Date: 2014-11-17

Very soon, the stage will be set for party primaries and subsequently the general election to usher in newly elected leaders. Why it is necessary to test new set of politicians with prospects to bring the changes the electorates have all been yarning for, it is however imperative for the electorate to remain resolute in sticking to some of the present occupiers of different positions owing to their political prowess and uneven transformation their presence bring to their immediate communities. 

Among those contestants that deserve to return to their current positions is Honourable Zakari Mohammed, member, representing Kaiama- Baruten Federal constituency.

The man Zakari is an astute politician whose landmarks in the polity of the State and the country at large is unquantifiable. Aside being the Chairman House committee on media and public affairs (the voice of the entire House of Representatives), he is also a member of various committees of the parliamentary members we have had from that constituency.

Even in the entire Kwara North, Honourable Zakari Mohammed if you wish Mai’jamaa as he is fondly called by his countrymen, distinguished himself as a true representative of his people. A young, dynamic and charismatic politician who uses his position as the Chairman House Committee on media and public affairs to project the image of both Kaiama and Baruten local government, the very constituency which he represents. If there is one reason one should be proud of him, it is the fact and the audacity with which the people of his constituency proudly point at him and say: “this is my representative” whenever he addresses the media on the resolutions of the House.

Prior to his membership of house of representative, most House of representative members we had from that constituency, were known to be “I-support-Honourables”. But his arrival into the House has created in us, the feeling of true representation, an assurance of brighter political future and the vibrancy of true leadership that a people in a country like Nigeria always yearn for. 

Little were known about Kaiama and Baruten, but for the political proficiency and ingenuity of Mai’jamaa a lot has now been known and discussed about these remotes but  great local governments, this is because there is nowhere or no time where Mai’jamaa will be discussed without mention of his constituency.

Given the existing arrangement, be it documented or assumed, if not all, majority of the people from Kaiama- Baruten Federal constituency expect an aspirant notwithstanding their political affiliation to emerge solely from Baruten local government with Kaiama people being exempted. Going by this arrangement therefore, if at all my compatriots from Baruten will agree with me, Honourable Zakari Mohammed remains the best candidate in the interest of both Kaiama and Baruten. This is not unconnected with his wealth of experience he gathered in the house and the national popularity he attracted which will cumulatively translate to powerful political influence capable of pulling development to the constituency when elected for another term.

We also need to be reminded that “experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you wanted. And experience is often the most valuable thing you have to offer.” 

Hence, if there is anything that should be of matter political concern to the people of Kaiama-Baruten, is to elect a person like Honourable Zakari who have the wherewithal and that possess plethora of political experience and understanding of the Nigerian political system especially at the national level.  It is in relation to this that Senator Victor Ndoma Egba, the Senate Majority leader recently said they need people with experience in the National Assembly; this is owing to the fact that people with experience will impact more on their people and on the polity.

That being said, some pundits, even from Baruten prefer a Kaiama person who had been a member of House of Representative to re-contest, because these pundits believed that Kaiama person who had been there before performed better than Honourable Zakari. What is provoking about those who hold this opinion is that they failed to consider the moral bases of their new thinking and are ignorant of the socio-political confusion their opinion may generate, because when the chips are down, Baruten electorates will vote for a Baruten candidate and vice- versa; they will all say “the devil you know is better than the angel you don’t know.”

  Moreover, I think it is illogical and overtly bias to compare the performance of someone who spent eight years in office and the one who barely spent four years.

One major grudge against Honourable Zakari’s second term bid is his inability to facilitate employment opportunity for the teaming unemployed youths of the constituency. This is just an attempt to ignore national realities, as youth unemployment has become one of the major problems of this administration that affect every constituency of the country not only Kaiama/Baruten alone.

Besides, it is in his effort to alleviate the situation that he recently launched his empowerment scheme where several motor cycles, vehicles among others were distributed to some member of the constituency in order to make them self-reliant. We need also be reminded that you have to belong to the Federal Government party unless your efforts to develop your constituency be sabotaged, this has been the fall out of his decamping to All Progressive Congress (APC). This has even affected the entire Kwara state.

With the expectation that the All Progressive Congress (APC) will form the next government after the next year's general elections, Honourable Zakari remains the best candidate the constituency should have if we sincerely yearn for development. He is young, vibrant, charismatic, experienced and committed to serving his people.

By Salihu Mohammed, Ex-Secretary General, National Association of Kaiama Students