By Daniel Salifu.
With the commencement of INEC timetable for a consultative meeting in January, ending in February for all political aspirants to interact with their people, all indications point to Kogi State Deputy Speaker and Member representing Ankpa I constituency, Rt. Hon. Ahmed Mohammed as the united desire of the people of Ankpa, Olamaboro, Omala Federal constituency to represent them at the green chamber of the National Assembly come 2023.
A cross section of youths, women and elders from the All Progressive Congress (APC) who spoke with this reporter from the different local government areas that made up the Federal constituency rated the Deputy Speaker, popularly called Ahmed Ahmed, as the most favoured among others.
In Omala local government area, he has support of the delegates that spoke with this reporter. Their spokesman, who is a youth leader from Abejukolo, the local government headquarters, Hon. Achiga Emmanuel said: “We can see Ahmed Ahmed delivering dividends of democracy as Deputy Speaker. Anybody of such that is delivering should be allowed to move up there. That is why myself and group members are giving him our support and that is what we shall do.”
In Ankpa local government area, a woman influencer and daughter of late President of ICDA, Alhaji Shehu Akus, Madam Ashmawo Akus, said that “Ahmed Ahmed is such a good representative and that, what we should look at is to compare the good works he is doing presently in Ankpa I constituency and then take a look at what he is capable of doing when he gets up there to the House of Representatives.”
According to her, Ahmed Ahmed is the “type of person that once he accepts and promises to do a thing, he will do it unlike others that have no integrity and ends up tossing people up and down.”
Consequently, she stated that a vote for Ahmed Ahmed is a vote that will end era of broken promises in the area.
“On my part, I have already set in motion necessary machinery to mobilise the women groups in his support,” Ashmawo stated.
In Olamaboro local government area, a member of the party’s Elder Advisory Council, Mr. Odiniya Okeme said they are waiting for the party’s guidelines and direction and that if they are to have their way, Hon. Ahmed Ahmed is his choice as well as that of his colleagues.
Some other people that spoke with this reporter said Hon. Ahmed Ahmed is a public spirited individual and a political loyalist. They attributed the upsurge and clamour for him to represent the area to the achievements he has recorded so far in the State Assembly which they listed to include the following:
Rehabilitation in the Health sector of many primary health centres in the area as well as the rehabilitation and equipping of Ankpa Zonal Hospital.
That he influenced the rehabilitation of abandoned Ankpa township roads.
In Agriculture, he empowered many agripreneurs into small and medium scale poultry and fish businesses.
That he also provided skill acquisition training, materials and empowerment for over 200 sons and daughters of Ankpa I constituency including tailoring, aluminum repairs, automobile engineering and other artisanship.
In education, he introduced an initiative tagged: “Operation Back to School”, which has taken many sons and daughters of Ankpa I constituency off the streets.
He also introduced welfare packages for the elderly ones in his constituency
He is reputed to have sponsored meaningful bills and motions for governments attention to his constituency including the functional Celuke Health Science and Technology College at Ojapata.
