Senator Shaaba Lafiagi should stay at the right side of history

By: Ali Faagba

 Senator Shaaba Lafiagi should stay at the right side of history 

Before I delve into the recent argle-bargle between Senator Muhammed Shaaba Lafiagi, the senator representing Kwara North Senatorial district, and The Media, let me first issue a disclaimer of sorts. Although the squabble leave many questions to be answered, it is important to make clear some cogent points. 

The Media is a citizen oriented platform which is very liberal, social and open to report and opinions from citizens across Nigeria. The intention of the organization is not to demote or promote any organization or individual but to instill commonsense into a country whose culture of journalism is becoming quite disheartening, bias-reeking and inhumane. Similarly, it must be noted that all the statements published on the website were received directly from the citizens and the Senator himself, with all records still intact. We therefore take deep satisfaction in making topical issues of common concern clear to the public, without the slightest bias. 

Having made that clear, when the team of The Media received the complaints about the uncompleted and equally dilapidated drainage, whose construction was overtaken by Senator Shaaba Lafiagi, from the people of Kuchita area Lafiagi Ward 1, our first action was to call the Senator to ask his own side of the story. In a telephone conversation with the Senator, the Senator made his derogatory statement of denouncing his people as "ingrates" who did not appreciate his good work, as could be seen via this link https://goo.gl/rFpngz. To set a standard, the Senator made the brazen comparison between himself and others who received money but made no attempt to use it for their constituents. He considers his uncompleted project a good line of dichotomy that distinguishes him from others.

Well, a one eyed man will always be a king in the land of the blinds. It is sad, however, that the Senator has changed a great deal today. Unlike the better by far posture he projected while he was still an aspirant, the Senator has suddenly become comparable.  One still remembers how the Senator stood out with his agenda as an aspirant. We remember how the Senator through his Facebook page boasted of his achievements and prayed his records to speak for him, and also made his grand promises. Among many things he invoked to the mind of people then are:

• -Extension of Lafiagi electrification covering Local Government Secretariat Area, New Layout (Old Sudan Interior Mission Area) connecting new network to 500KVA Supplier.
• -Extension of Lafiagi existing network from Mayaki traditional ward to Nagun Areas. 
• -Completion of Construction of 33KV Network To The Following Villages By Sen. Shaaba Lafiagi: 1. Eminpa 2. Essanzhi 3. Patiko 4. Gbaguta 5. Eyeforogi Tifin 6. Emi Worogi 7. Mawokpan. 
• REHABILITATION AND EXTENSION OF TSARAGI TOWNSHIP ELECTRIFICATION.  -Extension And Rehabilitation Of Existing Shonga Electrification Network Including The Following: (a) Shonga Township to Sabo Yahaya Village. (b) Shonga Township to Water Cooperation. (c) Shonga Township to Ogudu Road Area.

From the foregoing, it becomes clear to the Senator, as to any sane man, that it is the horse of good records from the past and former achievements that galloped the Senator to the office he now holds. It is therefore saddening that the same Senator now considers his people adjunct to this society. For the Senator, there were many promises with his Legislative interest as: petroleum downstream, Education appropriation, Marine works, National Security, Senate Service and aviation and providing his people with masses-oriented project has not recorded any successful project till this moment. 

All these were the chief prop upon which the Senator leaned to get to the National Assembly. During periods like this, one wonders why the Facebook page hitherto used by the Senator had suddenly went dormant? How many times has the Senator given it a thought to engage his constituency through public assembly or hosts of platforms available for such, as we often see his counterparts, most notably the Senate President and Senator Sheu Sanni, do in the public domain? If the Senator is toeing the right path, the complaints made to The Media should not have got to the Media in the first place, but this further externalizes the problem of negligence from our leaders that our country men have to grapple with. 

Meanwhile, it will be instructive at this junction to advise the Senator to seek redress and abandon his provocative words as well as negligence of his constituency. The Media hereby assure the Senator that making reparation is still not too late. Through civic engagement -with his constituents, accountability, creating of cordial climate between his office and his constituents, carving a niche to see to complaints from his people and frequent engagement with the public and real investment on social welfare, the entire story will change. The road network found in many of those rural areas are not encouraging. It is a slap on the face that a Senator of Nigeria has a home in such area. We urge the Senator to take the interest of his people at heart to avoid public distrust. For the fear of God and the next election, today is the time to start doing the job. Nigerians are fast becoming aware of their power at the polling booth. It is evident in the current spirit of democracy sweeping across West Africa and it is possible again. 

The Media and other organizations like ours have established a system of thought that will prevail. Many more people will be enlightened and our leaders will soon be queried by their constituents one after another. When individuals disappear and plunge into abyss or die, ideas will never die. It will be our joy to see the Senator act fast and start writing another story which we may join hands with to cite him as a good leader to the public. Senator Muhammed Shaaba Lafiagi should strive to stay at the right side of the history, for posterity will judge. 

Ali Faagba, Editor-In-Chief, The Media

He writes via opeyemi.hamed@yahoo.com