To start with, the distinguished Senator representing Adamawa South on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has every right to praise herself like the proverbial Agama Lizard which, having fallen from an iroko tree, without anybody to praise it, nodded its red head in self praise. Yes, she has every reason to consider herself the lioness and the conqueror of Adamawa South Senatorial district. After all, whether anybody likes it or not, Senator Bent has achieved a feat hitherto never witnessed in the history of electoral contest in Nigeria – a Yoruba lady from Osun State married to a Bachama man, winning an election to the Senate in a Gambari land of Adamawa State.
But is it not curious that she could achieve that feat without external influence and stimulation? In other words, did the distinguished lawmaker really win her election, first by defeating retired Generals and former Governors to pick the PDP nomination, and the general election due to her acceptability, political organizational ability, sagacity, sophistry and merit? The answer to the later is no, if a spade should be called by its name, that is. Madam was simply imposed on the people of Adamawa South by her mentor, the former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in order to spite his former Number Two, Atiku Abubakar who hails from the same Senatorial Zone.
The foregoing, therefore, suggests to the discerned that Madam Senator’s palm kernel was broken by the gods, a situation which require humility and gratitude by the beneficiary to the gods rather than ascribing the benevolence (feat) to herself in self glorification. The Senator’s claim that her in-laws in Dong Ward begged her husband, retired Major Jackson Bent, to convince her to represent them at the House of Representatives before she opted for the Senate, only the Dong people are better placed to comment on it. I hail from Lamurde Ward in Lamurde Local Government, but I know that many will not agree with the Senator’s claim.
Another aspect of the interview I find compelling to comment on is in the area of her fulfilled campaign promises. Hear the distinguished Senator I have initiated the supplying and equipping of almost all the hospitals with drugs and equipment; I have given them what you call educational aids with textbooks, chairs, boreholes etc. I have built an ultra modern palace for the Emir; I have built town halls, have done a lot for the two major religions. All the mosques in the area have generating sets, I have furnished Islamic Schools with chairs and carpets; even during fasting period I gave them gifts and also sent them on pilgrimages…….” But, habah, Mama Rikaino (Ricky), you mean you supplied generating sets to all the mosques in your constituency? Anyway by all standards, the palace built by the Senator for Hama Dong (she referred to him as emir) cannot be described or called ultra-modern, as the structure is a block consisting of a small reception hall, an office apartment, a toilet without water system, carpeted red and a gate with the inscription “Hama Dong’s (Palace) Palace”.
The existing wall of the palace was merely extended by about 30 metres. The palace was coated with diluted yellow paints. It needs to be noted that Hama Dong is not among the classed traditional rulers in Adamawa State. He is not among the first class rulers and therefore not an Emir.
As a spiritual person which the Senator claims to be, a Deaconess for that matter, Madam should be implored to continue to thank God and consider herself lucky indeed instead of dissipating her energy on those she regarded as being against her during her electioneering. This is because at the time Senator Bent came out to contest, another daughter of Adamawa South, Mrs. Priscillia Nyame married to former Governor of Taraba State, Rev. Jolly Nyame, wanted to contest for the Senate in her husband’s Senatorial Zone, her in-laws asked her to go back to Adamawa State to realize her aspiration. It is for the same reason that Senator Daisy Danjuma did not contest from Taraba State where her husband Lt. Gen. T. Y. Danjuma (rtd) hails from. Instead, she contested from her state of origin, Edo. But here was a Yoruba woman not from Kwara or Kogi but from far away Osun state coming to Adamawa State and won her election. Where else in Nigeria today would that happen? Could a Bachama woman married to an Ilesha man be allowed to win polls in her in-laws place to the Senate? Let us be honest with ourselves.
Yedimakudon writes from No. 1, Kpashimuna Street, Lamurde, Adamawa State
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