Since the restoration of democracy in 1999, Nasarawa state, especially the western senatorial district, the gateway to the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has produced all manners of politicians – the good, the bad and the ugly – who have held public or political offices at various times.
Some have written their names in gold with their performance, record and antecedents, and continued to move from strength to strength in their political journey. For others it has been motion without movement while some have completely fizzled out into political oblivion due to poor performance.
Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada (Sarkin Yakin Keffi), representing Nasarawa west and chairman senate committee on public accounts, is one political figure in the state who has continued to stand tall since 2003 when he emerged in the politics of Nasarawa state like a thunderstorm.
He came young, dynamic and vibrant with a defined mission, progressive thoughts and ideas, strong political skills, and determination to damn the consequences of political uncertainties, flex his political muscles and have his name boldly written on the pages of history. Wadada swept away the then incumbent lawmaker at the PDP primaries and was subsequently elected to the House of Representatives in 2003 despite being a greenhorn.
What have been working for him over the years in the political matrix of Nasarawa state are his patriotism, grassroots support, humane disposition, love for his people, intellectualism, records of performance and ability to achieve result whenever entrusted with public office.
In the House of Representatives, he broke the jinx of bad representation in his constituency and the state, as well as delivered true dividends of democracy to his people. His dedicated service to Nigerians, Nasarawa state and his constituency have been the Hallmark of his political career.
He initiated and executed many people oriented projects that have direct bearing on the lives of the masses in his constituency and Nasarawa state as a whole. He constructed roads, schools, hospitals, provided water and offered scholarships to indigent students, among many other empowerment programmes.
Wadada sponsored many bills and motions that helped stabilise the country’s democracy, rekindled people’s hope, fast tracked development, transparency, accountability and addressed various socio-economic and political challenges bedeviling Nigeria.
His bills in the House include Tobacco Control Bill 2004, FCT Development Agency Bill, Chartered Institute of Capital Market Registration Bill 2005, Investments and Securities Tribunal Bill 2006, FCT Satellite Town Development Commission Bill, among many others.
Even out of power, Wadada continued to maintain his good relationship with the people of the state and constituents, channeling his hard earned resources to champion the cause of the common man through his Wadada Development Foundation where all manners of help rendered, especially in education, health, employment, community development, among others.
He introduced the Keffi polo tournament with his club, Keffi Ponys, which takes place twice yearly, attracting policy makers, polo players, foreign investors, political leaders and traditional rulers within and outside the country to Nasarawa state. Proceeds from the tournament are channelled to support education and the vulnerable.
It was, therefore, not surprising that in the build up to 2023 elections, Wadada had become a golden fish that has no hiding place as the people of Nasarawa west, where he hails from, found him worthy to represent them in the senate. However, having been shortchanged by his party, the PDP, Wadada defected to Social Democratic Party (SDP) and was elected as senator, representing Nasarawa west in 2023.
As senator, Wadada promised to continue from where he stopped in the last 12 years when he was in the House of Representatives with assurances to do more for his people. “My people are not new to my style of leadership and they know what I have done and can do, and insha Allah i will not fail them”.
With this commitment, Senator Wadada hit the ground running with the distribution of agriculture inputs including fertiliser to peasant farmers and empowerment programmes like distribution of sewing machines, start up funds and other empowerment tools to women and youths across the five local government areas of his senatorial district.
Wadada also distributed over 5,000 bags of rice and other food items and financial supports worth over N20 million to his constituents during Christmas to enable them have joyous celebrations. He gifted motorcycles to 32 youths. Wadada entered into partnership with Nasarawa State University Keffi to train 500 women and youths from his district on information and communication technology, which the beneficiaries will be given tools and money to set up their businesses.
To further demonstrate his passion for education, the Sarkin Yakin Keffi paid N25m as 2024 WAEC fees for 744 less privileged students. He said the beneficiaries cut across the 59 wards of the district, assuring that more of such interventions are in the pipeline.
Wadada has continued to make his people proud with his brand of representation as his committee discovered many irregularities and abuse of financial regulations by ministries, departments and agencies, which have been ordered to refund billions of naira to the federation account.
