Open letter to Hon Yakubu Shehu Abdullahi

Let me make it clear that my letter is not, in anyway, politically motivated as I don’t belong to any political party. Besides, my future and that of generations yet unborn, so much depend on your representation. This letter is borne out of concern to ensure good representation. Forgive me for any inconveniences it may […]

Let me make it clear that my letter is not, in anyway, politically motivated as I don’t belong to any political party. Besides, my future and that of generations yet unborn, so much depend on your representation. This letter is borne out of concern to ensure good representation. Forgive me for any inconveniences it may cause.

Honourable sir, almost two years since you took an oath to represent us  at the lower chamber but, we the constituents seem not to be recognised beyond election day.

Reports indicate that, so far, you have not moved a single motion, neither have you contributed to a debate during plenary, even at House committee level.

At the onset, we thought it was because you were a neophyte but your counterpart, Hon. Mansur Manu Soro, representing Ganjuwa/Darazo is also a neophyte but is not only performing well but is among the most vibrant members in the House. According to my findings, young Mansur, within one year – from June 2019 to June 2020, was able to present seven bills, despite this being his first time in the House.

I don’t want to believe people ascribing your lack of performance to lack of mastery of language. This is because as someone from communication discipline, I believe communication is not about blowing complicated vocabularies or twisting voice to convey excellence. Once the message is understood, the purpose is served. Hon. Sir, your colleague, Hon. Muhammad Gudaji Kazaure from Jigawa State is well recognized and celebrated for ensuring good representation to his people, despite lack of good command of English language but, nobody can dare say he is not communicating.

Perhaps it’s because you are having a difficulty in conceiving ideas or streamlining them for presentation on the floor of the House. Nobody has a monopoly of knowledge. All you need is to appoint legislative aides who will be serving as your think tank, brainstorming on issues that are connected to your constituency.  According what I have at my disposal, so far, you have been working single-handedly, which I think will not help you to succeed.

Honourable, half the time is almost gone but you still have time to rethink and strategise your style representation with a view to changing the narrative. If this happens, you are welcome.  To us it shall be a glad tiding and to you history will be fair. Election is coming and as it has been with Bauchi people we can’t be predicted but we are observing.

My best wishes!

Sulaiman Maijama’a, Faculty of Communication, Bayero University Kano