Jibril Tafida: Competent representative for 2019

“If elected, I will encourage a culture of regular consultation with my constituents so as to ensure that the bills and motions I will raise will reflect their real needs and expectations”.
This is what the man says in his facebook page.
If competence is measured by benevolence, public spirit, mass appeal and moral uprightness, then Jibril Tafida is more qualified to represent the people of Kaduna South federal constituency in the House of Representatives in 2019.
This is also because the APC candidate in particular and the party as whole has disappointed Nigerian people in the last three years.
Who then is Jibril Tafida? Born in August 1973, Tafida completed his primary and secondary education at Tudun Wada, Kaduna.
He obtained a diploma in Business Administration from Kaduna Polytechnic and proceeded to Harvard Business School in Massachusetts, USA, where he studied Management.
His working career began in the New Nigerian Newspapers, Kaduna.
He indulged seriously in social activism in collaboration with the likes of Senator Shehu Sani and Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Affairs, Uba Sani.
That is why he not only abhors injustice but fights it on all fronts.
Political antecedents His civil rights activism pushed him into politics, because it is too important to be left to undesirable characters, who only use it to gain selfish and parochial interests.
On return of democracy in1999, Tafida joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He contested for Kaduna PDP youth leader, but failed.
He left the PDP for AC, serving as its state youth leader in 2006 but months later he returned to PDP.
Not long ago his prowess and sagacity manifested as PDP National Secretariat appointed him chairman PDP gubernatorial primaries that ushered in former Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom as candidate and subsequent winner of that election.
In 2008, he contested for chairmanship of Kaduna North, but political bigwigs prevailed on him to rescind his ambition.
It was as a result of that obedience, though painful, that he was given the vice chairmanship to Shehu Giant.
After their victory, Tafida did not stay long in that administration because of some salient political reasons that had to do with his benevolence and public spirit that did not go down well with the powers-that-be.
Consequently, he relinquished the vice chairmanship.
He resigned he was appointed special adviser to the Minister of Niger Delta.
In 2010, Governor Akpabio appointed him Amirulhajj of Akwa Ibom state who led Muslim pilgrims to holy land.
Philanthropy He is a generous person who helps people devoid of any sentiment.
As a young politician, he established Tafida Foundation, under which he renders assistance to the youth, women, widows, divorcees, and orphans in Kaduna and environs.
Tafida has been paying medical bills for many sick people, many of whom he does not know in person.
To drive home this very point, he opened a dedicated account at Garkuwa Hospital where he sends sick people for medical treatments.
He is the only known person who pays medical bills of over a million naira to people he doesn’t know in person.
He built several Islamiyya schools in Kaduna and environs.
He built Tsangaya schools for pupils studying the Quran at Layin Kankara Kawo in Kaduna metropolis.
He rebuilt a bridge linking Masanawa and Layin Yarwa at Kawo New Extension.
He distributed sewing machines to female graduates in Quranic studies at Nuruddeen Islamic School in Kawo.
He sponsored 7 female students that committed Quran into memory to private secondary school in Kawo.
Tafida also built Islamiyya schools and over 30 boreholes in Tudun Wada and Unguwan Sanusi areas.
He renovated a masjid at Rigachikun bus stop, where he put carpet, lighting and loudspeakers.
He assisted some youth with N40,000 each in Kawo to start a business.
He donated N.1 million to orphanage in Kawo.
He renovated Juma’at masjid in Kawo.
Tafida has done what not many politicians can do; he distributed over 500 plots of land to politicians and non-politicians free in Kaduna state.
It is located in Tabarau, along Kaduna Airport road.
Again, as part of his benevolent, he built for Kawo local blacksmith a place to practice their trade, besides distribution of Quran to students of various Islamiyya schools in Kaduna metropolis.
Because his philanthropic activities are for the sake of Almighty Allah alone, he has lost count of the number of boreholes he dug in many quarters and suburbs not only within Kaduna but also neighbouring states like Katsina, Kano, and Niger.
Whenever he hears that a village does not have a borehole, Tafida would instantly instruct his aides to drill one for the said community.
As a result of that, he has dug over 1,000 boreholes in many communities.
In the area of job placements, he has for long been facilitating the employment of youth in the military and paramilitary agencies.
He has paid for hajj seats for over 100 people to the holy land.
This is part of Tafida’s benevolence because of Almighty Allah alone.
If someone can be doing this over the years, what if elected into a position of leadership? Personal attributes/relationship with people Tafida is a man that keeps promises.
He is not known for deception or lies in his relationship with people.
Those close to him said that, due to passion for assistance, he quite often gives his children money to give to the poor, the needy or indigent kids, so that they grow up with spirit of help, assistance and giving a lifting hand to those in need.
Tafida is goal-oriented and very hard working fellow that always go for results.
Contrary to the attitude of most politicians in power, Tafida abhors the using youth as thugs and agents of violence.
Thus, he has transformed the lives of many youths that later became responsible citizens.
Any one in doubt could find out from those who know him.
Therefore, it is imperative that people who voted for the so-called ruling party and got almost nothing but disappointment, despair and devastation should now realise the necessity of voting the right kind of people that could change the course of their lives.
It is better to vote for individual credibility than party platform.
A word is enough for the wise.
Kakaki writes from Kaduna