Misau/Dambam: On the path to inglorious era

It is lamentable that since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, Misau/Dambam federal constituency is yet to be genuinely represented at the House of Representatives. And it may not be fairly represented in the nearest future. From Bala Basko to Ibrahim Makama, Abubakar Ahmed Garkuwa and now Ahmed Yerima, Misau/Damabam federal constituency has suffered misrepresentation […]

It is lamentable that since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, Misau/Dambam federal constituency is yet to be genuinely represented at the House of Representatives. And it may not be fairly represented in the nearest future. From Bala Basko to Ibrahim Makama, Abubakar Ahmed Garkuwa and now Ahmed Yerima, Misau/Damabam federal constituency has suffered misrepresentation at the lower chambers of the National Assembly.

Basko was absent both at the chambers and at home. Makama poorly represented us at the lower chamber. Garkuwa was by and large a self-serving representative. Yerima was voted to represent us at the House of Representatives but is serving at the Bauchi State House of Assembly.

By interpretation thus, they went to the NASS only for the jumbo salaries and allowances members are paid as well as the privileges attached to the position but not to work towards the development of their constituency. Little wonder therefore, that until recently when Buhari appointed patriotic citizens of Misau/Dambam into key federal government MDAs, there was virtually no federal government presence in the area.

All this is not what is frightening. Rather, it disturbs that in the aftermath of parties’ primary elections ahead of the general elections slated for early next year, the two strongest parties have presented to the electorate two out of them for us to choose from. In other words, we are on the road to the inglorious era.

The PDP presents Ahmed Yerima as its flag bearer. He is the serving representative from Misau/Dambam federal constituency at the NASS who is more concerned with the performance of the Bauchi state governor than his own performance. He has done nothing since 2015 other than fighting the governor.

The APC picked Ibrahim Makama as its candidate. In spite his past record of poor representation at the NASS, Makama got the APC ticket through undemocratic means.

Through quite democratically unacceptable means, his name was submitted to INEC as the party’s flag bearer. This simply means Makama will also go to the lower chambers to dance to the whims and caprices of his master who submitted his name to INEC. If eventually elected, the former police officer will be serving an interest other than that of the good people of Misau/Dambam.

 

Mukhtar Jarmajo, Bauchi.