Attai Audu Jos
Senator Hezekiah Ayuba Dimka has formerly declared his interest to Contest Plateau Governorship Race in 2023 under the platform of All Progresive Congress.
Dimka made this declaration of his interest at his country home Electoral ward at Kabir Pada in Kanke Local Government Area of his state.
Dimka told the guests who came to witness his declaration that in 2019, he was given a mandate to represent Plateau Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly, adding that he is convinced beyond any doubt that he is now prepared to take on higher tasks in the next general election.
“I am aware that my motivation to take on a higher challenge is borne out of many years of service to my father land in different capacities.”
According to him, those years of service in government and in politics have prepared him well enough to take on new challenges.
” Today, as I stand before you, I am aware that leadership comes with its challenges. In fact, the journey of life itself is an experience worth learning.”
He noted that most of those who have led them in the past have built on what succeeding administrations have continued to engage in to the state’s advantage.
” I stand before you with a heart full with gratitude to them for building Plateau and laying a solid foundation for greater expansion for tomorrow”.
According to him,to build on the foundation that has been laid by past administrations, only the people of Plateau State can give that mandate.
Dimka stressed that in seeking for the mandate for leadership, he has returned to express his interest in governing Plateau State come 2023.
“;Power belongs to the people and I believe strongly that it is when you give me the go ahead, that I can step out to consult other people of the state. I am not an island, my strength is drawn from you.”
Dimka added that he was aware that leadership is tasking and challenging.
“You know as I do that the state has grappled with security challenges in the past two decades. Insecurity has tried the soul of the state and determination of governance”.
” Leveraging on experience as former police chief who served in other challenging situations across the land, I make bold to state my motivation and commitment to cause a different intervention in securing our communities and return peace to our people.”
He added that his experience in the area of security cannot be wished away easily as he believed strongly that having put in 35 years in the same terrain should embolden him to face the situation headlong and be able to build on what has been done for the state by other administrations.
Dimka stressed that he was not oblivious of what governments in the past have done as he is aware that Governor Simon Bako Lalong realizing that peace is necessary for development established the Plateau Peace Building Agency.
“;While we need each other to live, we must endeavor to dialogue and build trust between and amongst the people of the state.”
” We are no strangers that hunger and unemployment have become endemic in the land. Families are finding life difficult to survive, as hunger stares them in the face with no answers to their predicament” .
Dimka stressed that beyond mere statistics, they have enterprising young men and women who are roaming the streets without jobs that needs to be encouraged to have skills that would help them survive the harsh economic terrain rather than hanging around waiting for government jobs that are difficult to come.
” I know that you are worried as I am, that some of our sons and daughters are not gainfully employed. It is possible that, the state can find value for our graduates in what they have read in schools, by getting them to be effectively engaged in acquiring skills.
The issue of skills acquisition has been pursued unrelentlessly by the Plateau State Micro Finance Development Agency (PLASMIDA). I know that it can further be strengthened to achieve this dream and that it is against this background that, God willing, we intend to make education the backbone of the administration, so that it can address this challenge.”
He added that with a determined and purposeful leadership, urban development and health care will be taken seriously, saying these are critical areas that target the citizens of Plateau State.
“Plateau State is blessed with huge tourism and agricultural potentials. These have largely remained untapped. Several states that are not equally blessed as we are wish that half of what we have in these sectors are transferred to them. We cannot allow these potentials waste away; knowing that if we utilize them maximally, we shall be better for it.”
“We shall continue to use industry and other revenue generating avenues to our advantage. It is understandable why some people in industry and private organizations refuse to pay because they may not have seen anything commensurate to their contributions.”
“The economy has to be stimulated to grow without which our reliance on the federal government for allocation and other stimulus packages cannot take us anywhere.
It is in this area, that conscious effors must be taken to revive our industry and push them to a state of being functional and generating revenue to the state for development.”
According to him,in a state where we pride ourselves with huge tourism potentials, they cannot afford not to be clean as You may have observed that we have neglected sanitation. For tourists to find the state attractive, premium must be given to cleanliness in our homes, offices and public places which need to be kept clean.
“Iam aware of myriads of problems needing attention to put the state on the world’s map. Whether we are constructing roads or upgrading our schools, markets and or taking care of our traditional institution; the st1ate needs funds to get them done.’
He added that to get all these executed, we have to lay emphasis on revenue generation. In an era of harsh economic crunch such that we find ourselves, a lot is expected of government and its citizen and that
having been a worker at a point in my life, no matter how hard we try, if we do not adequately take care of the work force, our policies can not be properly implemented.
He added that apart from rejuvenating the work force we have a responsibility to transform them to be effective in the discharge of their duties.he stressed.
‘ I am aware that alot is expected in the leadership of our state. So much has been laid as foundation which we can use to build on. If given the mandate that I seek, you can be sure that failure is not an option.” Dimka stressed.
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