Lawal Yahaya Gumau is adistinguished senator representing Bauchi south senatorial district in the redchamber. He is a former member of the Bauchi state house of Assembly and a twoterm member of the House of Representatives.
History has it that Gumau is
indeed the luckiest politician in Bauchi state, destined by Almighty Allahwhose luck keeps growing amidst protest of incapacitation, yet he keeps winningelections.Gumau who replaced late SenatorAli Wakili who was a voice not only to his constituents, Bauchi South but to the
northern region as a whole, promised to sponsor a bill that will make PresidentMuhammadu Buhari a lifetime president.The current Senator representingBauchi south, Yahaya Gumau who Served as member of the state house of assemblyand later, member house of representatives and now senator is expected to havebeen better equipped with all the legislative experience.
However, his silent nature isgenerating a lot of concerns not just to his constituents but even thoseoutside the state who are privileged to go through his very rich CV.
Bauchi South will foreverremember the glorious exit of their vocal son who was a mouth piece not just toBauchi South, North East, North but the nation as whole.
The late lawmaker had during hislife time executed many projects which endeared the good people of Bauchi stateto enjoy watching the senate proceedings live because they may likely see himcontributing to national debates, a primary responsibility of all lawmakers inthe world.
The death of this noblepersonality opened another political game in the senatorial district where in2018 rerun election; Senator Yahaya Gumau defeated Dr. Ladan Salihu who is now
the commissioner of information, culture and tourism in Bauchi state.Salihu who is the proprietor ofthe only indigenous radio station in Bauchi (Albarka Radio) was seen by many asa perfect replacement and excellent choice for the seat for been one of thevocal sons Bauchi state has ever produced after the likes of late Tafawa Balewathe golden voice of Africa.
Bauchi South is indeed one of themost complicated to win senatorial district in Nigeria because it is the onlyzone that has the two former governors losing elections to go to thesenate in 2007 and 2015 respectively despite the culture of mighty power andmoney politics that has dominated Nigeria.
Alh.Ahmed Mu’azu, a two termgovernor in the state lost to the incumbent governor of the state, Sen. BalaAbdulkadir Mohammed, CON and in 2015 the same scenario repeated itself whereMallam Isa Yuguda lost woefully to late Sen. Wakili.
These scenarios clearly signaledthat money and power cannot win a senatorial seat in Bauchi South which meansthat should Sen. Lawal Yahaya Gumau has any future political ambition to returnto the senate in 2023 then he must wake up not to fight but to ensure that thegreater work of a senator is indeed his priority.
Furthermore, this also clearlyshows without prejudice that, anyone clamoring to contest afresh or seek areturn to the red chamber must be a dogged fighter not by guns but by ensuringthat he keeps to his words at all times.
Senator Gumau may last longer inpolitics if his political experience is allowed to count in Bauchi South. But it seems the reverse is now the case withthe ongoing agitations due to the manner he has chosen to be silent over anumber of issues.
History will be kind to lateMallam Ali Wakili and posterity will surely judge him well for achieving in hisshort term, the bill/proposal to establish Federal College of Education Dass,the bill to upgrade Nigeria Postal Service(NIPOST) to a world standard courierservices and above all the way and manner he stood to speak on the need toestablished the North East Development commission with his fellow counterpartin the House of Representatives former Speaker Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, amongstothers.
As the chairman House committeeon poverty and social investment, the late senator Wakili empowered a lot ofyouths and distributes starter packs to them. A case in point is thedistribution of computers, Generators and other printing materials for businesscenters and welding and fabrication tools among others.
Apart from distribution of carsto many political associates, the late senator was instrumental in initiatingthe building of hospitals at Sabon layi, Bauchi LGA, at Dakudi town,Alkaleri LGA, Computer Center at GSS Kirfi, Kirfi LGA, Computer center at Dass,Dass LGA and Divisional Police Station and DPO’s residence at Lere, TafawaBalewa LGA among many other gestures that this piece will not capture.
Accountability and transparencyin governance are the twin ingredients missing in most of our today’sgenerational leaders. We are all witness to how ICPC are going round to verifyvarious unexecuted and unaccounted projects across the nation’s constituenciesby the lawmakers.
Many have been asking questionson the whereabouts of senator Lawal Yahaya Gumau in the senate and will be keento see his impact on the people he represents. Many have been clamouring forthe senator to vie for governor under the platform of his ruling APC at thecenter leaving many unanswered questions on whether the senator has fulfilledor started fulfilling the promises he made to his constituents.
The electorates believe thatlegislators need to be rich in language to pave the way for them to speak onthe floor but Nigerian like politicians require confidence of mind to speakbecause all Nigerians are yearning for is quality representation. We have seenHon. Gudaji Kazaure, his style of language and his ability to convey always themessage of Kazaure/Roni /Yan Kwashi Federal constituency in Jigawa state.
Those who sit, laugh and mockedthe Jigawa lawmaker are now the subjects of mockery in both the green and redChambers of the Nigerian National Assembly. Our representatives at both thesenate and house of reps must be accountable beyond media speeches.
The Yan kare muradu (via theirtiny Androids phones) always serves the interest of their paymasters at thedetriment of those who lineup with their PVCs not just to votes but defendtheir votes as well. These helpless electorates have been abandoned by our abledistinguished senator who came on the mantra of change.
Bauchians particularly the goodpeople of Bauchi South are demanding for good representation to tackle theincreasing unemployment rate, lack of access roads particularly the unmotorableMagama-Gumau – Saminaka Feederal roads that passes through the hometown of thedistinguish senator, Scholarship to subsidize the various educational pursuitsof the teaming young constituents who have passion for education, supply anddistribution of transformers to places like Tilden fulani that has been indarkness for quite some time despite huge supports and votes enjoyed by theincumbent senator.
Constructions of hand pump andmotorized boreholes are among many things much needed in Bauchi South at themoment and Sen. Lawal Yahaya Gumau is the person we are lucking up to.
To conclude this piece, it is hoped that these expectations will be giving a special consideration by the Senator himself and his social media protectors who are good in sending snapshot of cars been distributed to favor individuals at the detriment of the entire members of Bauchi South constituents.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect WikkiTimes’ editorial stance.
