David Ombugadu, former governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has criticized Governor Abdullahi Sule’s failure to address key infrastructural issues in Nasarawa State.
Speaking at a New Year event in his hometown of Ika Wangibi, Nasarawa Eggon LGA, on January 1, 2025, Ombugadu called out the governor for not connecting his people to the state capital, Lafia.
Ombugadu, who represented Nasarawa North in the National Assembly, commended former Governor Tanko Almakura for constructing roads in the northern zone, despite not being from the area. “Road construction and electrification have no religion,” he said. “Almakura, though not from our zone, built roads, while our current governor cannot even connect us to Lafia. What a shame.”
He also referenced a road project started by Almakura from Lafia to Gudi, which remains incomplete under Governor Sule’s administration. “When Almakura was in power, he started the road from Lafia to Gudi, but our current governor, who is from Gudi, has failed to finish it,” Ombugadu noted.
The former lawmaker also criticized his people during the 2023 elections, where he claimed some Eggon voters had wasted their votes. “Don’t waste your votes for another candidate when you have a son running for governor?” Ombugadu said.
In his speech, Ombugadu called for unity among the people of Nasarawa State, saying no religion or political party should divide them. “No religion will separate us again. No CAN will Separate us again” The time has come for us to come together,” he said, urging the crowd to decide if they wanted him to run for governor again.
“Today, I listen carefully to all your submissions. Speakers and people have come from far and near. Are we in government? No. But I want to challenge you. I want you to tell me: should I contest again or not?
If you want me to go again, go back and meet with all the village heads and ask them if they want me to come back again, or if they will waste their votes again, or if they will work for the unity of Nasarawa State.
That is a challenge. There is nobody in Nasarawa Eggon that does not know somebody in Awe, Plateau State, Toto. You have friends and family. Ask them if they are willing to vote for me again, then come back and tell me. I will make my intentions clear to the people.”
Ombugadu concluded by emphasizing his focus on the development of Nasarawa State, particularly the road from Gudi to Lafia. “This is not about the PDP or any party; it’s about the unity of Nasarawa State and building critical infrastructure,” he stated.