During the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th Assemblies, the Adamawa people witnessed above-average performances from their representatives in the National Assembly. Individuals like Professor Iya Abubakar, Professor Jibril Amin, Senators Silas Zwingina, Senator Abdul Aziz Nyako, MP Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed. Hon Sadiq Ibrahim Dasin Hon. Awwal Tukur’s performances were excellent.

However, the present House of Representatives Members, apart from Abdulrazak Namdas whose performance is a sterling one, the rest are not doing too good; in the areas of quality of debates on national issues and on issues that directly affect their constituencies, fulfilment of campaign promises, the number of projects and programmes they influenced to their constituency; their public-friendliness and constant interaction with the people that voted them, including current ratings by the people in their constituencies. For Jada/Ganye/Mayo Belwa/Toungo Federal constituency, anyone hoping to replace Namdas, has a herculean task of replicating his constant interaction with his constituency and the numerous community-based project and programmes that he brought to the area. One cannot discuss Jada/Ganye/Mayo Belwa/Toungo without mentioning Senator Binos Yaroes’s performance, his performance is above average, however, Yaroe’s biggest hurdle is his weak play of the Nigerian Politics- poor patronage- many people in his constituency see him as a stingy man. For Jada/Ganye/Mayo Belwa/Toungo they still need someone like Namdas. If Namdas fails in his governorship bid; some APC stakeholders are routing for his return to the green chambers.

Fufore/Song is definitely missing Sadiq Ibrahim Dasin. Sadiq’s performance in the 8th Assembly was excellent. Sadiq is not new to politics- he was once a member of the Adamawa state House of Assembly as well as its Speaker. Sadiq’s work and education experiences are superb- a banker for more than a decade with arrays of educational qualifications- LL.B,BL, LL.M. Despite his intimidating educational and work experience, his opponents said Sadiq’s connection with his local constituency is poor, his opponents are always quick to point out that he sometimes plays ‘Mr. I too know’. His constituency will be very thirsty for someone and something new- this is where Aliyu Boya Wakili has a big advantage. Boya is coming into the contest armed with many competitive advantages, he is young, well-educated and very accessible. He has a well-established political structure, strong followership from youths and many stakeholders in his constituency, he has legislative experience and he was chairman of Fufore LGA and also the Chair of the politically-important ALGON. Boya’s adversaries say he is too ambitious- but what do you expect of a well-educated Youngman with strong support from local people and the youth! Another competitive advantage Boya will use against his opponents is that he is the Sarkin Matasa Adamawa. The uniqueness of Sarkin Matasa is, at every district in Adamawa state, there is a Sarkin Matasa. This is a plus to Boya when it comes to reaching the locals easily. , Aliyu Wakili Boya appears to be the man of the moment for Fufore/Song constituency.

Yola North, Yola South and Girei constituency is the most complex and cosmopolitan of all the eight federal constituencies in Adamawa state-. No one has ever won re-election in the constituency. The performance of the current MP Jafaru Suleiman Ribadu, is a low. Though he got the seat on a platter of gold- via a court case, the young Abdulrauf Modibbo Girei could have done an excellent and better job than Jafaru.The people of Yola North, Yola South and Girei constituency are known for their insistence on first-rate performance from their MPs. There is an array of aspirants in both the APC and the PDP- I will Insha Allah soon analyze each of the aspirants based on merits and demerits.

Many studies have shown that the quality of governance is enhanced by having leaders who are well-read, and competent with the right leadership skills, exposure & behaviour. Furthermore, it is a general belief that a well-educated leadership is a competitive advantage for any nation and there is a correlation between good governance and leaders’ level of education. Adamawa state needs superb MPs in the 10th Assembly. Most Adamawa representatives in the 9th Assembly are fairly well-educated, what is missing is exposure to know the right buttons to press to attract projects and programmes to their constituency, get huge government and donor funds, secure employment for their youth from both the public and private sector. Many people in Adamawa used to get surprised at how some MPs from other states are securing mass employment for their young people and easily securing local and international grants to farmers and small businesses, while for some of our MPs; all they know is sitting the chambers. For example, this is where Adamawa north constituencies were deprived of many opportunities – Hong/ Gombi, Mubi North/Mubi South, Maiha and Michika/Madagali are constituencies affected by the BokoHaram Haram senseless war- these constituencies need not just a strong or a well well-read MP, but someone who also understands the workings and rudiments of local and international ways of attracting the FG and donor funds for the execution of projects and programmes to help in the restoration of basic infrastructure, integration of lives and livelihood of the people, the quick rehabilitation of farmlands; the local economy; places of worship, health-centres, bridges, boreholes, schools, as well create productive employment for the teeming unemployed citizens and those engaged in unproductive-manual jobs. People like Mahmood Yunusa a former banker and commissioner of finance will be an asset to Mubi North/Mubi South/Maiha Federal constituency as an MPs. Though, Salis adversaries say, he is weak in applying the ‘Mintzberg Political Games’- Building his influence and political structure through attaching to those who can help him in the future- the masses. The game is that the lower-down people support will pressurize the higher-up people to give the needed support when the time comes. Salis will be a good MP as regards the need of that constituency.

Furthermore, people like former governor Boni Haruna as a senator will not only bring statesmanship but recreate the aura of the office of a Senator in attracting development and attention to the zone, though, the current Senator, my friend Abbo Ishaku has done well in his own rights.

Zayyad I. Muhammad writes from Abuja, zaymohd@yahoo.com, 08036070980