Nasarawa State APC Chairman, Aliyu Bello (Zarma Babban Lafia)
By DANJUMA JOSEPH, Lafia –
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” Lao Tzu.
The popular saying above paints the picture of Dr Aliyu Bello (Zarma Babban Lafia), who has come a long way since his hay days as a youth in Lafia metropolis, while pursuing his academic career as a student and later a journalist.
Through the dint of hard work, determination, and a vision for a better future, Aliyu Bello, has risen to become a councillor, then later APC secretary and state Chairman of the party in Nasarawa State.
Aliyu Bello’s bustling started on the streets of Lafia, Jos and other places in Nigeria, where he navigated the challenges of life to make ends meet. However, he had bigger aspirations and with a passion for politics and a keen eye for opportunity, he saw a gap in the political space when he dabble into it.
Through sheer grit and perseverance, he build his political history from the ground one as a councillor and his commitment to his career as a politician of repute, earned him the confidence of his people from the grassroot to where he is at the moment.
As an astute, straight forward and a dogged politician, he remains steadfast in his mission to build a political empire by grooming younger politicians who are steadily growing politically in the state.
Dr Aliyu Bello’s short story above, serves as a beacon of hope for aspiring politicians and a reminder that success is within reach, with dedication and hard work.
ONE YEAR IN OFFICE AS APC CHAIRMAN:
Although the celebration of one year in office by the APC chairman, Dr Aliyu Bello and his State Working Committee (SWC), was low key, it brought people within the state and it actually gathered momentum.
The brief occasion which was held at the APC state secretariat along Shendam road in Lafia, on Monday, 2nd September, 2024 was chaired by the Speaker of Nasarawa State House of Assembly, RT Hon Danladi Jatau, who gave Aliyu Bello, a part on the back for exhibiting quality leadership.
The Speaker commended the chairman for uniting members of the party in the state, saying “We thank God that today we are celebrating our capable and able Chairman’s one year in office. We will continue to support you and the APC leadership to succeed in the state”
The Speaker, also appreciated Gov. Abdullahi Sule, for his efforts in developing the state where said, “We will continue to appreciate His Excellency’s efforts; Gov. Sule is a God-sent to the state, because of what His Excellency is doing and what you are also doing, people have been defecting and returning to the our great party. We have catched one of the biggest fish, Hon Mohammed Garba Isimbabi, who left NNPP to APC” He said.
Speaker Jatau officially presented to the party Hon. Mohammed Garba Isimbabi, member representing Toto/ Gadabuke constituency, who recently defected from NNPP to APC in the state.
Earlier, Mr Yairus Dagusa, the state APC Secretary said that the event was organized in order to celebrate one year in office of Dr Aliyu Bello, the State APC Chairman and himself.
According to him, the one year anniversary was eventful and progressive as Hon. Bello, has united the party leadership and other members of the party in the party.
In a keynote address at the occasion, Dr Shuaibu Labaran Magaji, the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, said Aliyu Bello, has contributed immensely to the development of the party and the society at large.
“The Chairman of Our great party, APC in the state, Dr Aliyu Bello, has established Aliyu Bello Education Foundation to give scholarship to less privileged children to have access to education. He has done so much for the progress of our party, APC and the society at large” he said.
In their goodwill messages, Dr Musa Ahmed Mohammed, the State Accountant General, Hon. Hajarat Danyaro Ibrahim (APC- Nasarawa Central) Hon. John Mamman, Commissioner for Education, Hon. Mohammed Yakubu, APC Chairman of Keffi LGA, Arc. Ahmed Sarkin Usman, Chairman of Doma Local Government Area, Hon. Tanko Tunga, former Majority Leader of the state assembly, Dr Zainab Ahmed, former SSG, all hailed Aliyu Bello, for his purposeful and quality leadership of APC in the state.
When it was the his turn to speak, Dr Aliyu Bello, said that in the last one year in office, he has united the members of the party for the progress of the party beyond 2027 in the state.
Aliyu Bello, who thanked God for his guidance, also thanked Gov Abdullahi Sule, stakeholders and members of the state working committee for standing by him in the last one year in office as APC chairman.
“I thank and give glory to Almighty God for being our guide and my humble self in particular, and all my colleagues in the State Working Committee (SWC) of the party”
“Let me also express my gratitude to His Excellency, Engr. Abdullahi A. Sule, the State Governor, and Leader of the party, for his immeasurable support and assistance at every point in this one year of my tenue”
“Also, to all the key stakeholders of the party, and teeming supporters, I wish to say thank you for your cooperation. It is only appropriate that I should use this opportunity to acknowledge members of the Press for their regular reports on our activities”
He said that he has initiated empowerment programme and other programmes that would boost the party and improve on the standard of living of the people of the state.
Reeling out some of his achievements, he said the party is more united and stronger with most of aggrieved members brought back to the party reconciliation process.
“I’m happy to report that all the erstwhile aggrieved members have put behind them the results of the primaries. Almost all have returned to the fold of the party, we are now working together to build and make the APC more formidable”
“Indeed, we have not only reunited the party, but have moved a step further to woo well known political heavy weights from other parties into our party. Today the likes of H.E, Senator Solomon Ewuga, Hon. Isimbabi Garba Mohammed a serving member in the State House of Assembly, Aliyu Safiyanu (Mai Zuma), a onetime House of Representatives candidate of the SDP, have all left their respective parties and joined our great party” he said.
