By Sidi Abdullahi Lere
Democratic ideals and principles determines what a democrat can achieve either as elected, appointed or represented. This explains why democracy the world over, has always been a source of strength and weakness to the people wherein it provide succor and opportunities to the governed or become a source of abject poverty and penury to them. The situation has always been mixed experiences: vast and varied cum sweet and sour.
In Lere Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, the situation is the same. It has been a a myriad of sweet and sour experiences since the re-emergence of democracy in 1999. However, with the ascension of the unassuming, soft spoken, simple but sophisticated Ahmed Munir to the exalted House of Reps seat to represent Lere Federal Constituency, the situation has theatrically changed to that of mellowest experiences. The impact of this Honourable Member has been positively unprecedented. We now have a justifiable reasons to welcome the election of this young, energetic, and responsive representative.
Ahmed Munir is not only making us proud with his eloquent and incisive contributions on the floor of the hallowed Green Chamber but is also proving to the world that the Nigerian youth can be as insightful and exemplary as to provide effective leadership. He has been unequivocal in responding to the needs of his constituents. To the amazement of his constituents, he, it was who the Hon Speaker of the House, Rt Hon Tajudeedn Abbas referred to as a “passionate Member who drew a fantastic, elaborate and well-articulated roadmap for his Committee” (House Committee on Commerce) and urged all Honourable Committee Chairmen of the House to “copy from his template”. This is not only astonishing to all the people of Lere Federal Constituency and Kaduna State but is undoubtedly a source of pride and satisfaction that the good people of Lere did not vote a bench warmer this time around. It is now an order of the day to see him being invited to either present a Bill; submit a report or move a motion on the floor of the House, which has not been witnessed from previous members from the constituency since the tenure of Hon Saudatu Sani.
Hon Munir has championed any action that will positively impact his people. As the Chairman of House on Commerce and Member of other vital Committees, he has steered the Honourable House into appropriating funds to execute pro-poor projects to such extent that majority of the nooks and crannies now have one form of project or another. These projects ranges from the provision of clean water to health and educational facilities, road infrastructure and human resources development as exemplified under the various budgets executed. In some cases, he used his personal resources to execute projects such as feeder road bridges just so communities could remain accessible to each other. One can confidently say that the number of projects and programmes that Honourable Munir canvassed and executed for us as his constituents were too numerous.
In fact, the projects and programmes were unprecedented in the history of the Constituency. We have through his courtesy an improved and requisite number of classrooms and teaching aids across most of our primary schools; has secured several pieces of Solar Street Light installed across the major towns in the constituency; he has raised the hopes of several unemployed youth through placements in the Police, Civil Defence and the Armed Forces; and has empowered so many of his constituents through direct cash transfer and distribution of Motor vehicles, Tricycles, Motorcycles and Sewing Machines.
He has offered palliatives through provision of Raw Foods and Fertilizer to a teeming number of farmers to facilitate their farming activity within the last 3 years. He has assisted so many people to perform one of the key pillars of the Islamic and Christian religions through Hajj and pilgrimage to Jerusalem respectively No doubt, a new trait of Muna da abin fada (literally meaning, we have something to show) was coined as his campaign slogan now. An enigma of a political pillar of some sort.
Quite unlike several other Hon Members who sneak in and out of their Constituencies, Ahmed Munir proves to be a very patient listener who listens to the satisfaction of his constituents. This has earned him the reputation and sobriquet of Rakumi da Akala used to mean whenever he is at the constituency, his people takes him to everywhere. In real life, Ahmed Munir traversed the entire nooks and crannies of Lere to familiarize himself with the constituency.
Hon Munir is no doubt a shrewd politician and a humble leader whose humility is almost palpable. He is as eloquent as he is religious who puts everything before the Almighty. He personifies commitment, hard work, and courage as exemplified in his words, “the Nigeria we dream of can come true as long as we have the courage to pursue it, and pursue it we shall, with conviction and courage”. These are words of an organized and focused representative. A generous person whose emotions and sympathetic feelings always draws him towards helping people in need. Hardly had a day passed by without him solving the moral, psychological and financial needs of some of his constituents.
If hard work, commitment and quality representation are to be the yardstick with which the success of a parliamentarian is to be measured, then certainly we will continue to elect this soft-spoken but vocal politician to represent us at not only the National Assembly, but at a more distinctive and exalted positions. Hopefully so!
Sidi Abdullahi writes from Leresidiabdullahi@gmail.com
