Are these projects that he worked on and completed in the last 7-8 years or are they future projects?  I thought you had some of the same above on the list of future projects, earlier?

Let me give the status of the projects I quoted:
- Shonga Farms (operational, multi-phased, current phase is construction of irrigation facilities)
- Construction of the cargo terminal at Ilorin International Airport (due for completion in September)
- Kwara State College of Aviation (to be commissioned October 1, 2010)
- Ganmo Power Substation (commissioned, operational)
- Chikanda–Ilesha–Baruba–Oyo State border road (completed)

A 4000 hectare farm (4 farms each 1000 hectares) generates 25,000 jobs?

This question actually forced me to do some research, and this is what I came up with:

- There are presently 13 farms
- The farms are a mix of dairy poultry and mixed farms
The quote of 25,000 jobs will also include farm hands, which will fall into a category of seasonal employment.

You remember my questions have been accomplishments in the last 7-8 years and not the PROJECTED list. How much in revenue generation does the state benefit from today compared to years before, was the question.

These are theIGR figures,which I have for 2005 to 2009

2005 - 2.7 billion (approx)
2006 - 3.2 billion (approx)
2007 - 3.6 billion (approx)
2008 - 6.5 billion (approx)
2009 - 6.2 billion (approx)

Pull back a bit here! 1000Km of road, like you said might seem more impressive if pulled into the area Lagos currently occupies but what has that to do with almost 8 years of Government? It is a real pity that till this year 2010, road rehabilitation is still considered an accomplishment in Nigeria, so I will ask that we please leave that out and actually delve into list of actual accomplishment.
In measuring the performance of a leader in office, you actually, not only consider how much he has at his disposal BUT ALSO how much, over time he has been able to GENERATE and essentially put back into the state's coffers. It has been 7 years, how much has Kwara state's revenue generation IMPROVED? See, this is one question you could answer for us to give us a better idea of how much the man has actually done to improve kwara state in over 7 years.

Dr. Bukola is a strategic thinker and transformational leader. He has spent his time on strategic mega-projects, which stand the greatest chance of moving his state forward. This is where he is different from other leaders who spend their time on populist projects which do not lead to lasting change. The portfolio of these mega-projects include:
- Shonga Farms Holding
- Construction of the cargo terminal at Ilorin International Airport
- Kwara State College of Aviation
- Ganmo Power Substation
- Chikanda–Ilesha–Baruba–Oyo State border road
These projects are part of a grand design to turn Kwara State into an economic hub. The Shonga Farms project has generated up to 25,000 jobs (permanent and temporary workers), the surrounding settlements have definitely benefited economically, communications-wise, transport-wise, health-wise. These projects are redefining Kwara State in relation to the rest of the country.

These are big projects for a state like Kwara State, and that has not kept him from delivering impressive results in rural electrification, road construction, health, water, education, civil service reforms.

Dr. Bukola Saraki believes that it is not the business of government to create employment or manage business. Rather the government has to create enabling environment to attract business. Successes have been scored in this area - Tuyil Pharmaceuticals, Dangote Industries, Jebba Paper Mill, Erin-Ile Paper Mill, Ethnix Furniture. The environment he has created has attracted organizations such as the Nigerian Stock Exchange, National Deposit Insurance Corporation, Corporate Affairs Commission. The unprecedented construction boom in Kwara State is another clear index. I have not bothered to tally the jobs created by this upsurge in activity, but the change is real.

The resource allocations that Dr. Bukola Saraki has made are long-term ones, which are in the best interest of the state. Certainly no comparable state can lay claim to the broad range of strategic economic assets that Kwara State has.

I didn't suggest competition here. And by the way, you mention LAND MASS but not POPULATION. Please bring this back to reality. Lagos has had only 3 years and Saraki has had almost 8. What has Saraki actually DONE?
That 70% of all people in formal employment are employed by the civil service, after 8 years, is BAD, not good.

In measuring the performance of any leader in office, you cannot avoid the issue of how much he has at his disposal. That is why project managers do what is called buget-execution analysis. Also you cannot overlook the issue of land mass, because people are affected by what they see. If 1000km of roadworks was compressed into a space of 3475km2 the land mass of Lagos, of course it would be strikingly impressive as opposed to when it is distributed through the 36,285km2 of Kwara state.

The statistics I quote for employment are from 2003 when Dr. Bukola Saraki assumed office.

@ ode-remo: In response to your statement - even if a pastor were named Saraki some people would automatically assume that he was not a man of God because of bias.It is no secret that a lot of people were hoping that Dr. Bukola Saraki would turn out to be incompetent. Dr. Bukola Saraki has one over many reluctant admirers by the fact of his performance.

uummm . . . . . Help me out here.

Which of the above did he accomplish in the last 8 years. Lagos had only 3 years and look what he accomplished in that time. Saraki is about to complete 8 years. What has he actually done in that time. That is the question.

That is exactly where you appreciate him better. The 2010 budget of Kwara State is N69.4 billion, that of Lagos State is N429.5 billion. Kwara State spends 65% of its income on recurrent expenditure. 70% of all people in formal employment are employed by the civil service. Kwara State has a land area of 36,285km2, while Lagos State is 3,475 km2. It just does not make any sense for Dr. Bukola Saraki to be competing with Lagos state - it is not in the best interest of Kwara State.

The projects are significant and long term. They were carefully chosen and faithfully implemented. Even in the face of downturn in the economy, and the withdrawal of Federal Government support for the water policy, power policy to name two. The uniqueness of Dr. Bukola Saraki is that he has been able to exceed the expectations of many people regarding a state as economically backward as Kwara State. The ethical dilemma of government is allocation of resources - the choice between recurrent expenditure and capital projects, and the capital projects that Dr. Bukola Saraki has committed himself to are well-chosen, faithfully executed, and strategically appropriate.

What sort of silly response is this? I ask questions and I am loaded with typical Nigerian ramblings and dance-around for a retort.

Go back, read the questions asked, and TRY AGAIN!

This is such a pointless exercise, because they are so many but let me pick out strategic projects, which he has implemented which are capable of transforming Kwara State in the next 5 to 10 years.
- Shonga Farms Holding
- Upgrade of Ilorin International Airport
- Construction of Cargo Terminal
- Kwara State College of Aviation
- Kwara State University
- Ganmo Stepdown Power Substation
You can then come down to other projects such as road construction (over 1000km) of roads constructed up till date, rehabilitation of dams across the state, rural electrification, rural water provision, community health insurance, renovation of general hospitals (primary health care), resuscitation of Jebba Paper mill, Erin-Ile Paper converters, Ethnix Furniture, Kwara State Football academy, cement factory (under construction). His administration has seen increased corporate presence in the state - Corporate Affairs Commission, NDIC, Nigerian Stock Exchange. All these are a matter of public record. Bear in mind that Kwara State has one of the lowest shares of the Federal Government allocation and IGR. Whether you like it or not, Kwara State now punches above its weight.

8 years of service and what you are here to tell us of his work in Kwara is ONE Bridge and Zimbabwe farmers, which happened only about 2 years or so ago. What happened to the 6 years before? What else has Saraki done in the last 2 years? Please provide a more solid list of Accomplishments. Tell us of the state of the schools in Kwara -- primary and secondary schools. How are the hospitals and roads in general. We want to know more.

You only need to know how poorly developed Kwara was before Dr. Bukola Saraki become governor. No reasonable person would want to go back to what Kwara State was 8 years ago. There was no development plan on ground when he came in, state industries were failing, very low commercial activity. Dr. Bukola Saraki took time to come up with a plan to rescue Kwara State from obscurity and he has followed it faithfully for 8 years. If you bother to find out, there is much more to Dr. Saraki than Zimbabwe farmers. His work cuts across agriculture, aviation, urban renewal, industrialization, rural health and roads, power, water, education, civil service reforms. The Zimbabwe farmers project is of course the flagship project of Kwara State but there is so much more going on. A beg!

The Kwara State chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has commended Dr. Bukola Saraki, the Executive Governor of Kwara State, for fulfilling the 21 demands of labor in the state, which were completely ignored by previous administrations.

This commendation was given by the chairman of the Kwara State chapter of the NLC, Comrade Emmanuel Aiyeoribe, during a thank-you visit paid to Dr. Bukola Saraki by executive members of the congress. In his address, he thanked Dr. Bukola Saraki for honoring all his campaign promises to workers in the state. He also thanked Dr. Bukola Saraki for the20% salary increase, which he recently approved for workers in Kwara State.
Comrade Emmanuel Aiyeoribe observed that under the administration of Dr. Bukola Saraki, the civil service in Kwara State has been rejuvenated through a host of positive measures, such as promotion exercises, prompt payment of salaries and pension arrears, salary increments, training of workers, and renovation of offices.

In his response, Dr. Bukola Saraki commended the hierarchy of the labor force for embracing dialogue in the pursuit of their demands. He disclosed that about 2000 workers were being currently recruited into the civil service by his administration in an effort to rejuvenate the civil service, and he called on workers in the state to reciprocate the efforts of the government by discharging their duties with renewed zeal and commitment.