The Independent National Electoral Commission yet to fix a date for the bye elections to replace our Late Member Haruna Maital who lost His life in a ghastly motor accident some months back. May His soul continue to rest in Jannah.
But regardless of the uncertainty on when the elections is going to hold, numerous people have openly showed interest and have fully been engage in campaigns in other to win the support of constituuents in one way or the other.
Looking at the sensitivity, and the importance attached to this seat , it is very pertinent to send who is competent enough to represent , someone with the understanding , the experience in legislation , and also very conversant with happenings around the country and world at large.
It’s a fact today on the Plateau that Yusuf Babayo Gagdi dominates headlines always when it comes to true representation despite the presence of other lawmakers in the National Assembly from same state due to some key reasons.
His sophistication , experience as a state lawmaker for years and His understanding of the legislative politics played a role in the successes He recorded in a very short period of time. The relationship He established with the speaker from the onset paved way for most of the opportunities He enjoyed so far.
Critically looking at the calibre of candidates vying for this seat and considering their experience, understanding of the House and obvious connections i think Shehu deserves to be giving the opportunity to represent once again.
Shehu represents this constituency from 2003 to 2007 and at that period i wasn’t politically exposed to give full account of what He did , but as someone who has been following, i can say He has an age over the rest in terms of what representation truly implies in the Nigerian context and more.
He is now a seasoned politician who has gathered alot of experience nationally in the game and has a level playing ground in the House should He emerge because most of the top principal officers in the House were His contemporaries ( Adviser to the Speaker of the House ) and i don’t have to tell you how relationship is important in Nigeria’s politics.
Having listened to Him and the rest in one way or the other i think apart from experience and connections, He has an age over the remaining candidates in terms of outspokeness , eloquence and following trend of development especially those related to the youth who form a larger population of the constituency.
Closely observed, this elections is not going to be like any other, the orientation of masess have changed dramatically , Service delivery, competency is going to be the yardstick for determining who to represents and I believe in this guy we now have a historic opportunity to bring about transformative change to this constituency.
Abdul Abul M. Writes from Jos, Plateau State.