Perhaps he rode on the rising popularity of the Labour Party and the influence of its presidential candidate, Peter Obi. Or maybe the groundwork he laid prior to his declaration to run for office made his emergence as a lawmaker-elect possible. Whatever the reason, Donatus Mathew, a motorcycle (Okada) rider succeeded in trouncing Hon. Giden Gwani, a four-term member of the House of Representatives who was the minority Chief Whip in the lower chamber. Mathew will be replacing Gwani come May 29 as the representative of Kaura Federal Constituency, Kaduna State. Gwani must have thought that an Okada man stood no chance against him, a veteran who has been in the game long enough to know what it takes to persuade the electorates to allow him return to the House for a fifth term. Little did he know that fate had other things in store for him. Mathew had started out his political career as a Councillor in his ward, but the rising inflation and other life’s vicissitudes reduced him to an Okada rider.
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