Katagum: In search of its senator and rep members
No doubt if they are running away from their constituency because of the issue of political thuggery, which becomes common among our unemployed youth and or seeing politics as a personal investment, through which they enrich themselves, and fulfil their long time unfulfilled ambitions. And for either of the two, they are wrong. It prompted […]
No doubt if they are running away from their constituency because of the issue of political thuggery, which becomes common among our unemployed youth and or seeing politics as a personal investment, through which they enrich themselves, and fulfil their long time unfulfilled ambitions. And for either of the two, they are wrong.
It prompted me to write this piece when we were with Member of State House of Assembly representing Azare/Madangala, Baba Abubakar Sulaiman, on Saturday 16th June, 2012, on the issue concerning Katagum. He was complaining, ‘You know our problem in Katagum is that, despite the fact that we have Deputy Governor, Senator, and Member Federal House of Representatives I, as a youngest of them, am only the true representative of Katagum people.’ He confidently added, ‘I attend, listen and bring possible solution for them and my monthly salary is just 360,000 naira- whose people’s complaints are multiplied many times. As at now I have six projects on progress. Can you imagine? Why can’t they intervene?’ Having heard this from the little horse’s mouth- whose efforts gone beyond that of giant Elephants (Senator and Reps), made me felt shame.
The discussion with Baba Suleiman also reminded me of our late former Senator, Bashir Mustapha, who in addition to always being with people on weekends, in less than two years initiated projects which worth millions of naira. They included: Azare water construction projects, facilitated the coming of GSM companies to Azare, Jama’are, Shira/Yana, Giade and Gamawa local governments, distributing fertilizer to our farmers and renovation of classrooms in some primary schools.
Despite the fact that our past immediate Reps, Hon. Auwalu Abdu Gwalabe, representing Katagum Federal Constituency, didn’t make any project for the community, no matter how little is it, but he was always attending to people, that was why he has been popular in the constituency. People refused to vote for him because he contested under PDP platform, ‘now that present CPC’s Auwalu Saleh is found worst than PDP’s Auwal Gwalabe’, saying most of the people in the constituency.
A government has in its hierarchy three tiers including Executives, Judicial and Legislatives; each with its role to play different from and answerable to one another. The Legislative tier which includes Senators and House of Representatives is where ideas (bills) that may or may not, become law are introduced and debated. If a bill is agreed upon by both houses of the legislature it is passed and then forwarded to the chief executive for their signature. If it is signed it becomes law. That might be the reason why they are called ‘law makers’.
Therefore for one to be voted in to legislative seat, first of his/her responsibility is to always interact, intermingle and listen to the people’s complaints, comments, wishes and aspirations with responding ears; and help them get solutions. Legislative arm of government is very vital in the sense that, even executive arm- who are perceived to be the top among all in Nigeria, must first obey what legislative arm asked it of. If that is the case, tell me, how can we in Katagum let our legislators abuse the very good chance we have to participate in Nigerian governance, which lacks many people’s participation?
The politics of Katagum needs to be changed and I am sure we are the tools of changing. That is why I choose this medium to call the attention of our Senator and Reps to get back home for their first mandatory duty; otherwise we shall know where to cast our votes next time.
Aboki wrote from Dr Kabir Umar Street, Azare, Bauchi state