Most state governors who excelled in their first term always start their second term smoothly; easily formulating policies and executing projects. Those who built significant infrastructure and implemented developmental programmes in their first term tend to continue the practices in their second term. Governors who managed resources wisely during their first term enter their second term with a clear vision for completion and the legacy they wish to leave. Furthermore, those who developed effective human capital programmes in their first term demonstrate quality leadership in their second term, focusing on the future wellbeing of their people.
Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State is fortunate to belong to this category of governors who excelled in their first term and have continued with vigour in their second term.
In the first year of his second term, Governor Fintiri has not only maintained the momentum from his first term, but has elevated his performance to a level that political development pundits describe as exceptional and transformational leadership. The pundits assert that no leader achieves exceptional and transformational leadership without visionary thinking, flexibility, decisiveness, results and focus.
While it’s customary to assess a governors’ performance by listing their accomplishments in projects, programmes and policies during their first or second terms, simply enumerating Governor Fintiri’s endeavours over his five-year sojourn will merely state the obvious. His projects, programmes and policies already speak for themselves. The crucial task lies in understanding how he managed to pioneer new initiatives and impact all socio-economic sectors of the state’s economy while navigating the complex socio-political-economic landscape.
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Governor Fintiri’s approach aligns with what operations research scientists refer to as systems thinking. He applies both a series and parallel systems approach, yielding excellent results. His development strategy is series-oriented; where all his projects and programmes are interconnected. The urban renewal projects are interconnected and span across every sector.
The construction of hundreds of kilometres of roads across the state, the construction of five flyovers and underpasses in Yola, the capital city, and the building of 1,000 housing units for 5,000 families are just a few components of a comprehensive strategy. Additionally, initiatives such as construction of well-equipped 60-bed five cottage hospitals, rehabilitation and equipping of specialist and general hospitals, the establishing of 21 model nursery and primary schools and the construction of six mega secondary schools are all interconnected.
Moreover, the distribution of N50,000 through the Fintiri Wallet to 100,000 people, the clearance of all pension and gratuity backlogs and the introduction of Fresh Air Metro Buses and Blue Bird School Buses allude to his vision.
Furthermore, the agribusiness programme, the construction of the Jimeta Stadium, the statewide rehabilitation of water supply facilities, the construction of a new Jimeta Shopping Complex and Yola Town Market and redevelopment of other old ones, the foreign and local scholarship programmes, the skills acquisition centres play a crucial roles in enhancing economic, healthcare, human capital development and education; improving accessibility and facilitating the efficient delivery of services.
Governor Fintiri’s systems thinking has unprecedentedly scaled up the socio-economic growth and development of Adamawa and its people.
Zayyad I. Muhammad resides in Abuja and can be reached via [email protected].
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