Imperatives of politics as service to humanity

However in organized societies, people go to politics to serve the larger society and for development. They also use politics to better the lots of the people and not themselves. For example, the late Osagyefo, Dr Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana had effectively used the vantage position he attained through politics to raise the profile of […]

However in organized societies, people go to politics to serve the larger society and for development. They also use politics to better the lots of the people and not themselves. For example, the late Osagyefo, Dr Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana had effectively used the vantage position he attained through politics to raise the profile of his people in Africa and the world in general. He equally used the same position to support the liberation movements on the continent. In all these, there is no record where Dr Nkrumah acquired unbridled and putrefying wealth.

Here in the home front, the late Premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello and Chief Obafemi Awolowo of blessed memory, both used politics as an instrument to light the path of their people through several ways e.g. free education and selflessness. These had to a large extent helped to propel the people to higher level of awareness and sophistication.

But alas, in the current dispensation, especially from 1999 to date, most members of the political class do not hide the fact that, they are into politics mainly to feather their own nests. It is a common phenomenon that the people of Adamawa particularly, have been oppressed with politics of do or die, in which politicians carry out all sorts of diabolical acts to get to political offices. This they do to afford them the golden opportunity to loot public fund.

Fortunately however, after almost six decades of hustle and bustle from the former Gongola to the present Adamawa State, the picture of the state has begun to emerge of a great personality the country has hid away from his home base to transform areas far away from his roots. He is no other person than Engineer Markus Gundiri FNSE, mni. He was a Director General and thereafter appointed a Commissioner in charge of Agriculture, Water Resources and Rural Development between 1988 and 1991 in the defunct Gongola State. During that period he designed, constructed and commissioned over 500 isolated rural water supply projects. Also to his credit are four regional water supply projects meant to provide potable water for 20 communities with an estimated population of 200,000 in addition to over 250 kilometres of rural feeder roads. Typical of a God-fearing and principled politician, Engineer Gundiri at a press conference prior to the just concluded primaries where he emerged the State’s ACN governorship flag bearer, appealed to his supporters “as a matter of policy and principle, I advice you to always be prayerful as regards whom to vote in the primary election”. He added that “you should not be deceived by your individual mundane interest but the collective interests of people of the state”.

The ACN governorship candidate was appointed Deputy Director and Director in charge of all federal government dams and reservoirs under the Federal Ministry of Water Resources between 1999 and 2009. During this period, he was in charge of monitoring of all ongoing projects in the ministry until his retirement in line with the recent Federal Government Policy. He superintended over the design and construction of the Gurara, Galma, Owiwi, Owena and Kontagora dam projects located in 22 states of the federation for water supply, irrigation and fisheries among other national assignments given him within the period under review.

A professional to the core, Engineer Markus N. Gundiri has devoted his life to the field of engineering where he put in the mandatory years of service before throwing in the towel. From 1975 to date, therefore, our candidate has remained undaunted by the hazards of the profession and is not tired of his tools and drawing table, although he has happily retired from service. His exemplary records of service are replete with his monumental achievements and great legacies which are spread throughout the nooks and crannies of the country.

Beginning from Nigeria Engineering Works, Port Harcourt, where he sojourned for a year between 1975 and 1976, cut his teeth as an engineer of repute and was involved in structural steel designs for warehouses, schools, hospitals and markets, his design and construction projects are spread nation-wide. They extend from Maiduguri, Borno State, to the Upper Benue/Jama’are River Basin Development Authorities in Kano. Here particularly, he was involved in the design, construction and supervision of feeder roads, dams and irrigation projects, culverts and bridges in such diverse areas as Dadin Kowa, Yola, Gassol and Cham between 1976 and 1988.

With this intimidating profile of achievements at the age of 58, no doubt Engineer Markus Gundiri who hails from Hong Local Government of the State is a leader for many a people to follow. He has something new for Adamawa people. He has a new movement and a new purpose. To finish something new, he has definitely left the old order behind, urging the people to embrace this new wind of change.

This is because Adamawa will not be able to get out of the woods under the current dispensation as its resources will continue to be misappropriated for selfish use by the parasitic and predatory political few in our midst. A stitch in time saves nine.

Edward Wabundani, a commentator on public issues can be reached on [email protected]