything he says and he will be dictating things the way he wants it; it not fair at all.
Even His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar is trying to carry everybody along after he emerged the party’s candidate. And if you watch those following Governor Wlke, you can see that they are people who are not concerned about the interest of the party and the country. So, it is either he comes down and we go together or he will fail but he will never fail PDP by God’s grace. Amen.
Finally what is your message to Nigerians as the 2023 general election is fast approaching?
My advice and message to all Nigerians is to believe in one Nigeria because our founding fathers believed in one Nigeria because this is what they advised us to borrow and follow diligently for the good and prosperity of our dear nation.
And again my other message to Nigerians is for them to be vigilant with their PVC and vote wisely for the PDP candidate; a man with human face that is ready to work hard for a growing economy.
Nigerians should vote PDP because it is the only party that is ready to unify the country’s economic prosperity and unity for all.