By Katdapba Yunana Gobum
It is no longer news that Rt Hon Yususf Adamu Gagdi, House Committee Chairman on Navy has joined the fray to become the Speaker, House of Representatives for the 10th Assembly. He joins the race with several other aspirants to slug it out for the position.
Since he was re-elected for a second term to represent Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency during the February 25, 2023 National Assembly election; after which his constituents gave him the nod to go for the coveted office, he has left no one in doubt of his intentions.
It could be recalled that as soon as campaigns were rounded for the elections, the confidence that exuded from his camp was palpable, no wonder, the election that was being awaited was seen as fait accompli.
Everything fell into place, as he convincingly won the contest; thus assuring his constituents that it was proper to pursue other higher interests.
It will be recalled that when Gagdi debuted in 2019, into the national parliament, he ‘quickly got involved in the internal politics at the time, aligned with the “progressives” camp and eventually became the chairman of Navy Committee, a committee ordinarily would not be given to a first timer. He did not disappoint the House; neither did he fail on the home front, as he gave a good account of his capability while he served’.
As soon as the consultations started, it was common knowledge that, he was one whose political adroitness would come to play in several ways. First, he needed the buy-in of a number of stakeholders both in the All Progressives Congress (APC), and in the other parties whose members were going to the National Assembly. The latest consultative visit was on Friday, May 5, 2023 to Governor Mohammed Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa State, where he had gone to share with him his thoughts about the aspiration for the speakership.
His visit to the President on April 30, 2023 was another master stroke and a show of a rounded approach to reaching out to all those who matter. If anything, it was a display of the people’s representative’s determination to achieve his goal.
The manner with which he undertook to visit state governors and other party leaders in states was instructive of a politician whose capacity at selling his candidature and how he has been able bring quality into the advocacy can be described as simply awesome in many respects.
Such approach shows the finest stuff with which he is imbued with over the years running; and it will be long as there are no signs of slowing down soon. As a result of his capacity to seek views and meet with personalities that matter either alone or in group, those he has met are indeed in awe of the tremendous quality of his commitment to the Nigerian project. Above all, he strongly brings to the struggle the ever present quality of commitment and industry associated with patriotic Nigerian youth.
It is what is now counting in his favour; for which he has already received accolades and several recommendations from the high and low in most parts of Nigeria. We have maintained, and it is not for fun, he is a history maker. For his industry and commitment and even more, he is the first legislator in the history of democracy in Nigeria to have had six of his private bills assented to by Mr. President.
All the bills are ones that can engender development as well as provide jobs for hundreds of thousands of young people in Nigeria. If reducing employment is anything to go by, Rt Hon Yusuf Adamu Gagdi has become a recurring decimal in most families having taken off their children and given them jobs in as many organizations as have been possible. This is not to forget the numerous empowerment schemes tailored towards helping people in various fields that could set beneficiaries on the path of profitability and sustenance.
Already, Rt Hon Yusuf Adamu Gagdi has made a promise: I want to be a Speaker for the Nigerian people. I don’t want to be a regional Speaker. God willing I will be a Speaker for the Nigerian people irrespective of tribe, religion. I will be saying that my primary responsibility is to add value to the people of the country.
‘The qualities that I will expect from the next Speaker are capacity, sincerity, honesty and commitment. I want to see a just Speaker, one that will protect the interest of the people of all the geopolitical formations in Nigeria irrespective of population and what have you’.
Such capacity and credibility can only be exhibited by one who knows his onions and is ready to give more of such service to the nation for a long time to come. It can be safely said that one of the reasons he got the nod for his second term is the amount of work he did for Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency. It can be argued that no other representative has exhibited commitment in the provision of quality service as he has done in the last four years. Again, that in itself is another record being set by him for giving a good account of his capacity.
Throughout the length and breadth of the communities that make the federal constituency, a compendium of what is been executed are, without doubt eye-popping as they convey in detail the quality of representation they have been given by the man who, today is the top contender of the office of Speaker.
Having been close to the power block in the House in the last four years; for which he has given a good account of that relationship. It is safe to conclude that the ropes are familiar to him and would serve him well should he be given the levers of power by his colleagues on the day of proclamation in about 40 days to come. As things stand, Gagdi stands on the threshold as the next good thing to happen, despite mounting pressures by the Fred Agbedi’s Greater Majority, which is insisting on contesting the positions of Speaker and Deputy Speaker by opposition parties.
Realizing his reach, groups, individuals and civil society organizations have spoken variously why Gagdi is suitable for the position. There are also several groups or caucuses which have emerged in the House since the general elections were concluded in February 2023 daily consulting to arrive at satisfying all the sensibilities of the moment; which seek to unite all parts of the country together.
Interestingly, some of his colleagues have spoken widely about his capacity for the position. David Umar who will represent Kachia/Kagarko in Kaduna State in the 10th Assembly understands the trajectory of the man who is gunning to become Nigeria’s Speaker. Umar was quoted as saying: Nigeria’s young people represented the present and future Nigeria, but noted that the demographics of political leadership in the country do not represent this reality.
He asked further: What is the part of the youth in the political leadership calculation? Where is the place of the youth in our democracy? Is it only as legislative and media aides?
’The answer is made available by Hon David Umar almost immediately in favour of the top contender: Experience is not about years spent in parliament without results; it is about having the knowledge of how to use your office to better the lives of Nigerians as Gagdi has done’.
But above all, it is being argued that there are some lawmakers who were more experienced than Gagdi in parliamentary business, because he was going for his second term was not tenable. It is on record that he has surpassed those lawmakers in legislative functions in just four years of representation. What better evidence could there be other than the enormous capacity he has displayed with abundant results to boot in the House?
Gagdi’s intentions if he wins the race are well documented in a note he aptly titled: One Nation, Forward Together, he offers copiously what he wants to achieve: For the tenth National Assembly, beyond considerations and bills, motions and resolutions, our highest obligation will be to provide the arena necessary for the impassioned yet civil debates and constructive engagements required to answer this fundamental question’. That, ‘for us in Nigeria, the great unresolved question that continues to unsettle our republic that stands in the way of us reaching for the stars, is this-what does it mean to be a Nigerian?’
As recent as April 28, 2023, while inviting critical stakeholders and supporters to official campaign launch for the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives which was held yesterday at the Congress Hall, Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, Gagdi had stated: ‘The legislature has a strategic role in ensuring the success of our democracy. If we live up to this responsibility, we will retain the faith and confidence of Nigerian people in the democratic project, and we will have their support to embark on critical, long overdue reforms to the politics, governance and structure of our country. In this election as Speaker, I believe that my personal and political history, legislative experience, and achievements in office put me in good stead to meet and exceed the Nigerian people’s high expectations for this 10th House of Representatives.’
With the array of guests at the May 6, 2023 (yesterday’s event), which had Prince Dapo Abiodun, Governor of Ogun State as special guest, it is instructive to state that a statement was made. The manifesto he presented speaks against the backdrop of a man who is well prepared to lead his colleagues during one of the most challenging periods of the country’s political history. Certainly as it has been stated, if ‘we must have a leadership that recognizes the importance of the moment’; such will ‘rise to the occasion as it demands’.
Even though the North Central zone has not yet been officially given the nod to produce the Speaker, however, the point has been canvassed: It is the only zone which had tasted the speakership position for just three months (October to December 1983). The fact that the All Progressives Congress was yet to be decided is not enough to stop aspirants from gaining the support of the members and indeed of Nigerians.
The North Central zone is indeed an asset in more ways than one for the ruling party. In the last eight years, the states have produced governors twice; and therefore nothing can be any better than to compensate the zone with a plum office as that of the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Should it be zoned to North Central zone, the two major members that would slug it out are Ahmed Idris Wase and Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, who are both from Plateau State.
The names of the other gladiators have received mention variously. One thing is certain; for which he wants Nigerians to know: The tenth House of Representatives can be the engine room of innovation and transformative governance. It can be a legislature that reflects the best possibilities of nationhood, a place where men and women who believe in the worthy cause of Nigeria can, with character and courage, wisdom and humility confront our most significant national challenges’.
