ADAMAWA: We want ‘stomach infrastructure,’ PDP stakeholders tell Fintiri

THE state’s chapter of the People’s Democratic Party has appealed to Governor Ahamadu Fintiri to give priority to the welfare of the stakeholders of the party through human development initiatives.

The stakeholders made the appeal at the meeting with the governor in Yola, the state capital, yesterday.

While highlighting his administration’s success since its inauguration, the governor said he met daunting challenges of insecurity, rising urban crime, largely attributed to the activities of ‘Shila Boys’, who used to go on the rampage across the state.

Fintiri said his administration serviced a huge debt of N140b inherited from the previous administration with federal allocations, noting that the state is doing “pretty well” under his watch in discharging the dividends of democracy to the people.

But members of the party, while commending the governor for his achievements, stressed the need for ‘stomach infrastructure’.

The PDP State Chairman, Tahir Shehu, while urging support from all stakeholders, pleaded with the governor to tilt his focus to the welfare of the party and development.

Shehu particularly made reference to the phrase “stomach infrastructure,” which was coined by former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose.

Shehu said, “Now that the government is approaching its second year, we will plead with you, Your Excellency, to provide human development.

“Let me borrow the words of one of our party chieftains, who called it stomach infrastructure.

“If you build even a skyscraper, and if you didn’t provide human development, you would have done a lot. But the people would still need more than just that.”

Responding, the governor promised to address the needs of party members but added that the state had to observe fiscal discipline to achieve its objectives.