It goes without saying that there are several convincing and compelling reasons for the electorate in the forthcoming 2019 general elections to give their votes for honourable A. K. Salihu to represent Kogi Central at the coveted upper chamber of the National Assembly.
Today, he is clearly the most credible, experienced, innovative, resourceful, and highly educated and connected aspirant, eyeing the plum seat at the Senate among the aspirants.
At a time in our political history when experience, maturity, and educational background counts at the National Assembly, honourable A. K. Salihu, a two term former member House of Representatives (Okehi and Adavi Constituency) is arguably the most suited, mentally, and psychologically prepared to give effective and responsive representation at the Senate in the next dispensation.
The case of Hon. A. K. Salihu can be likened literally to that of a fish returning to its natural habitat because of his invaluable experience and impeccable record of performance when he served a two term at the lower chamber of the National Assembly. It will be recalled that Hon. A. K. Salihu discharged his legislative duties creditably beyond critical expectations, which earned him many accolades and awards for his outstanding and remarkable performance at the House of Representatives. It is on record that Hon. A. K. Salihu served remarkably as either chairman or member of several sensitive and important committees. He was the chairman on House committee on Police affairs, special duties, and electoral matters (INEC), a position he discharged without blemish.
He was also head-hunted by his colleagues to become a member of the house committees on Power and Steel, Niger Delta Development Company (NDDC), Aviation, Communications, and health matters, among several others.
It is also noteworthy that during his tenure at the lower chamber of the National Assembly, he sponsored several bills which include that of police service commission, and the controversial bill on power rotations which he fought gallantly to push through, but was scuttled by the contending majority influencesand forces in the house.
Hon. A. K. Salihu, who is a communication expert before his foray into active politics, has a first degree in Mass Communications (second class upper), from the prestigious Bayero University, Kano and ran a flourishing and thriving Public Relations firm in Lagos that is still in operation till date.
Hon. A. K. Salihu, during his stay at the House of Representativeswas never counted among the group of docile and bench-warming members of the house, as he contributed copiously to several motions raised on the floor of the house to shape the future of this country in our quest for a greater Nigeria.
During his tenure at the lower chamber, he attracted several federal constituency projects to his constituency, such as the first solar powered street lights, several functional boreholes, 30 transformers that were distributed across Kogi Central. He also used his vantage position and influence to give employment to over 50 unemployed Ebira youths into the Police, NSCDC, Aviation, medical organisations, and the National Assembly.
The tested and trusted lawmaker, who is a consistent advocate of power rotation among the organic local government areas in the Central Senatorial district (Okene, Adavi/Okehi), to deal with existing issues of justice, fairness, and equity in the polity, has built top level connections and contacts at the National Assembly over the years. In fact, one of such contacts is the influential clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Mohammed OmoloriAtaba, who is his long-time friend and associate. Many of his former colleagues at the lower chamber are now serving at the upper chamber and this would become a valuable advantage for Hon. A. K. Salihu if he gets the mandate in 2019.
Our political experience has shown that the upper chamber of the National Assembly is not for the ‘boys’ or those who are just cutting their teeth in the complex and sensitive national politics, given our poor and ineffective representations in the past.
It goes without saying that an important senatorial district as ours required men of cognate political experience, quality education and a good content of character, if we desire to catch up with the pace of other consistencies in the country. This is why other constituencies across the country have repeatedly sent one of their First Eleven to represent them at the Senate. It is not by mistake that we have the likes of Senator David Mark, BukolaSaraki, Ike Ekweramadu, and other veteran senators in the upper chamber today.
Against this background therefore, it is instructive and imperative that the good people of Kogi Central should learn from the avoidable mistakes of the past and support Hon. A. K. Salihu in his noble ambition to serve his fatherland at the Senate come 2019 general elections and bring the needed development to the district, beyond the so called youth and women empowerment that have become the norm today.
If you ask me, I think the people of central senatorial district should de-emphasize primordial sentimentsand other pecuniary considerations and queue behind one of our political icons, Hon. A. K. Salihu in our overall best interest. The entire people of Ebiraland are tired of being the butt of cruel jokes because people representing us have shown consistently that they have no business been there in the first place, but for their personal and selfish interests. At a time like this, the Senate seat should no longer be for the highest bidder.
Hon. A. K. Salihu is good to go, because he is the most credible and most qualified for the plum job, given all rational considerations.
– Otori Ozigi is a retired public servant and journalist/PR Consultant
