The hallowed halls of democracy have been witnessed to a stark dichotomy in representation, as exemplified by the contrasting narratives of two stalwarts from the same legislative echelon. Whilst Hon. Leke Joseph Abejide, the current member, house of representative of Yagba Federal Constituency, has etched his name in the annals of history with a magnanimous gesture of empowerment, Architect Salman Idris, the representative of Kabba Bunu Ijumu Federal Constituency, has, alas, fallen woefully short of the mark.
In a dazzling display of constituent-centric largesse, Hon. Abejide has bestowed upon his people a windfall of 710 million Naira, parcelled out in 10 million Naira donations to each of the 71 communities that comprise Yagba.
This gesture, accompanied by the gifting of brand new vehicles, has set a benchmark for excellence in representation. Albeit, Architect Idris’s efforts pale in comparison, with a paltry 40 pieces of 5kg rice distributed to the fifteen wards in Ijumu Local Government, leaving the remaining fifteen wards in Kabba Bunu Local Government bereft of attention.
The people of Kabba Bunu Ijumu Federal Constituency are left to ponder the rationale behind their representative’s parsimonious approach to empowerment.
Has the cupboard been bare, or has the cup been reserved for a selected few in the face of a whopping quarterly one billion Naira constituency allowance?
The allocation of a fairly used Toyota Highlander to a single king from his immediate community, amidst a sea of neglect, smacks of cronyism and raises disturbing questions about the representative’s promise during the electioneering to the collective welfare of his constituents.
As the saying goes, “to whom much is given, much is expected.” Arc. Salman has been entrusted with a sacred responsibility, one that demands equity, justice, and fairness in the discharge of his duties. Alas, his actions suggest a quaint disregard for the aspirations of the people who placed their trust in him.
The people of Kabba Bunu Ijumu demand better; they deserve a representative who will champion their cause with vigour and vision, not with insolence and disdain.
The contrast between these two narratives is a stark reminder that representation is not merely about occupying a seat but about serving the people with diligence and dedication. Whilst Hon. Abejide has shown that it is possible to make a meaningful impact, Architect Idris’s performance is a cautionary tale of what happens when power is wielded with indifference and parochialism.
As the people of Kabba Bunu Ijumu Federal Constituency reflect on their representative’s tenure, we implore him to take a leaf from Hon. Abejide’s book and rise to the occasion.
The road to redemption is paved with actions, not words. It is time for Architect Idris to demonstrate that he is, indeed, a representative of the people and not just a beneficiary of their trust. The bar has been set; will he rise to meet it?
– Olatunji Waliyyu writes from Iyamoye.
