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The much anticipated 2019 general election is fast approaching and there are just two things for whoever is eying the assembly seat of Ankpa 2 constituency: key in or bow. This is because, irrespective of party, Hon Alfa Momoh Rabiu is in the race to return and contesting with him will amount to a phenomenon as the eye stretching to see the ears and such attempt is an exercise in futility.
It was Robert Green who said in his book – the forty eight laws of power that…. “beware of stepping into a great man’s shoe” but that we are in a democracy, everybody has the right to contest and what I am saying is a free given advice, which anyone can take or not take.
What matters is that it is the good people of Ankpa 2; Enjema and Ojoku districts to be precise that will decide who to represent them when the time comes next year. So, the many the challengers, the sweeter the victory, Insha Allah (by God’s grace).
Many times have I said it, and I’m repeating it that as Hon Rabiu Alfa has decided to contest for a second term in 2019, I will support him with all my might. This support is not about the relationship I have with him but the conviction, resolution, admiration, goodwill, loyalty, respect, belief, submission and acceptance I have for him as my constituency representative.
Readers may want to ask is it that he has done everything? So, in rhetoric; show me a such replica that was elected and did everything doable. Others may ask, is his stewardship an all time best? In rhetoric, show me his better predecessor. Someone may as well ask, is he that committed? Very-very. Asking if he love the constituency and constituents? He is at home every weekend. Has he done his best? He is coming for a second term and these facts can all be confirmed.
Away from rhetorics, Ankpa 2 constituency is in a very safe hand. For many years, we have received constituency allowance without a public knowledge of it or single project to justify its sum. The terms then were run like a wall clock ticking without minding the consequences of its movement on events outside.
Today, despite a nationwide economic recession, increasing demands, competitive lifestyles, high political consciousness, sectional expectations and all that compete for resources, Hon Rabiu Alfa at a well publicised and convened town hall meeting declared his constituency allowance.
Despite high decrease as compared to what could have been earned in an economy with stable international crude price and economically balanced society, Hon Alfa Momoh Rabiu still went ahead with projects across the eight wards of Ankpa 2 constituency. Such is because he believes in accountability and honesty in leadership. Not that he has defeated embezzlement but, at a maximum curb as those who defaulted around him already have themselves estranged from financial confidence.
Upon completion of Ward “mark” projects which were intended to be his enduring legacies as it is in Enjema Ward 1: Construction of bore hole at Enjema, Enjema Ward 2: Building of Open market shops at Ofugo, Enjema Ward 3: Renovation of class room blocks at Inye, Enjema Ward 4: Renovation of primary school blocks at LGEA Anyitata. And for Ojoku wards; Ojoku Ward 1: Building of Open Market shop at central market Ojoku agbodo, Ojoku Ward 2: Fencing and erosion control at Okaba Primary school, Ojoku Ward 3: Building of Open market shops at Inyologu and Ojoku Ward 4: Building of open market shops at Ukwo doko market.
Hon Rabiu Alfa didn’t do away from other areas such as health through the payment of many medical bills and supply of hospital materials, women empowerment through his wife’s pet project – Lucia hand that has in different phases empowered well over one hundred women within the constituency, influencing of employments as evident in the enrollment of his constituents into the Kogi state board of internal revenue, Kogi state University Anyigba, National Airspace Research and Development Agency(NARSDA), kogi state forest guards and even military/Paramilitary, religious support in the form renovation and cash donation to worship centres, conflict resolution via coordination of CDAs and settlement of grievances, welfare packages during season festivities, educational development vis-à-vis free distribution of external examination forms, notebooks and payment of school fee for indigent constituents etc.
That he has surpassed his predecessors, it is easy for antics to say we should stop talking about the past and simply face the future. So In addition to his strides mentioned here above, he has to his credit several motions and participations on the floor of the house concerning matters of public interest. Against how Ankpa II constituency was hitherto turned to a humour stock while other constituencies were growing and developing, Hon Rabiu Alfa steadily pushed and secured a repute for the area among committee of constituencies.
By deliberate efforts, Hon Rabiu Alfa has changed our narratives and inched up egalitarian leadership with great entitlements to the electorate so much that his reputation will be incomplete in any description that do not acknowledge the fact that he is always at home every weekend.
His stewardship cut the unbridled expenses of spending resources on a long convoy of vehicles and lodging in expensive hotels in the name of weekend flexing to a maximum of two vehicles and quality time expenditure with constituents respectively. Prudence is obviously his watchword and proximity to the grassroots is his biggest feedback mechanism because he refused to distant himself from them vis-a-vis the use of security orderly or unavailability.
It is perhaps been afraid of his growing popularity that some naive adversaries came with stories like: He is too arrogant, He is not the only one, He disregard elders, He Blah-blah-blah as if they were his reason and season but the people of Ankpa II constituency are wise and knows that their motive was simple: destabilising his focus so that he wouldn’t become the greatest representative of Ankpa II constituency which God has destined for him when compared to his predecessors.
Despite every means used to distract him, God kept guiding him as he restrained all his supporters and I who holds brief for him by virtue of designation(Senior Legislative Aide) from joining issues with anyone. The instruction was – no insults for abuse, no threatening for railing, no name calling for fallacies, no matter for issues and no ranting for wailers solely because he knows a true leader is like a dustbin wherein anybody can dump anything.
This has earned him so much admiration than partisan politics and even opposition parties are in love with him although that they cannot profess it because of the sanctity of their allegiance. Up next is for God to give him a lead and brighter platform into the main election for the people are resolved on voting for him without recourse to party affiliations.
At this juncture, it is worthy to reiterate that by next year, the people of Ojoku and Enjema will show what they want. Whether to consolidate the journey to prosperity or go back to absurdity coupled with archaic stewardship cum excruciating sorrows. Of course, the people of Ankpa II are wise and will do the needful. They will freely vote for the leader they have tested and trust without recourse to any primordial sentiment that may be whipped up.
Lastly, counting on the power of the Permanent Voter Cards(PVCs), the election shall be free and fair. There won’t be ease of ballot snatching and so, God willing, Hon Alfa Momoh Rabiu shall be reelected to represent the good people of Ankpa 2 constituency for another term of four years.
Conclusively, there is no vacancy in Ankpa 2, let others bow or key in for the sake of our tomorrow and the ages to come for our children and generations yet unborn, let’s come together and do it again.
– Comrade A. M. Nasiru is the Senior Legislative Aide to Hon Rabiu
Email: naadejohs@gmail.com
Twitter handle – @amnasiru
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