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By Nasidi Musa Tanimu.
Hon. Umar Gwadobe Maikarfi, a.k.a Double Prince, is a grassroot politician, a home-based mobiliser and one time Assistant Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ward C between 1999-2003. He was a Senior Special Assistant on Youth Empowerment to immediate past Governor Idris Wada.
Hon. Double Prince, as he is fondly call by his followers, contested for PDP House of Assembly ticket at the primaries twice and was narrowly defeated by coming first runners-up twice.
In this interview, the prince turned politician spoke with this reporter on his plans and purpose of vying for the Lokoja 1 constituency House of Assembly seat.
Excerpts:
Why did you want to contest again after you tried and failed twice?
Yes, I am nursing the ambition to contest for the Lokoja 1 constituency despite what you said. You know what happened that led to my the so-called defeat at the last primary election, it was caused by manipulation.
I am out to salvage my people from underdevelopment and marginalisation. I am vying to represent Lokoja 1 constituency to make laws that would better the lives of my people and I want to assure you that I am not only going to clinch the party ticket, I will definitely go to as far as wining the general election as the honourable member representing Lokoja 1 constituency come 2019, Insha Allah.
How do you rate your chances?
Without sounding immodest, I can tell you that my chances of being the party’s choice are very bright. I believe the leadership of our great party would look at the programmes the aspirants present to the people. It is about programmes and not about personality.
I have the support and backing of the masses across the 5 wards that made up the constituency. You will recall that when I went into the primaries twice, there was nothing that was not done by some people to truncate my ambition but I stood my ground until when the primary was manipulated and today it has become a history.
I am convinced that both the leaders and the followers have learnt their lessons from what happened to our party in the last elections. It is the people that would assess all of us and elect the person that will represent them.
I want to appeal to the leaders of our great party to look at the plight of the people of ward C by zoning the Lokoja 1 constituency House of Assembly seat to the area.
If you look at history, it is only ward C agitation that is genuine. For proper analysis, Wards A, E, D and B, has produced lawmakers in Hon Abdulkareem Allah dey (ward A) while Hon Hashim Alhassan Rimi, Hon Sulaiman Babadoko and the incumbent, Rt Hon. Umar Ahmed Imam are from ward D. Late Alhaji Musa Abdullahi and Rt Hon. Umar Buba Jibril from Ward E contested and won. For ward B, who are also clamouring for zoning to their area, it is on record that late Alhaji Ibrahim Alawo contested and won the House of Assembly seat from that ward.
I want to use this medium to appeal to our brothers and sisters from the other four wards on the need to allow ward C, who are currently parading the best aspirants, the chance to produce the next Assembly member that will represent the good people of Lokoja 1 constituency come 2019.
Does PDP have a chance against APC in Lokoja 1 constituency in particular and Kogi state in general?
It is an uncontestable fact that the PDP will definitely carry the day.
People are disenchanted with false claims of achievements. They want concrete achievement and not noise without action. It is our (PDP) programmes against theirs. 2019 will be the time to separate the substance from the chaff. People will, on their own, make an assessment and then judge.
The PDP has come to stay as we will sweep the APC away by using their broom. With the right candidate like Umar Gwadobe Maikarfi, PDP will beat APC in Lokoja 1 constituency hands down.
What plans do you have for the people of Lokoja 1 constituency?
To start with, we will do away with the old ideas that has failed to move Lokoja 1 constituency forward and replace them with new ideas that will ensure growth, progress and massive development of the constituents.
We would involve our youths, women and peasants in act of governance. I believe their full involvement and participation in government would rekindle their trust in my leadership and thus have sense of belonging. This will surely enhance commitment, dedication and patriotism on the side of the people.
Your call to your co- contestants?
I want to call on them, especially my fellow aspirants from ward C, that as the most qualified, experience and a mobiliser, they should withdraw by allowing me to go this time.
We must play the game by the rules by avoiding politics of blackmail and bitterness.
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