Why it matters for Dekina/Bassa:
More Influence and Seniority
First-term members rarely get committee chairmanships or ranking positions. With a second term, Dekina/Bassa rep member will gain seniority, translating into access to powerful committees like Works, Education, Appropriations.
Benefit: More say on national budget and can push federal projects like roads, schools, hospitals to your area.
Continuity of Projects
Bills and oversight investigations take years to mature. If a rep is replaced too fast, projects collapse mid-way.
Benefit: Projects Hon. Paul Gowon Haruna started like Iyale Township Road, Etutekpe-Oganenigu 26km road, boreholes, solar lights can be completed + expanded instead of starting over.
Stronger Lobbying and Connections
Long service = policy expertise + relationships in Abuja. Agencies + colleagues respect lawmakers who know the system.
Benefit: Easier to attract federal jobs, scholarships for students, agricultural training, and emergency funds like the ₦4m flood relief.
‘Mr Projects’ Track Record Builds Credibility
Hon. Paul Gowon Haruna earned the nickname “Mr Projects” because constituents saw deliver
Benefit: National govt + partners trust him more with bigger projects.
Mentorship + Building Future Leaders
Long-serving reps mentor younger politicians, aides, community advocates on legislation + accountability.
Benefit: Dekina/Bassa gains a pipeline of capable leaders for future, not just one person.
Visibility = Bigger Voice for Kogi East
Senior lawmakers are known figures. Their requests carry institutional weight. For Dekina/Bassa, “the path to stronger representation lies not in constant turnover, but in strategic continuity”.
In short: 1st term = learning the ropes. 2nd term = using those ropes to pull real development home. Influence is cumulative.
– Prince Adamu Ibrahim Alih writes from Bassa, Kogi State
