In a country where politics is often associated with privilege and power, the story of Hon. David Idris Zacharia stands as a refreshing reminder that leadership can rise from the most humble beginnings. Today, he represents the good people of Idah, Ibaji, Igalamela-Odolu and Ofu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives — the largest federal constituency in Kogi State. But long before he sat in the Green Chamber making laws for the nation, he sat behind the steering wheel of a vehicle, holding only an interim driving licence and navigating the rough roads of life.
That journey — from driver to federal lawmaker — is not just a personal triumph. It is a story that continues to inspire thousands across Kogi East and beyond.
Those who knew David Zacharia in his early days remember a quiet, determined young man with big dreams and an even bigger heart. When the people of Ejule first saw him driving a Pajero jeep, many were shocked. “Where did he learn how to drive?” they wondered. It was not just about the car; it was about the symbolism. A young man from a modest background daring to step into spaces that once seemed unreachable.
He did not begin life with influence or inherited political structures. He began with grit. He understood hunger. He understood struggle. He understood what it meant to work hard just to be seen and heard. And perhaps it is that understanding that shapes his politics today.
Hon. Zacharia carries himself with the humility of someone who has never forgotten where he came from. Even in the corridors of power, he remains approachable, accessible, and deeply connected to the grassroots.
Representing the Largest Constituency in Kogi State
Idah, Ibaji, Igalamela-Odolu and Ofu Federal Constituency is vast — geographically expansive and socially diverse. It is a constituency blessed with agricultural potential, cultural heritage, and resilient people, yet challenged by infrastructural deficits, erosion, flooding, and unemployment.
To represent such a large and complex constituency requires more than political ambition. It requires patience, listening ears, and a genuine commitment to service. Hon. David Zacharia has consistently demonstrated that commitment.
Since his election into the House of Representatives, he has worked tirelessly to ensure that the voices of his people are heard at the national level. As Chairman of the House Committee on Safety Standards and Regulations, he occupies a critical leadership position. In that role, he has championed safer workplaces, stricter regulatory compliance, and policies that protect Nigerian workers and communities.
But beyond the title and committee responsibilities, his greatest work remains at home — among his people.
A Generous Heart, Sometimes to a Fault
If there is one word that repeatedly surfaces whenever his name is mentioned across Idah Federal Constituency, it is “generous.” Many say he is generous to a fault.
Widows know him. Students know him. Youths seeking empowerment know him. Community leaders know him. Market women know him.
His interventions have ranged from scholarships for indigent students to empowerment programmes for youths and women. Motorcycles and tricycles distributed to young men trying to build livelihoods. Start-up support for small businesses. Boreholes drilled in communities where access to clean water was once a daily struggle. Solar-powered streetlights installed to brighten dark streets and improve security at night.
In times of crisis, he has stood with his people. When flooding threatened communities, he provided relief. When erosion swallowed farmlands and homes, he raised his voice at the national assembly, demanding urgent federal intervention.
To many families, his support has not been a newspaper headline — it has been food on the table, school fees paid, hospital bills settled, hope restored.
Hon. Zacharia has repeatedly used his platform in the House of Representatives to call attention to the security challenges facing his constituency. He has advocated for stronger security presence and collaboration between federal agencies and local structures. He understands that development cannot thrive where fear dominates daily life.
He has also spoken passionately about environmental challenges — particularly gully erosion and flooding that continue to threaten entire communities. For him, representation is not about occupying a seat in Abuja; it is about bringing Abuja to the people and taking the people’s cries back to Abuja.
Perhaps the most consistent message in his political journey is unity.
At public gatherings, town hall meetings, and constituency events, Hon. David Zacharia constantly emphasizes the need for unity among the people of Idah Federal Constituency. He speaks against division — whether political, ethnic, or personal. He reminds his supporters and critics alike that development cannot happen in an atmosphere of bitterness.
After elections, he extends hands of reconciliation. He encourages former opponents to join hands in building the constituency. For him, politics is a means to serve, not a weapon to divide.
In a region rich in cultural pride and political consciousness, that message of unity resonates deeply. He understands that the strength of Idah Federal Constituency lies in its collective resolve — Idah, Ibaji, Igalamela-Odolu, and Ofu standing together as one.
Accessible and Grounded
Power can change people. Titles can create distance. But those who visit his constituency office or meet him at community events often speak of the same man they knew years ago — calm, respectful, attentive.
He listens. He does not rush conversations. He engages elders with reverence and youths with encouragement. Even as Chairman of a significant House Committee, he carries himself without arrogance.
That accessibility has built trust. And in politics, trust is currency.
Measured Achievements, Visible Impact
While politics often thrives on promises, Hon. Zacharia’s supporters point to tangible interventions. Solar streetlights illuminating rural roads. Water projects reducing the burden on women and children who once trekked long distances for water. Empowerment tools helping young people avoid the trap of unemployment and restiveness.
Healthcare centres receiving support. Community engagements that bring government closer to the grassroots.
No single lawmaker can solve all structural challenges overnight. But incremental progress — steady, visible, people-focused progress — defines his approach.
Hon. David Zacharia’s greatest contribution may well be the symbolism of his life.
In a society where many young people feel locked out of opportunity, his journey from a driver with an interim licence to a federal lawmaker sends a powerful message: background does not define destiny.
His story tells every struggling youth in Ejule, Idah, Ibaji, Igalamela-Odolu, and Ofu that tomorrow can be different from today. That service, perseverance, and compassion can open doors that once seemed sealed.
He embodies the idea that leadership is not reserved for the privileged few but can emerge from the streets, from the villages, from the steering wheel of a car driven by a young man with determination in his heart.
Looking Ahead
As he continues his legislative journey, expectations remain high. The people of Idah Federal Constituency look to him not just as a representative, but as a bridge — between rural communities and federal power, between struggle and opportunity, between division and unity.
Hon. David Zacharia’s politics is deeply personal. It is shaped by lived experience, by hardship remembered, by empathy cultivated over years of struggle. His humility is not manufactured; it is inherited from his past.
In the grand narrative of Nigerian politics, his name may be one among many. But in the homes where scholarships have changed destinies, in the streets now lit at night, in the quiet relief of families who have received unexpected support, his impact is deeply felt.
From steering wheel to the Green Chamber, from interim licence to national leadership, Hon. David Idris Zacharia’s story remains a testament to resilience, generosity, and the enduring power of unity.
– Musa Wada, a public affairs analyst, sent this piece from Abuja.
