By Zakariyya Aliyu Gwaram
Richard Branson once said, The future needs passionate, happy and confident young leaders willing to challenge the status quo and stand up for their convictions. This assertion is befitting of the active struggle of a young Bauchi born vibrant leader, Member, House of Representatives Hon. Mansur Soro which gave birth to the 2019 ‘Not Too Young to Run’ Act.
The renowned English business magnate, serial investor, author and philanthropist who was also a close ally to the late and politically revered Nelson Mandela, Andy Stanley, also said “leaders who don’t listen will eventually be surrounded by people who have nothing to say and I would add “except flattery”.
A full political year is enough to assess a good leader particularly most of those beneficiaries of the 2019 law signed by President Muhammadu Buhari to reduce prerequisite age of elective office holders. Some of these lads and ladies can be found at different lawmaking houses in Nigeria while some others Cabinet members. But, a question that may bother one`s mind is how “passionate, happy and confident” are they in the word of Richard?
This fellow, who is a spectacular prototype for the youths willing to set on a political odyssey in order to be voted for, Hon. Mansur Soro has achieved political prominence and relevance in such a very young age, hence, projecting him as one of the youngest members in the lower Chamber (House of Representatives).
The lawmaker, like his late father, a renowned merchant and philanthropist has crafted his political ambition to the benefit of his people. His composure, emotional intelligence, diligence and enterprising nature as well as can-do attitude have earned him goodwill. He has truly made a wide leap into political relevance and prominence. What if Nigeria produces such energetic material like Mansur? May be in less than a decade to ply the path of Presidency?
Perhaps before then, he may be interested in the upper Chamber (senate) in Bauchi Central Senatorial District, which comprises six local governments; Ganjuwa, Misau, Ningi, Warji, Dambam and Darazo. By calculation, this is a very welcome idea because with time a politician needs to keep improving his political horizon but in attaining any feat in life, one has to calculate and look at his fighting chance. The fighting chance yet needs to be reasonably high before embarking on any adventure.
To him attaining the red chamber is indeed a serious adventure which needs a serious political calculations. To him going to the senate would be an adventurous feat. The possible challenges to be encountered would include the foregoing:
First, there is influence of Misau local government due to the number of registered voters they have at their disposal and the highly influential political brass that are indigenes of that local government. From history, Misau has been one of the local governments that are of the deciding factor in providing a senator from the zone and it’s a fact that their indigenes enjoyed the longest tenure so far. Misau local government has produced the likes of Isah Hammah Misau and also Baffah Aliyu Misau which the two were all candidates in the previous election and it is ostensible that they are harbouring another ambition in pursuing the senatorial seat in the next election.
Similarly, NINGI local government has been a deciding factor also in producing a senator from this constituency due their number of voters and one of their indigene was the Senator before the incumbency of Halliru Dauda Jika. Senator Abdul Ahmed of Ningi is a renowned politician nationwide and was once a principal officer in the Senate; he was a deputy Majority leader.
Courtsy of the ongoing political renaissance, it is possible that the former senator has lost interest in the senate bid because he vied for the governorship seat in the previous election and may be toeing the same line in the future election but there may be possibility that the one-time senator may retract his steps and contest for the Senate seat. Based on the present tempo, even if he didn’t contest there is possibility that the Ningi people would have another candidate to contest for that seat.
So far, Nura Manu Soro has been a household name in that region and across the state due to his philanthropic missions of helping the vulnerable populace all over the state, provision of bursaries and sponsorships for students in tertiary institutions through his Nura Manu Soro Foundation.
His humanitarian gesture has made him quite popular and has become an idol to many people all over the state. It is quite possible that Nura Manu Soro is nursing the ambition to be the next senator from the zone. He ditched his Commissioner’s seat in the ministry of Finance due to irreconcilable difference with the governor at the early inception of Kauran Bauchi’s administration, this move has made him popular. Nura Manu Soro happens to be the elder sibling of Mansur Manu Soro and this would sound as a family contest; who knows the winner?
Also due to the fact that Mansur Manu Soro is from different political party with the incumbent governor and this factor according to the tempo of Nigerian politics could be a palpable drawback to the mission of our wonder kind. This is also a palpable hurdle he has to skip in order to maintain his relevance in the next coming election.
From the foregoing, it could be attested that Mansur Manu Soro could face a fierce challenge in his bid of becoming a senator but there are a better hope and a better fighting chance if this political bid is let to rest for now and should be pursued later. He should work more in increasing his popularity through the increase in minding about people’s welfare and empowerment all over the senatorial zone and even the state at large. His second tenure in the green chamber would increase his acumen and experience politically so that whenever he is out to contest for the senatorial seat, he would achieve it with ease. The future hustling should be based on politics without bitterness and he should extend his hands of friendship to all and sundry.
Zakariyya Aliyu Gwaram
zaka4tu@gmail.com
