Attention Senator Ibrahim Mustapha Khalid

In the 2023 general elections, the good people of Zone 1 unanimously came out en-masse to vote Barrister Ibrahim Mustapha Khalid to represent them in the Senate. The decision to elect him as senator was borne out of the failure of former Senator Suleiman Abdu Kwari to provide good representation in the zone.

However, one year in the Senate, it seems Barrister Ibrahim Khalid has performed below expectations. If one compares him with two other senators from Kaduna State, Barrister Ibrahim Khalid has failed short of expectations. The good people of Zone 1 read in newspapers pages of how his two colleagues from the state sponsored numerous bills for the benefit of not only their constituencies but the state and the country at large. They did not stop at that; they economically empowered their constituents.

For instance, in April this year, Senator Lawal Adamu Usman from Kaduna Central, doled out N500,000 to 100 youths as start up capital in order to economically empower them. It is also learnt that Senator Marshall Katung, representing Southern Kaduna, is putting smile on the faces of his constituents through various programmes.

One wonders why Barrister Ibrahim Khalid cannot write his name in gold and justify the confidence reposed on him by the electorate who defied unpalatable weather to vote him. Barrister Ibrahim Khalid is not a new politician. He was in the green chamber between 2003 and 2007, representing Soba Federal Constituency. He is a local politician with grassroots support. Looking at his legislative experience and grassroots antecedents, Barrister Ibrahim Khalid has no reason to fail. He enjoyed unprecedented support from the downtrodden talakawas during the 2023 elections.

Sadly, less than one year in the Senate, Senator Khalid’s popularity and goodwill have waned beyond redemption. There are discordant voices from the nooks and crannies of Zone 1 over his inability to provide expected democracy dividends.

Within a period of one year in the saddle, one had expected Senator Ibrahim Khalid to bring the attention of his colleagues to the abandoned Zaria to Pambegua road. The contract for the rehabilitation of the road was awarded during the past administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. Unfortunately, the work which was carried out at snail speed, was later abandoned. As a senator representing Zone 1, his timely intervention on the dilapidated road would have assisted greatly towards mobilising contractors back to site. Zaria to Pambegua road is a busy road and holds economic potential to many communities living along it.

Besides, our Senator has so far failed to come up with various programmes to empower youths. One remembers with nostalgia how Barrister Ibrahim Khalid changed the lives of many youths during his days in the green chamber. Barrister Khalid’s election to the Senate was on the basis of his exceptional performance as former member House of Representative. One is baffled over his sudden change and how he becomes a bench warmer in the red chamber.

While the distinguished senator can make an amend in his remaining three years, through sponsoring bills and youth empowerment programmes, it is imperative to say his performance in the preceding year was a great disappointment. He should quickly change his leadership style. There is the need for leadership paradigm change, anchored on inclusiveness and results. The good people of Zone 1 are more politically enlightened and will not hesitate to vote him out if he takes them for granted.

Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua, Kaduna State can be reached via [email protected]