IN PRAISE OF HASSAN OMALE
Gone are the days when leaders tread with conscience and are mindful of accountable stewardship. Gone is the era when leaders commit to general will and ensured better living conditions for the rest of the masses simply because it is their right to be so provided. In these times of self -serving leadership, finding one man who holds himself conscientiously accountable to the people while wielding power is akin to discovering an oasis in a desert. There is such a man in Honourable Hassan Omale. For so long politicians always eat their cake and have it because of the unfortunate shortness of memory or so has come to be the reasoning.
Another factor that adds to their convenience is the elections time political largesse with which they blur our sense of proportion, our judgments and of course, taint our conscience. As this gloomy and horrifying state became the lot of our existence, we are soon led to the threshold beyond which we can no longer tolerate the insensitivity of politics without representation. And above all avarice-based and self-serving leadership. This is no small matter because the stink of the rotten politics where a select clique of community elders without integrity get their stable allowance for being what they are and doing what they do while the rest of us are treated to unconscionable amount of suffering. This state of affair s cannot escape reactions. As inghams would say, you can slam one manhole cover shut, but the force of the sewage will push up somewhere else. People began to realise the self-mockery and futility of the old ways. People began to explore various option including political apathy and antipathy, which way to go? Apathy, the evils stay and we suffer both the direct and indirect repercussions.
Antipathy, we take notice and choose a reaction pattern. We did a leadership evaluation and realised that we are greatly disadvantaged. Our leaders seemed to have their genius for inactivity developed to a very high point. They exuded a grim, determined, alert inactivity which targets absolutely appalling results of infrastructural decay, moral and social wretchedness and perpetual enslavement of the mass of the people. This philosophy of leadership in my community smacks of a conspiracy of the political class to create a social dualism which partitions the society into a wretched class of Rankayadede sayers and another glorious class of their beholders. It is our quest for a better political order that has given Hassan Omale, member, House committee on Appropriation, and the Representative of our constituency (Ankpa/Omala/ Olamaboro) the prominence, admiration and loyalty he enjoys today in the constituency and beyond.
The popularity of Hon. Omale and the goodwill bestowed upon him across his constituency derived from his flexibility, dynamism and resilience in keeping with his current political circumstances of Kogi State. Leaning on nuance and pragmatism rather than stridency and principle, Omale has continued to conduct himself with rigour, transparency and steadfastness while ensuring that his representation gains the desirable dividends for his constituents. Omale, indeed, is a representative of his people.
His concern, inputs and lobbing in the house are only dedicated to serving the cause of his people. This is a big change from the days past. Omale has his foot soldiers going round the wards of the constituency to see which problems need fixing. The amazing aspect of Hon. Omale politics is his grassroots involvement. If it’s fasting, sallah or xmas celebration, he is there to share and add to the fun. If its funeral he is there to condole, if it is health related, he pays the bills. If it is fundraising, he is a contributor. He misses nothing and contributes into everything of his constituency that comes to his notice. His re-invention of leadership and democratic representation has brought us to the dawn of a new era. It has jostled and jolted our interests in politics and government. It is for this singular reason that we are taking the time to thank this man who has made the difference in our lives. Franchis Monday Adejoh, Omala Local Govt Area, Kogi State