As the umbrella body of all registered political party in the country elects HAJIYA ZAINAB IBRAHIM (Aunty Zee)who is presently the national deputy women leader of the All Progressive Congress(APC) as new deputy national chairman a lot is expected from her and this is because since her entrance into the political scene she has shown that she is indeed a round peg in a round hole.
For the Inter party advisory council many political watchers are of the view that her being elected into the executive community of the body is indeed the right foot forward for the council as we prepare for a new round of election in 2027.
Hajia Zainab Ibrahim who was prior to her election as the deputy national deputy chairman was the director of the directorate of women affairs at the national Secretariat of the Inter party Advisory Council defeated some notable politicians who contested against her and this to many was not surprising at the national headquarters of the party in Abuja.The chairman of the electoral committee, Dan Iwuanyanwu, who supervised the process, commended the maturity exhibited by all the aspirants throughout the exercise also supervised by the Independent National Electoral commission(INEC).
Hajia Zainab Ibrahim who was indeed visibly overwhelmed by the confidence reposed on her by members of the Inter party Advisory Council by electing her into one of the sensitive position of the body described the polls as a victory for internal democracy demonstrated by the free, fair and peaceful outcome of the polls, Political party leaders really used the polls of their umbrella body to demonstrate that they can conduct a free, fair, credible, transparent, peaceful and acceptable polls without rancour.
Hajia Zainab Ibrahim who is also known as an apostle of a new type of politics dispensation we have all for a long time yearn for in the country and a reformist is coming into that position with a lot of experience and expectations from both the members of the body and Nigerian in general. The members have spoken loudly and clearly with their votes for her that she is indeed expected to contribute to the continuity of programmes, projects and action undertaken by the body so far with the retention of the Chairman Yusuf Dantalle for another term.
Hajia Zainab Ibrahim who is also known as Aunty Zee is from a renowned and popular political dynasty in Taraba State and presently the deputy national women leader of the ruling APC and also the chairman of Federal medical center, Gombe is the younger sister of the late Mama Taraba. A daughter of a senator whose sojourn with the APC so far has been significant because of the victories she has made possible for the party.
Her victory is a victory for sustainable democracy and development in the IPAC and the nation because it is seen generally as a collective victory and a triumph of hope for a better, greater and brighter Inter party Advisory Council. She is expected to contribute to the regime of more workable initiative for the body. The implementation of the IPAC code which was turned into a binding constitution for all members and the gender balancing intertwining principle will also be her priority to promote inclusivity.
Hajia Zainab Ibrahim is expected to as the deputy chairman contribute toward a renew intensified national intervention through media engagements, poliçy alternatives, stakeholder dialogue and international capacity building programmes to many countries abroad for its members.
With her election into the council it is expected that the next two years will be glorious for the body as they prepare for the next general election in 2027. It is expected that IPAC will in the next two years grow from strength to strength as it collaborate with its critical stakeholders and citizens to build a strong, vehicle, United, equitable, and democratic Nigeria.
We hereby congratulate the political Amazon of our country, Hajia Zainab Ibrahim for achieving this rare feat and we must advise her the attainment of this new height should spur her to go for an elective position in the next general election and probably to the Senate where we know she has the capacity to represent her people very well. An Orator to the core and a woman who has a good command of English and you can listen to her for hours without getting tired.
Let’s not forget that in the build up to the 2023 presidential election, one woman that stood out as an elegant stallion and amazon crisscrossing the length and breadth of the country by road, treading unbeaten paths and braved the odds in security prone areas just to actualize the victory of the President. In the story of Nigerian politics and society, some figures stand out not only for their positions but for the way they define service.
Hajia Zainab Ibrahim has for long stands out to be counted as one of them and has worthily occupied that space. Known severally as Aunty Zee, she has been called a philanthropist, mother and mentor to many. Yet beneath those titles runs a clear philosophy that leadership is about service and public life should be anchored on compassion, discipline and faith.
In a country were politics often inspires cynicism, Hajia Zainab Ibrahim journey often serves as a reminder that influence can be used not just for power but for the good of society.
Hajia Zainab Ibrahim life is marked by a guiding belief:that service to others is the highest calling. Her faith in Allah shaped her approach to politics and philanthropy She often says that power is fleeting. but what endures is the impact one has on the life of others. This belief translates into principles that defines her work. Leadership must show compassion and focus on the vulnerable. Empowerment is more lasting than dependency, so initiatives must give people tools for self sufficiency rather than temporary reliefs, And faith should be the anchor that encourages integrity in public service.
Giving to the less privileged the top for self actualization was her signature initiative in politics, promoting youth development, environmental health and community service. She has also set up the Aunty Zee foundation to support women who were often marginalized in Nigerian, society with skills training and financial aids. This projects reflected her conviction that lasting developments begins in investing in others.
Beyond structured programmes, Hajia Zainab Ibrahim has also used her platform to advocate for cultural changes. She is very vocal about issues like gender based violence, drug abuse among the youths and the erosion of civic values. She argues that Nigerian moral compass must be strengthened if development must be sustainable, she often calls for religious and community leaders to set examples of integrity.
Her voice also resonates throughout the country as a woman leader.
Whether approaching conferences on women’s empowerments or meeting international partners, she blends tradition and modernity in a way that relatively both at home or abroad. Hajia Zainab Ibrahim’s life and work raise a broader question, What does it mean “to be a force for good” in a broader Nigeria of today?. The answer may lie not only in the initiatives she introduced for the good of all but in the values she champions. In a country where trust in leadership is fragile, she insists on the power of integrity. In a culture where short term fixes are celebrated, she pushes for empowerment that lasts.
Her legacy still in the making will likely rest on education, empowerment and ethics. This are the thread that runs through her work from Taraba to Abuja as Nigeria continues to wrestle with the question of identity, governance and justice, figures like Hajia Zainab Ibrahim reminds us that patriotism is not only expressed in politics but in the work of nurturing communities.
Whether mentoring young people, advocating for widows rights or shaping policy in the APC, she has sought to leave footprints of service.
To call her a “Force for good” is not to deny her the complexities of her role in a political family, nor the realities of Nigerian politics. It is rather to recognize a continuous thread in her journey: a belief that life is about lifting others. For a nation still striving to realize it’s promise, that message carries weight.
Hajîya Zainab Ibrahim’s story is ultimately about possibility of one woman, anchored in faith and driven by service can contribute to the national narrative. For the IPAC in Nigeria thanks for choosing the woman who have the will to move you forward.
– Musa Wada, a public affairs, analyst sent this piece from Abuja.
