2015: Whither Manzo: Senate or Jalingo Govt House?

A member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) he is currently Chief of Staff to the President of the Senate and acts as the brain box of the office, an ideas man who synchronizes and aggregates opinions and views, sieve the chaff from the grain before making informed decisions.Senator Manzo has in the last three […]

A member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) he is currently Chief of Staff to the President of the Senate and acts as the brain box of the office, an ideas man who synchronizes and aggregates opinions and views, sieve the chaff from the grain before making informed decisions.
Senator Manzo has in the last three and half years managed the office of the President of the Senate with its associated responsibilities smoothly.
Daily, he oversees the operation of Special Advisers, Special Assistants and other legislative aides of the Senate president as well as manages the interrelationship between and among the various units of the office.
When he himself was Senator, Manzo championed the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2008, National Security Enhancement Bill. 2008, Bill for the amendment of the Psychiatric Hospital Management Board Act, University of Abuja College of Medicine, Mental Health and free Medical centres as well as sponsored a motion on ‘Global Credit Crisis and its impact on Nigeria’, among others.
As Nigerian Ambassador to Israel and High Commissioner to Cyprus between 2004 and 2007, Manzo strengthened and opened new vistas of bilateral relationship between Nigeria and the host nations. His excellent performance as envoy earned him the ticket to the Senate in 2007.
A proficient surgeon of a very high repute Senator Manzo has in the mean time dropped the stethoscope, a call to save lives, and has instead heeded a different call to serve the larger number of people through politics.
Before his foray into the murky waters of Nigerian politics, Manzo was a medical practitioner and Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, Specialist Hospital, Gwagwalada, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Consultant Surgeon, Commissioner for Health, Taraba State and member state’s Executive Council, among others.
So as the 2015 general elections gather momentum, the million naira question is: what’s in it for Anthony Manzo? Political pundits have suggested that Manzo is aiming to be governor of Taraba State. There are indications however that Manzo is considering a return to the Senate.
For him, the Taraba North PDP Senatorial ticket may be just for the asking. But is it? The incumbent Senator A’isha Alhassan jumped the PDP ship to pitch camp with the All Progressives Congress (APC); she is reported to have her sights set on the governor’s seat. In a way, Senator Manzo is a crossroads, and many eyes are him to see how he proceeds.

Mohammed Musa, Jalingo