By joshua 
2023-Ankpa/Olamaboro/ Omala Federal Constituency: Time not to settle for the average.
By Sunday Sanni Atabak
As the 2027 General Election draw closer, the need for men of good conscience to commence in earnest a search for credible men and women that will represent their collective destinies in the National Assembly cannot overemphasized.
Ankpa Federal Constituency in Kogi State, as old as it is, has not been so lucky to have had an above average performances of its representatives in the green chamber, need a more comprehensive search for credible individual loaded with antecedents of selfless service to the constituency and humanity.
The search for an acceptable representative with the capacity, wouldn’t be a problem to find as Mr. Musa Omata Stephen, a son of the constituency, succinctly challenge political leaders across all the divides to beam their searchlights on competence, antecedents and a representative that will be accessible.
Presently, the area is lucky to by reason of ratings in the Green Chamber occupy an exalted office amongst the Principal officers.
Rt. Hon. Abdullahi Ibrahim, aka Halims, grassroots politician has done what Napoleon cannot do, trying to score an average, but in the opinion of others, not a too good performance.
While democracy allows for equal level playing field, it is important to begin to look far and wide, if need be select from amongst other gladiators inward with the capacity, by allowing the best represent the district.
Many are already showing interest. The number is countless. The question to ask is what is new that they will they be bringing to the stable in the coming years.
It is not going to be a distraction to begin to look inward and far for a worthy representation. 2027, will also not be business as usual. Nigerians, nay, Kogites and Ankpa Federal Constituents are more wiser now.
The argument should go beyond political affiliation. Sense of entitlement. It will interest us to know that 2027 will be a different game as there is already an indication that Constituencies will be bringing their best.
Again, Nigerians are now more wiser, not with the opportunity given to the All Progressives Congress between 2016 and now, which has seen the poverty level of Nigerians rise beyond the roof top, to the extent that the middle class has been extinguished from the nation’s lexicon. So it is going to be a different scenario.
I still believe there are men and women who irrespective of religious and political inclination will serve and make the Ankpa Federal Constituency an envy with careful and precise selection process, not by forcing a candidate on them.
Yes, men like Ambassador Isaac Onuh, Hon. Umar Yahaya and maybe Comr. Onuh Edoka are been suggested to be in the race, though none of them have openly made their intentions public. But it is in the public spaces that there supporters are already building up for or against.
I think that among the class of men being suggested, the former Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress NLC, Kogi State Council and now the Special Adviser of Labour Matters, Comr. Onuh Edoka may seem to have what it takes to step into the ring, certainly he will make the difference for the people. There is however still the need to be thorough and look beyond the face value.
That Ankpa Federal constituency needs a man of courage and boldness to be the voice of the people in the next dispensation cannot be over-emphasized.
Without mincing words, Comr. Edoka and other touted as possible gladiators may have built trust and confidence, the Frontline gladiator has remained untainted even amidst a society where people get carried away by the paraphernalia of office, is what stands him out maybe by reasons of his comradeship.
Ankpa Federal Constituency is rich and has solid men who can look at the pecuniary of what the office offers to once again bring to limelight a district that to me has remained the sleeping giant.
That our schools, health institutions, primary infrastructure like good roads in the constituency are in shambles, should be the basis for which supporters should agitate for quality representative.
There is no doubt today that any keen observer of the development in Ankpa Federal Constituency, made up of Ankpa, Olamaboro and Omala LGAs, will definitely agree that since the advent of the nation’s current democracy, the area has not had a fair effective representation when juxtaposed with other districts in the country and in the state.
This is the reason why it has become expedient for patriotic indigenes of the constituency to begin a thorough and sincere search for who represent the constituency in 2027.
While it is fair to say that past representatives from the constituency may have done their best without mincing words, when compared with the best other areas have paraded, Ankpa Federal constituency no doubt lags behind.
It is today a reality that the lackluster performances by politicians and representation in the past dispensations, has no doubt raised the bar that the next dispensation is said to be one that will be a defining moments, as constituencies would no doubt be fielding their best eleven, and Ankpa Federal Constituency should not be left behind in the search for what many think should be the best irrespective of political divide.
Indeed the convergence of opinions pointing to Comr. Onuh Edoka and others to serve the people of Ankpa Federal Constituency should be made broader for more men.
The time to begin to look at men described as having brought to bear courage, resilience and outspokenness in the fight for the common man, particularly, the workers, vulnerable and lowly class people should form their choices.
Without overstating the obvious, men like Halims, Edoka, Umar, Onuh amongst several others can be the talk of the people, regardless of such men, the one who is most successful and an accomplished fighter for equity and justice when juxtaposed with his stand to speak to authority, and in ensuring that in the face of the powers that be, trampling and muzzling the ordinary man and has remained unwavering in agitation, should be the man to watch out for.
For many which I also align myself to their argument, is a need for a representative for a federal constituency, rich in human and natural resources, but yet to have attained its potentials.
The Ankpa Federal constituency needs to have a man of courage, who can agitate for the people by being outspoken, a quality that has been lacking over the years.
Though a silent performer and a formidable force to reckon with when it comes to negotiating for the people, many are of the views that for Comr. Edoka, Yes a successful labour leader, the time to step out even though many say he has never been a politician shouldn’t be an issue.
After all, professional politicians were never born. Having an exemplary representative amongst genuine crusaders, should be what should endear the next Representative to the hearts of the people, should not be compromised.
For the labour sector in Kogi State just like it is in Nigeria as a whole, it is right to say that it was the untireless efforts of Edoka, a crusader, labour strategies, one who believes in fighting the worthy causes of workers that has made the sector in Kogi State to still remain a solid rock of Gibraltar.
It is painful that Ankpa Federal Constituency, an area that has the potentials of being the food basket of Kogi State is now a shadow of itself. It is unfortunate that in the first and second republic, the constituency that produced the best representation is now a laughing stock. It is more worrisome that the advantage of the area producing top academics, scholars, administrators over time, has now become a mirage.
As a labour leader, who has carried the burden of the Kogi Workers in the last couple of years, he has been a selfless leader, sacrificing his comfort and overtures that would have made him rich, stands Comr. Edoka out.
This is reason why the call to have him, to speak for the people of Ankpa Federal Constituency should now begin to be a strong priority by well meaning citizens.
According to Josiah Gilbert Holland, “a time like this demands men whom the lust of position does not kill, men whom the spoils of elective office cannot buy. Men who possess opinion and a will. Men who have honour. Men who will not lie. Men who can stand before a demagogue and damn his treacherous flattering without winking. Strong men, sun crowned who live above the fog in public duty and a private thinking. In Ankpa Federal Constituency, Comr. Onuh Edoka is such a man.
While to many, the story of Ankpa Federal Constituency is all about Lamentations, with the area now relegated to the background, it is in the opinion of many that once the right man emerges, those tales would become testimony and a new song.
It is now a fact of history when viewed against his positive impact that Comr. Edoka is a considered as a comrade with no barriers. Has walked tall to success, with the thinking by majority that he should be dragged into what many term, the murky waters of politics, to come and make the difference.
Comr. Edoka’s lofty ambition to conquer greater heights in ensuring that Kogi workers, their families and dependents get what is their rightful dues, speak the minds of Kogi people, has pleased the people and now to his advantage, reasons why it is therefore not out of place to begin to look in the direction of Comr. Edoka.
Having proven to be a leading light, a leader who has led by example and good deeds, for Comr. Edoka, it is now expedient to begin to rethink new platforms outside the labour union that would help improve on the lives of people of his Federal Constituency.
Looking at his steadfastness and uncompromising leadership style which is about the people and their welfare, that Comr. Edoka’s loyalty to the cause of the down trodden has been consistent, makes him a man worthy of emulation, and should be encouraged to look into other areas that he can best serve his people.
Therefore as 2027 inches closer, while it is important to salute the firmness, industry, justice, forthrightness and above all humility, courage, philanthropic gestures and generosity of the man in the lead of who serves the people, appeal to the people, that having such a fellow represent Ankpa Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives would no doubt afford the opportunity to continue to drink from his reservoir of selfless service and all round development which his representation will certainly attract.