Governor Sule: From peace in Nasarawa to national duty

By Ali Abare

Recognized for the relative peace in his state, Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has been chosen to serve on the high-level national Committee on Training Institutions for Security Agencies.

This selection, approved by the National Economic Council (NEC), is a testament to the remarkable peace and security Governor Sule has fostered in his home state, achieved not by chance but through a deliberate strategy of collaboration and economic empowerment.

Amidst rising security challenges across the country, his proven track record offers a blueprint for the national task at hand: to overhaul and revitalize the training facilities for Nigeria’s security forces.

The committee, chaired by Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah and comprising several other governors, was inaugurated after a proposal from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was endorsed by the NEC.

The council recognised that investing in security is vital for the nation’s economic ambitions, with the team entrusted with a one-month mandate to deliver a blueprint for the complete renovation of training institutions for the Nigeria Police Force and sister agencies.

President Tinubu himself emphasise the urgent need to fix these facilities.

“We have to make the conditions of the training facilities more conducive for both the trainers and trainees,” President Tinubu stated.

Governor Sule, who also doubles as the Chairman of the North Central Governors Forum, has already begun this critical work, joining his colleagues on visits to states such as Kaduna and Borno to see the state of these institutions firsthand.

Governor Sule’s approach to security in Nasarawa State is a core belief he has acted on since his first day in office.

From his very first day in office on May 29, 2019, he declared peace and security as the non-negotiable foundation for all development, appealing to all citizens to join hands with him to build a peaceful and prosperous state.

This was not mere political talk. Over his six years in office, he has tirelessly worked to turn this vision into reality. His efforts have made Nasarawa one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria, a fact acknowledged at the highest level of government.

During a working visit to the state, President Tinubu personally commended Governor Sule for the peace, stability, and progress in Nasarawa, noting that this peaceful environment allows the government to focus resources on development.

What makes this achievement stand out is how the Governor has managed to maintain harmony in a state with diverse ethnic and religious groups. He has skillfully navigated potential conflicts, fostering an unprecedented period of unity.

The state has been remarkably free from the religious, ethnic, and farmer-herder crises that often trouble other states. Analysts attribute the key to this success to be his profound respect for all faiths. His ability to quote from both the Holy Bible and the Glorious Quran has helped him connect with citizens from all walks of life, using the teachings of both scriptures to promote tolerance and understanding. This has built a strong social fabric where communities coexist peacefully.

Recently, during the state burial in honour of the departed Senator Solomon Ewuga, Governor Sule brought to impact his knowledge of the Bible drawing applause from the crowd after he narrated similarities between Christianity and Islam in relation to death, an act of God which is beyond human comprehension and yet remain a matter of gratitude.

Beyond fostering understanding, Governor Sule has taken very practical steps to secure his state. He has provided unwavering support to security agencies, equipping them with tools like operational vehicles to enhance their effectiveness in maintaining law and order.

He also understands that lasting peace requires more than just policing; it requires opportunity. He has directly linked peace to economic prosperity, a connection he made clear when resolving a community crisis in the Udege Development Area.

He told the conflicting communities that their aggressive behaviour towards each other is capable of sending the wrong signals.

“No investor would venture into an area where there is no peace. One of the companies coming to Afo land, Gangfeng, can employ 4,000 to 5,000 people. But that cannot happen in the absence of peace,” he said.

By attracting industries and creating jobs, he has addressed the root causes of unrest and given the people, especially the youth, a stake in a peaceful society. This however, is not a negation of prevailing security challenges, especially rising cases of kidnapping in urban centres of Lafia and Karu.

The choice of Governor Sule for the national committee, however, is not based solely on his political achievements. It also reflects the unique skills he built long before he entered government.

Before becoming governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule was a seasoned technocrat with a background in mechanical and industrial technology, which he studied in the United States.

He honed his skills in major American engineering firms and rose to leadership positions, including Director of Business Development for Africa and the Middle East.

When he returned to Nigeria, he carried this wealth of experience into the private sector, co-founding Sadiq Petroleum and later serving as the Group Managing Director of Dangote Sugar Refinery, where he was known for efficiency and innovation.

This unique blend of engineering precision and executive management is exactly what the national committee needs for its task. Revamping dilapidated training institutions is a complex project that demands more than political will; it requires technical know-how, strategic planning, and efficient execution.

Governor Sule’s entire career has prepared him for this. His approach to governing Nasarawa State has been to run it like a business of shared prosperity, using a clear plan called the Nasarawa Economic Development Strategy (NEDS).

This same disciplined, strategic thinking is now being applied to a national problem. His colleagues on the committee can draw from his ability to translate a vision into a concrete, workable plan.

Governor Sule’s journey from an engineer in the corporate world to a peacemaker in Nasarawa State has perfectly prepared him for this new national assignment.

His selection to the Committee on Training Institutions for Security Agencies is a recognition of his proven formula for success: a blend of empathetic leadership that unites people and the sharp mind of a technocrat who gets things done.

As the committee works against the clock to reform the institutions that train the nation’s security personnel, Governor Sule’s lived experience in creating a secure and investment-friendly environment will be an invaluable asset.

His work is a clear example that true leadership anticipates danger and builds systems to prevent loss before it happens, a principle that will guide the committee’s crucial mission for Nigeria.

Abare is the Senior Special Assistant on Media to Governor Abdullahi Sule.