2019: Why Katsina North needs Salisu Ingawa in the Senate

The institution of the senate is indeed a hallowed one all over the world as it is regarded as the ultimate destination for many a politician, statesman, activist, technocrat or corporate mogul desirous of contributing his or her own quota to the crucial legislative oversight and representative functions atypical of parliaments all over the world.

In the United States, a citadel of the democratic ideal since 1960, four senators have emerged as presidents of the United States (Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon and Obama), while 8 senators have also emerged as vice presidents (Johnson, Humphrey, Agnew, Mondale, Quayle, Gore, Biden and Pence), further proof that the Senate is indeed a highly regarded and well defined institution in the American political system.

Coming nearer home, as the 2019 elections draws nearer, quite a number of seasoned technocrats, consummate administrators and veteran politicians have indicated interest in contesting for the exalted seat in their various senatorial zones cutting across the country with the innate desire to bring their wealth of experience and depth of knowledge to bear in the onerous duties and function that have a direct bearing on the delivery of crucial democratic dividends to the people.

One of such shining exemplars of renowned agriculturist, food scientist, a seasoned, tested and trusted technocrat, veteran administrative paragon, bureaucratic avatar and all rounds super achieving public servant par excellence is no other esteemed personality than Dr Salisu Ingawa former Executive Director of the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) who has left indelible footprints throughout the length and breadth of the nation’s vast MDA bureaucracy.

For instance, Dr. Salisu Ingawa, seasoned technocrat and public officer relinquished the reins of executive power at the NFRA a few years ago after turning the establishment around and increasing the country’s food reserves, many an observer hailed his resounding performance at the agency and expressed regret that such a patriotic, and resourceful public officer had left office at a time that the nation needed his services most.

At the NFRA, Dr. Ingawa initiated bold, reformist and visionary polices aimed at placing Nigeria solidly in the forefront of nations that were resolutely committed to the building and construction of numerous silos and food storage facilities which in turn translated into a massive reserve of strategic food and grains that was kept for the rainy day in case of natural disaster, pestilence, emergency and civil disorder where supply of needed consumables is a sine-qua-non for political and socio-economic stability in the affected areas.

Another bold policy initiative which the dynamic Dr Salisu Ingawa shepherded to fruition is the acclaimed National Fadama III programme of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources designed as a step towards the realization of the National Food Security programme, which was fundamental to the 7-point Agenda of the Yar’Adua administration.

The Federal Government approved additional N70 billion to support the programme to cover all the states and as the Executive Director, National Food Reserve Agency, Dr Salisu Ingawa, ensured that the funds disbursed were actually utilized for the purposes intended without any whiff of diversion, fraud or misappropriation whatsoever.

Having excelled in superlative terms in his storied public service career there is little doubt that the resilient Dr Salisu Ingawa is set to perform with even more vigour and dedication if and when elected as a Distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria representing Katsina North Senatorial Zone as he has been delivering pivotal dividends of democracy to his beloved people even before being elected to representative office.

For instance in his various official capacities in the MDAs, Dr Salisu Ingawa has facilitated the employment of numerous graduates in key ministries, agencies and parastatals in order for them to be able to serve their fatherland and also actualize their various dreams and aspirations.

Also he has initiated critical funding that has assisted the health, education, power, pipe borne water, agriculture, manpower development and women and youth empowerment sectors in his senatorial zone and throughout Katsina state as a whole.

Indeed rather than blow his trumpet as many a public officer or politician is wont to do, Dr Salisu Ingawa is a redoubtable silent achiever who has embedded his awesome footprints in the democratic sands of our epoch to the extent that his beloved people in Katsina state and beyond are eagerly clamoring for the consummate technocrat to represent them in the 9th Senate in 2019 and beyond.

The hundreds of thousands of youths, professionals, market women, artisans, activists, farmers and trade unionists who are solidly backing the historic candidacy of Dr Salisu Ingawa are aware that here is a political supremo who is driven by an almost missionary zeal in ensuring the total political, economic and social liberation of his beloved people.

His legion of teeming supporters are also aware that Dr Salisu Ingawa is possessed of a razor sharp intellect and a forthright and straight talking disposition that has no truck for undue grandstanding and semantic distinctions or doublespeak and one eminent figure that holds personal honour and integrity as a standard that others may do well to emulate.

One of the reasons for the extremely high regard in which Dr Salisu Ingawa is held among his peers is his unequalled reputation as an epitome of rectitude and integrity, a standard bearer of truth, respect and honour who does not engage in rumor, speculation or meddlesome hearsay.

In fact Dr Salisu Ingawa can be best regarded as a facilitator, a conciliator, a uniter, an arbiter, an interlocutor, an administrator, a negotiator, a super achieving public servant and a political plenipotentiary par excellence in our present democratic continuum and with his experience, dynamism resourcefulness, competence, patriotism and commitment to excellence and exemplary performance, he is best placed to represent Katsina North Senatorial Zone in 2019 and beyond . To God be the glory.

Asadu, is of the Legislative Writers Forum Abuja