In a society where citizens are neglected by those elected to serve and protect them, the trust in authoritative power not only declines but sinks deep down into unknown waters. Genuine leadership qualities in elected officials are seen as sparks of light hidden in the shadows of a shaky democracy.
In his bid to serve his people in the best way as is expected of a legislator, in spite of the daunting challenges in the country, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha is considered to be a beacon of light in his constituency.
Mr Bwacha is presently representing the good people of Taraba South Senatorial District in the Senate of the National Assembly and he is doing the legislative work honourably. The senator is not a novice as far as public service is concerned. He served as the Commissioner for Agriculture of Taraba state between 1999 and 2003. Mr Bwacha was elected to the House of Representatives for the Donga/Ussa/Takum constituency, serving from May 2003 to May 2007 and was later appointed as the Chairman of the House Committee on Police Affairs.
Although he lost his bid for the seat of the Taraba South Senatorial District in the April 2007 elections, he won it in 2011 general elections and was re-elected in 2015, the same thing in 2019. He is a ranking senator and currently the Deputy Minority Leader in the Senate.
The 58-year-old politician was born on December 15, 1962, in Donga, Taraba state. He is one of the experienced and outstanding principal officers in the 9th Senate. Senator Bwacha has sponsored several bills and his contribution to the electoral act amendment and the constitution amendment is immense.
I have never seen a detribalised individual like Senator Bwachi. As a Christian, Mr Bwacha proposed a bill to amend the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC Act, to allow corps members to modify their uniforms in order to conform to their religious beliefs in 2018. He did this in an effort to promote religious equality.
In the past, Mr Bwacha denied speculations of plans to run for the seat of the governor of Taraba state, his political ambition at present, however, seems to be leaning in that direction. Speaking in one of his interviews about his interest in the Taraba state number one seat, Mr Bwacha said that he is “available to serve at any level that can put smiles on the faces of people, be it at the state or at the federal level”.
By these statements, Senator Bwacha has put himself in the ring for a governorship boxing match come 2023. Little wonder many NGOs in Taraba state have begun calling on him to run. Come 2023, Senator Bwacha is a candidate to beat in Taraba state. This man has provided employment for thousands of unemployed youths in Taraba state. He has brought meaningful projects to his people and has recorded milestones of achievements not only in his constituency but in Taraba state as a whole.
Some of these much-talked-about projects of Senator Bwacha included the annual disbursement of scholarships worth N12 million to students in his constituency. He is even reputed for contracting a team of surgeons from the United States of America along with some Nigerian doctors in free medical service where over 500 patients were treated for various ailments from March 2 to 30, 2014.
He has worked tirelessly to douse tension and reduce hostility between farmers and herdsmen in Taraba state. Posterity will not forget Senator Bwacha for initiating and establishing a resting point and grazing reserve at Mararaba in Donga local government area.
These antecedents and many others too numerous to mention are good enough credentials that qualify Senator Bwacha to become the next governor of Taraba state. Without mincing words, I don’t think there is any human being in Taraba state today that cannot vouch for Senator Bwacha as far as leadership qualities are concerned. Anything to the country, believe it or not, is only falsehood and proceeds of hatred and angst against the person or achievement of Mr Bwacha. Let us keep our fingers crossed, but my judgement is as good as a consensus judgment of majority of Taraba people come 2023.
Mr Hayatu writes from Abuja.
