By Abdulmalik Suleiman.
Over two decades ago, the talk in Lokoja metropolis was about a man who is so concerned about Educational development in the ancient city.
Initially, many names were on the lips of the people as everybody scrambled to benefit from what has become the talk of town then.
The young Umar Ahmed Imam popularly called “Alfa JAMB” was later unmasked when he eventually came out of nowhere to launch his much talk about “Educational Scholarship” for Lokoja indigenes.
Alfa JAMB’s contribution to Educational development in Lokoja LGA is unquantifiable and second to none in the historical ancient city.
Many indigent students of various background within the city benefited from the scheme. Today, some of the beneficiaries are working in various part of the state while some are still searching.
Alfa, the young philanthropist who started his working career with Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) was quick to reflect on his past and gave back to the society from his poor savings.
The scheme gained full acceptability and credibility from both the young/old, and men/women across the city.
Another interesting aspects of the scheme was the exemption of his immediate family and relations whom he felt were not much in denial than the larger society that were in dire needs of help to further their education because he saw it all.
A very suave, humble, humane and intelligent personality who never look down on his fellow being, he was. Although, Alfa stature never look intimidating, but his heart and mind did, he was a man with a larger heart than a giant.
As if Imam has the premonitions that he was going to seek for political office in the nearest future, and when he did by heeding the calls of the people, his philanthropic past was at hand and that made things easy for him. His campaign was effortless.
Alfa’s declaration resonates among the people of the ancient city and across political divides, he became a new bride to many political parties including the then ruling party PDP.
He later joined the newly registered All Progressives Congress Party APC, precisely, 2013 where he contested for the State House of Assembly and later won. APC easily harvested from his past goodwill and all the party candidates benefited from it at all levels.
During the primaries, his opponent was nowhere to be found as Imam swept the delegates.
In the 2015 main election, Imam defeated more formidable but brittle candidate of the ruling party, PDP who later approached the elections tribunal but also lost there. Since then, his defeated rival has gone into political hibernation.
In adherent to the principle of justice and fairness, the then Speaker of the House, Chief Justice of the State and the State Governor, Alh Yahaya Bello all hails from the Central Senatorial District and this create some kind of political imbalance in the state and the first casualty was the State House of Assembly leadership. The rest is history.
Imam who later emerged Speaker from the minority party became engulfed in a long running battle with his colleagues which led to series of litigations. But with the intervention of some concerned citizens in conjunction
with the state government, the crises was amicably resolved and peace has since returned to the House.
Again, its evident that Imam’s political dexterity clearly won the battle for him and he’s fully in charge of the House.
His leadership has brought harmonious good working relationship between the Legislature and the Executive.
The Speaker recently displayed what is uncommon in Lokoja LGA, he publicly displayed a cheque of five million naira to his entire constituency which is made up of five ward’s in an all stakeholders meeting.
One million naira each to the five wards for the execution of projects of their choice.
Many residents were not surprise by this singular gesture going by the Speaker’s antecedents and past records of compassion and humility before joining partisan politics.
Till today, Alfa Jamb and Lokoja remains inseparable.
– Abdulmalik Suleiman, a politician and public commentator, writes from Kupa South, Lokoja LGA.
