By Abdulhameed Ivavah
In the wild, the elephant is often perceived through various lenses, some see it from the tusk, others from the side, and so on. This analogy or metaphor aptly captures the political landscape in Ajaokuta, where Sanni Egidi Abdulraheem (SEA) the House Rep Member is viewed differently by the populace.
Reflecting on his numerous achievements as a civil servant, entrepreneur and a contractor, SEA’s journey has been interesting. He rose steadily through the ranks to retire as a Permanent Secretary before transitioning into politics. His growth trajectory is indeed intimidating for those who find themselves in unhealthy rivalry with him.
SEA has successfully balanced his roles as both an entrepreneur and a civil servant, and he was able to achieve a great feat as the largest employer in Ajaokuta Local Government Area and has built considerable wealth through his entrepreneurial ventures before reaching the pinnacle of his civil service career. These experiences have equipped him well for the challenges of political life. Recognizing his societal impacts, the people of Ajaokuta called upon SEA to enter politics to restore the lost glory of Ajaokuta’s political landscape.
Historically, many representatives from Ajaokuta have had the opportunity to serve at the governmental level, wielding power and influence, yet they have often failed to deliver meaningful benefits to the community. This backdrop prompted the need to rallied behind a leader like SEA, a prophetic administrator, skilled entrepreneur, a transformative leader and generous benefactor to cleanse the political waters of Ajaokuta.
The support SEA received from the people was not just appealing, it was highly protective, he was jealously supported to an extent the people ensured he won 90% of the votes across all polling units in Ajaokuta, ultimately securing victories in 12 out of the 14 wards of the Local Government Area.
Today, Ajaokuta has experienced a transformative touch in critical areas such as empowerment, security, social amenities, and job creation. While there is still work to be done, particularly in the area of infrastructure, SEA has wisely and strategically concentrated his efforts in making Ajaokuta an industrial hub.
SEA has collaborated with His Excellency Ahmed Usman Ododo, the Kogi State Governor, to realize this vision, many companies are already situated in Ajaokuta, notable among others is the five LNG plants that was recently launched. It is evident that industrialization paves the way for comprehensive infrastructure development, and not just that both local and foreign investor will be attracted to Ajaokuta LGA in no distant time.
In conclusion, those who refer to SEA as a developmental warrior are correct, those who call him the lord of empowerment are also right. Some see him as a champion of agriculture for his initiatives in that sector, while others liken him to an ATM machine for his generosity towards his constituents. He is also recognized as an educational champion for his multimillion naira education grants.
Conversely, his opponents, yet to recover from the pain of their severe defeats, label him a failure. This dichotomy reflects his elephantine nature how one perceives him often depends on their vantage point. The good people of Ajaokuta describe him based on the positive impact he has made, while detractors and some traitors within our party, threatened by his growth, attempt to tarnish his image using miscreants as pawn to promote despicable buisenesses.
SEA has since maintained unapologetic focus, the criticisms from his detractors reveal their inability to adapt to the new political landscape SEA has forged. Their negative narratives often stem from jealousy and fear of his continued success, leaving them to describe him from a position of threat rather than admiration.
