by Sunday Oyinloye

December last year, Kwara State governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed presented the 2012 Appropriation Bill of N91.7billion to the state House of Assembly. The budget showed 42 per cent increase to that of 2011 which stood at N64.1billion.

During the budget presentation, Ahmed made it very clear that his administration had outlined seven priority strategies in education, agriculture, health, energy, solid mineral development, environment and security.

The governor said the 2012 budget would no doubt enhance the living standard of the people of the state.

To the people of Kwara State, the tide of development which they enjoyed under the immediate past administration is being consolidated by Ahmed who was a commissioner in the state.

The antecedent of Governor Ahmed has raised the hope of the people of the state about what the future holds for them. They are also hopeful about the performance of the 2012 budget.

There is no doubt that the level of political awareness has improved considerably in Nigeria in recent times, therefore, those elected to represent the people are now more accountable to those who elected them.

Ahmed, a major player in the immediate past administration where he served as the Commissioner for Finance and later Commissioner for Planning and Economic Development, was not unaware of the heavy burden imposed on him by the new office when he was sworn-in in May 29, 2011.

He held a retreat for the policy thrust of his administration immediately after his swearing–in ceremony, and since then there has never been a dull moment in the state.

A good politician is the one who fulfils his campaign promises. Ahmed made a promise during his campaign, that he was going to address the problem of youth unemployment; thus one of the first things he did was the engagement of 2000 youths through a scheme known as Kwara State Bridge Empowerment Scheme (KWABES).

He also promised to fix the roads. This he has started with the ''Operation No Potholes'' programme and other road projects in the state. Reforms are going on in virtually all sectors of the economy in Kwara State.

For instance, the state government is constructing 156 primary health care centres across the state based on the National Primary Health Care Development Agency's model.

According to Governor Ahmed, the strategy is to ensure that every ward in the state has a health centre within  500 metres radius. Not only that, the state government is to rehabilitate 16 general hospitals in the state, including the popular Ilorin General Hospital.

''Our attention is to improve on primary health in the state. We are introducing a community health insurance scheme that will allow our people to access a series of treatments with just N200 annually.

''As we are moving on with the project, we shall be complementing the health facilities with the desired level of personnel. We will not be building any primary health care centre without taking into consideration the operational requirements; I mean human and material requirements,'' the governor said.

Following these promises, a first class traditional ruler in the state, the Emir of Shonga, Dr Haliru Yahaya solicited the support of American government for the health care reforms of the state government.

The monarch, who recently received the United States of America Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Terence McCauley in his palace, commended the state government for the health insurance scheme programme and the commercial agriculture project, which he noted had transformed the area.

The emir particularly commended Governor Ahmed for promoting good governance and human capital development. This is coming just as Ahmed disclosed that his government would embark on large scale planting of maize, rice, soya beans and cassava to cater for the needs of farmers in Shonga, particularly poultry and dairy farmers who must properly feed their animals in order to increase productivity.

The governor explained that the intention of his programme was to generate revenue for the state, especially the farmers. He advised farmers to grow these crops as there is ready-made market for them.

There are many ongoing projects in different sectors in the state. Classrooms are being built and renovated, the New GRA Ilorin project is there and a host of others.

Impressed with the high level of accountability in Kwara State as a result of good governance, some investors from Spain have indicated their interest to invest N70 billion in the production and packaging of rice in the state, which will provide 12,000 jobs for the people of the state.

For a governor who has gained the confidence of his people, the international community and foreign investors, such a man should be encouraged rather than distracted by politicians who want to score cheap popularity.

Those who have been following the work and pronouncements of Governor Ahmed critically since he was sworn-in in May 29, 2011 will agree that the controversy trailing the N10 billion facility the state government wants to obtain from the bank is purely political.

It is like calling the dog a bad name in order to hang it. Political observers have argued that the criticism is in bad taste since the loan is meant for developmental projects which will further create jobs for Kwarans and add to the thousands of jobs already created by the governor; more so, when the state House of Assembly has granted approval to access the facility.

The loan is to be used to finance the vocational centre at Ajase-Ipo, Kwara State University, Malete, cargo terminal at the Ilorin International Airport, Metropolitan Square, Ilorin metropolis water reticulation project, ultra-modern diagnostic centre and the International Aviation College, Ilorin.

Sunday Oyinloye is an Abuja-based media practitioner.