It is not a surprise to many that the return of Senator Usman Attai Aidoko back to the Red Chambers of the National Assembly, did not elicit any forms of celebration in the entire Igalaland, especially Igah land of Olamaboro LGA of Kogi State.
Aidoko was first elected into the Federal House of Representatives by the people and the only election he has ever contested and was voted for before he became a senator via court pronouncement, in a lengthy legal battle between him and Senator Dangana in 2011.
His victory at the court then, attracted wild jubilation and was celebrated by the people of Igah Land, even though, he has nothing to show for his previous eight years in the Reps.
But as soon as Aidoko was sworn-in as a Senator, he quickly detached himself from the people and became permanently inaccessible, a trait he maintains till date.
His sojourn in the National Assembly both at the lower and upper chambers was not beneficial to his people and the entire Igala land that he presumably represented. He has no legacy to his name in the entire area.
The Igah Land, where Aidoko hails from, lacks every essential amenities like good Road, School facilities, Portable Water, Good Healthcare services, Telecommunication and ironically, his village does not have GSM mast. The story and lamentations is the same by him with those in diaspora that sought for help in jobs employments and other invisible help like giving out notes and phone calls to facilitate or influence a favourable profitable activities or positions, which other Senators rendered to their people delightedly and which Alfa’s few months there exposes.
Unsurprisingly, his returned elicit negatives outrage and lamentations across the entire Kogi East Senatorial districts instead of celebrations. Although, he always rebound back through the court and this has become his forte and always vaunted.
I will however not want to be drawn into debate with anyone about Sen. Aidoko’s maleficent representation and past achievements as the eavesdropping on phone conversations among the Igalas and others points to the danger and the misery his recent returns would bring upon the people. Again, it’s both unreasonable and premature to also judge his coming back, but the “past tells the future”
But the man he recently quitted (Alfa) did not leave anyone in doubt of what is expected of him, he had a clear vision and blueprint immediately he entered the red chamber. Alfa moved populist bills in the floor of the house, including the historical motion of making Kogi an Oil producing state. His people with different political divides were in congruence with him throughout his stay in the National Assembly.
The soldier turn politician was largely seen as disarmingly gentleman with an intimidating credential who can have the ears of those in power than a neophyte opportunist. Presently, Sen. Aidoko to some in National Assembly, is like building something on nothing and expect it to stand. His motion on the floor, immediately he was swore-in was inconsequential, virtually all other Senators had moved similar motion on that, recession is a national problem being talk about nationally. Thereof, Aidoko should rather move an impact full motion and not after thought. He should quickly rollout his own palliative measures to the people rather than being rhetoric.
Essentially, Aidoko’s tragic flaw stems from the assumption that political success is to be measured only by material acquisitions without bequeathing an enduring legacy to the people.
Now that he’s back into the Senate, I hope he get it right this time and its my prayer he get it right. As he rightly said in the floor of the house immediately he was swore-in that, he will give a “robust representation to the people” I hope he abide by that declarations as a clear departure from his unproductive past, so as not to be called the “whitlow of the Igala nation”.
By Blessing Aishat Ekele.
