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It gives me joy to be alive and privileged add voice to the echoes of the political maestro whose records as a lawmaker remain unrivaled in his constituency over a decade later of his reign. My writing is not as a columnist nor syndicate but as one out of the thousands who which to be a lending voice to good governance, call for quality delivery and legislative potency.
Whereas a couple of syndicates has already aired their views in his honour and much more are planning to line up behind him, that I can afford a Biro and a paper, this man deserves to have my contribution to the echoes of his vision f or the good people of Ankpa, Olamaboro and Omala federal constituency because his place in Kogi state cum originality in the grassroots is one that only depicts absolute humanism. He is Hon Abdullahi Ibrahim Ali popularly known as Halims and I met him in those early days of my own becoming.
I was a high school student at the prestigious Federal Government College Ugwolawo when he held sway as a honorable member representing Ankpa I constituency at the Kogi State House of Assembly and his stewardship did not only birth political consciousness into me but always sang a lone melody that all politicians cannot be the same.
When former Governor Ibrahim Idris used to call Hon Halims Ankpa project, he was indeed Ankpa project – a town where governments attention flourished, where the town enriched its youths with gowns of independence and women with resources of empowerment for indeed, it was not a sin to subdue the consciously material life and seek things of the elevated mind without recourse to praise singings. All these privileges were facilitated by Hon Halims and it was during this time that I knew him. Obviously, his reign and persistence for government’s presence in Ankpa reinvented a romance love for people living with political allergy in Ankpa to such an extent that over ten people jostled to succeed him.
His tenure was a great reign because there was no chairman-boys relationship. “Enenyi” meaning Boss as his lieutenants called him denied the existence of any protocol order. He eats and drinks like everyone else. He joined in the driving of car, he had interest in everything and he even sits at the balcony with the boys. Eventually, if you could see either of Anaye(his driver) or Balumba(his PA), you can see him too.
Although he was elected as a lawmaker, he established a political empire that was so open to every son and daughter of Ankpa in a very awesome way. So, it was not an accident that his reign recorded great success but an inevitable result of what egalitarian leadership entails.
Hon Halims have always spent quality time with constituents irrespective of faith adherence, social status, age, gender and background in a view to identify and work on modalities of ameliorating the plights of his constituency and Ankpa at large. He teamed up with his colleague to have the governor listen to their demands and this effort was a case of water meeting thirst because the partnership of Kogi state fourth assembly was highly electrifying; perhaps the first and best of its type in the history of Kogi state house of assembly so far.
With evidence, the most fascinating phase of his tenure and a significant record in the evolution of his political voyage are his successful execution of many unprecedented strides among which are the construction of Ojede road network, Gully erosion control at different sites in Ankpa, deep drainage works at Ogaji, St Charles Road, rehabilitation of COE road as well as other erosion threatened locations in Allor, Ojede, Ogaji and Ankpa township, Skill acquisition program for youths and women, influencing of constituents’ enrollment into civil service, paramilitary and military at both state and federal level, provision and installation of transformers to eleven different communities, construction of several boreholes and a host of others.
Halims evolved like an ace and that is why he remains the best man for Ankpa, Omala and Olamaboro federal constituency. Since his first contest, there had been nothing like his tenure as an assembly member, near it or equal to it. An ace is like a grace and that is exactly what the good people of Ankpa, Olamaboro and Omala deserve at this critical time. This grace explains the popularity of Halims as not just a dogged fighter, politically savvy individual, humble to earth but how acceptable he could be in a free, fair and transparent election. It was not just time; it was years with meaningful impact that made the latter become a phenomenon.
It is during this years of impact that I became a member of his immediate family out of his openness to all. It was during this period that I knew the likes of Chief Bernard Eze(former PDP national secretary) of blessed memory, Hon Yakubu Yunusa(Former Majority Leader of The House), Late Hajiya Zainab Idris(Former First Lady kf Kogi State), Hon Suleiman Babadoko(the Chief Whip of Africa), Prince Salih Yakubu(the CEO of CESVO), Alhaji Tenimu Foreign(Igala Artiste and Tales Teller) and a host of others individuals whose paths crossed Halims’ in his bid to make Ankpa known among committee of places.
Although I had to be behind the scenes with his children, Papa, Nasiru and Dahiru to observe and later revert to him those days, I want to say we were part of the stories by virtue of following him to places. In fact, I have eventually become a member of his inner circle because I can hook him up anywhere and call him any hour. Hon Halims is an open, blunt, unpretentious and motivating politician. He can be mean to a fault but knows and prioritize the progress of his immediate societies. He knows his terrain and his listening ears to everyone is his art of mastery in supremacy over his disciples. He has passion for service and loves what he is aspiring for – house of representatives.
In those days, he asks for our inputs before he goes on project execution and such is the characteristic feature of a consultative leader. Although yet to officially declare his intent for 2019, the question he keeps asking me is; “Comrade, How are things? Hope our followership base is increasing? And, I keep answering yes! I cannot be wrong as I attribute this to the persistent call for better representation across the hills and valleys of Ankpa, Omala and Olamaboro local government areas. Politics is essentially by number and that he is gaining on daily basis.
Without words mincing, the exit of Hon Halims from public office has greatly robbed him of the sincere intentions he has for Ankpa federal constituency but the time is never late to do the right thing. He is coming out strong to fill the vacuum that had been created since his exit and all he needs is our supports, not money, not wishes but provable actions.
As someone who can claim to know Hon Halims, in and out of office, I state without any gain that there are many dividends to get from him if elected. We can confirm from his tenure as a house of assembly member representing Ankpa I. More so that my last major piece on him – “An Elephant Big Enough For All To Share” attracted very motivating reaction from constituents, I hope it gives a warning signal that there is no vacancy in Ankpa federal constituency for political apprenticeship come 2019. Politics is not gambling, it is about service to the people and Hon Abdullahi Ibrahim Halims remains the only person who has the ability to reinvent that fact.
He can be sensitive and nervous about election but there is no doubts about his talents and capabilities. That has been the source of his strength and effective services delivery. He may not have served in any other active capacity for a while, but he has in managing his private businesses done far better than his contemporaries in the face of private sector competition: in the past it was fueling stations versus heavy duty trucks but today, the scope of private sector is wider and the competition is tougher than can be possibly imagined. Yet, Halims will find a place close to top if entrepreneurial success of Igala sons and daughters over the last ten years is analysed. With this, he already has a place among the masters of prudent human and resource management and on that note, I conclude by saying: “Hon Halims Is A Stock So Good For Ankpa Federal Constituency.”
– Comrade A. M. Nasiru is a Social Commentator and Public Opinion Moulder.
+234(0)7068416768,
Email; naadejohs@gmail.com
Twitter handle – @amnasiru
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