Who is afraid of Sen. Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan?
Sen. Ahmad Lawan (APC, Yobe North) is undoubtedly a familiar name in Nigeria’s political circles. His sojourn and valuable contributions in the lower and upper chambers of the National Assembly in the last 16 years have obviously been evidently rewarding to members of his constituency (Bade/Jakusko federal constituency), the state, the North-East Senatorial zone and Nigeria in general.
There is no gain saying that Sen. Lawan has with indefatigable energy and personal resources protected the interest of the constituency. His valuable contributions have always added glamour to Nigeria’s legislative assembly which earned him respect both at home and outside the constituency.
As members of his constituency, we were shocked by the empty, disjointed and pedestrian argument put by one Hashim Ibrahim of no definite address over the presumed sins of the distinguished Senator, which was published in the Daily Trust edition of Tuesday, November 1, 2016.
Actually, Hashim or his sponsors do not deserve any response to give them recognition. And, certainly, Sen. Ahmad Lawan, will not debase himself to stoop down so low to the likes of Hashim.
However, we felt obliged to respond not for Hashim but for the reading public, who may be misled by such uncharitable, unsavoury, incongruous and a concocted barrage of lies, deliberately intended to spite the personality of our respected senator, who has done us proud over the years, representing us in the House of Representatives and the Senate.
The writer claimed that the senator never used his position as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts to empower his people. Perhaps, Sen. Lawan’s crime was not being able to open the doors of the public accounts (resources) for them to steal.
We want to make it abundantly clear that Sen. Lawan has done us, members of his constituency, proud to have emerged unblemished after serving in that capacity. We are proud that his voice remains one of the most respected in the 8th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The writer claimed he (Sen. Ahmad) was hardly seen in nor doing anything to his constituency. For lack of space and time, we will limit our argument to 2016. During one of his visits to Gashua, there was a fire inferno in which some traders lost their shops, he personally donated N5 million and rushed back to Abuja to secure relief materials from NEMA to the victims.
NEMA’s Director General, Alhaji Sani Sidi, personally visited Gashua in the company of Sen. Lawan to donate building materials and food items to the victims.
In a bid to encourage youth to pursue advance studies, the Sen. supported 500 candidates from Karasuwa, Nguru, Machina, Yusufari, Bade and Jakusko local government areas with Direct Entry forms for admission into universities, polytechnics and Colleges of Education. He also promised to pay tuition fees for everyone that secured admission.
Similarly, when communities in Jakusko Local Government were affected by flood, Sen. Ahmad personally visited individual victims and donated N5 million. All these are in addition to several employment opportunities secured to members of the constituency. What is more of a better representation than what we have in Distinguished Sen. Ahmad Lawan?
It is, therefore, absurd reading someone say the senator does not have good relationship with community leaders while the emirate honoured him with the revered title of ‘Dan Masanin Bade’ and was also appreciated with the title of ‘Garkuwan Talakwa’, meaning the Shield of the Masses for protecting the interest of people by Muryar Talakawa sociocultural organization. The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association also honoured him with the title “Lamido Pulako”.
Suffice it to mention here that in 2011, farmers and fishermen insisted on contributing money to pay for his re-election nomination form to which he declined. This was to demonstrate their appreciation for his firm and consistent stand against the proposed construction of Kafin Zaki dam which obviously has devastating consequences on the downstream communities in his constituency. He also donated 50 water pumps to cattle herders in the constituency.
The writer claimed Sen. Ahmad habours governorship ambition. Now, in spite of the fact that political aspirations are legitimate ambitions, there was never a forum where the Senator indicated interest to run for the governorship of the state . However, it does not need any emphasis to say Sen. Lawan is most qualified to contest for and be the governor of Yobe State.
Therefore, if Kashim and his sponsors, are nursing any ambition, this should be pursued without malice nor casting of aspersions on the hard-earned reputations of our dear senator, who has laboured several years to build and maintain.