Re: Ardo, a paper weight suffering from crushing 2023 defeat—Fintiri’s CPS
By Calvin Anadio Lawan
It is deeply disappointing to witness the spokesperson of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri resorting to personal attacks rather than addressing the genuine concerns raised by Dr. Umar Ardo regarding the recent council polls in Adamawa State.
This kind of response not only evades the substantive issues at hand but also undermines the principles of constructive political discourse and accountability.
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The spokesperson’s remarks dismissing Dr. Ardo as a “political paperweight” and attributing his concerns to a “crushing and humiliating defeat” in the 2023 gubernatorial election are both unprofessional and irrelevant to the issues raised. Such tactics divert attention from the pressing matter of the integrity and transparency of the electoral process.
This approach is not only unbecoming of a government representative but also indicative of an unwillingness to engage with legitimate criticism.
In a healthy democracy, it is essential for leaders and their representatives to respond to critiques with facts and reasoned arguments, rather than resorting to ad hominem attacks.
The spokesperson’s attempt to undermine Dr. Ardo’s credibility by highlighting his electoral losses does nothing to address the core issues raised about the council polls.
First, it’s laughable to state that Dr. Umar Ardo made the Press Release criticizing Gov. Fintiri because he lost the 2023 governorship election. Gov. Fintiri well knows that Dr. Ardo, long before Fintiri joined politics, had been in the politics of internal opposition in Adamawa state. To most Adamawa people, Dr. Ardo is the barometer for the state in determining whether a government is performing or not. So to accuse Ardo of indulging in opposition politics because he lost the 2023 election is clear indication of political jaundice and infantilism.
Second, but for the ardent opposition Dr. Ardo put in the state’s party opposition, Fintiri would have found it difficult to become the governor of the state. He only reaped where Dr. Ardo sowed way back in July, 2014. And the governor very well knows that.
Third, to parade four overhead bridges, all within a radius of less than two kilometers constructed by the governor in Yola metropolis costing over N100 billion borrowed from commercial banks which has absolutely no economic value to the state, and which has put generations of Adamawa people into indebtedness, at a time when frugality should be the primary concern of government, is a clear illustration that the governor does not even appreciate the essence of leadership.
The people of Adamawa State deserve to hear a clear and honest explanation of what transpired during these elections and what measures are being taken to ensure fairness and transparency in future electoral processes.
Personal attacks and dismissive rhetoric do not contribute to the progress of our state. Instead, they reflect a worrying disregard for accountability and constructive dialogue.
The administration should focus on addressing the legitimate concerns of its citizens, ensuring that elections are conducted fairly, and fostering an environment where political discourse is based on respect and substance.
The people of Adamawa deserve better from their leaders. They deserve an administration that listens to criticism, responds with transparency, and remains committed to upholding the democratic values that are fundamental to our society. It is time for the spokesperson to rise above personal attacks and engage in the meaningful and respectful dialogue that the people of Adamawa rightfully expect.
Lawan writes from Yola.
