I have followed the reactions which trails the event of March 10th, 2021, at the hallowed chambers of the lower house of the National Assembly with keen interest.
It was a day when Hon. Mark Gbillah member representing Gwer-Gwer west federal Constituency of Benue State, stood to present a petition which was forwarded to him by a group of Tivs in the Diaspora:
Mutual union of Tivs in Diaspora (MUTA). In response, the presiding member that faithful day, Rt. Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase, Deputy to the speaker, Rt. Hon. Gbajabiamila, asked the presenter of the petition, Hon. Mark Gbillah, if the Tiv group was duly registered by the relevant authority in the country, perhaps to ascertain the reality of the existence of such group.
In the process, Hon. Gbillah could not however, provide immediate answers to the questions raised by the Deputy Speaker; consequently, the petition was not considered that day.
Unfortunately, since then the issue had continued to attract divergent negative reactions particularly against the actions of the deputy speaker Rt. Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase.
Various socio-cultural groups, commentators, individuals and columnists who are career journalists have all roused to condemn the actions of Hon. Wase for not accepting the Tivs in Diaspora petition, presented to the House by Hon. Mark Gbillal. More worrisome was the fact that all those kicking against the actions of the deputy speaker were unanimous in ascribing prejudice, and primordial instincts as the reason why Rt. Hon. Ahmed Wase did not allowed the said petition, to be tabled before the House that day.
However, most of those castigating Hon. Ahmed Wase may be ignorant of the procedures, rules and ethics governing the lower chambers of the National Assembly.
Perhaps, Hon. Wase could not have gained or lost anything if the petition was considered or not, it was evidently clear that Rt. Hon. Wase was merely insisting laid down procedures be allowed in the process, irrespective of where and from whom the petition emanated from.
In essence, the move to present the Tiv in Diaspora petition was not in any way an act of illegality, on the other hand the inquisitive approach of the deputy speaker was also, within the parameters of the rules and ethnics of the hallowed green chambers.
It is worthy of mention that what transpired on that day was at the full glare of majority members of the House, non among them raised an issue about the insistence and actions of the Deputy speaker, because they are conversant with the inner intricacies of the house procedures, they knew, the petition can be re-presented after necessary conditions are met through appropriate channels within the confines of the National assembly. Be that as it may, it is disgusting to note that, as in other national issues; we have allowed the twin primordial instincts of ethnicity and religion to define our approach towards unfolding issues bothering on our common good as a people.
Also, astonishing is the way we view and perceived the actions of our leaders, no matter how good the intentions were, is shrouded by suspicion of ethnic, Â regional or religious sentiment and interest.
To aggravate the unfolding negative approaches is the attitude of some career journalists who are by virtue of their professions seen as opinion molders and role models in the society.
As journalists they are expected to educate, guide and douse any imminent tension and threat to the nation’s cohesion and unity at all times; by applying their versatility of knowledge and emotional intelligence to calm frayed nerves using their various platforms.
But unfortunately, rather than providing constructive analysis with the aims of educating the general public on issues such as the Tiv-Petition brouhaha or point to any flaws (if any) in the process applying superior constructive and diplomatic means.
Distastefully, a section of career journalists have chosen to join issues, becoming part of the problem, assuming hostile, belligerent and centrifugal posture to the issue at hand. Moreover; journalists are in better position to appreciate the fact that unnecessary propaganda along primordial cleavages are very dangerous premise, hindering the growth of our democracy and a recipe for violent crisis as witnessed in most of our communities across the country.
However, it is a globally acknowledged fact that by the ethics and norms of journalism, practitioners are expected to down play any unfolding imminent scenarios of conflict in the society through unbiased, factual and illuminating commentaries and report, not being responsible for incitement by using inflammatory or centrifugal interest in their comments and analysis of issues and events.
At this point, it is pertinent to briefly sample the obligations of Rt. Hon. Ahmed Idris towards his constituency and the country at large, juxtaposing it with his alleged disposition. As one of the longest serving members of the House of Reps, having continually winning elections, since 2007, a feat that was achieved by few.
Since then, Hon. Wase had been rolling out desirable and people’s oriented programmes and projects to the benefits of his immediate constituent and beyond.
For instance: It was to his credit the sponsoring of free medical outreach at various times to provide medical services to the indigent and vulnerable class, as at today over 85,000 people both young and old, males and females have benefited from  such medical outreach. Hon. Wase had also sponsored 7,350
Students up to tertiary level spreading across Plateau State and beyond, Benue state inclusive. Thousands of patients have been operated for various ailments successfully, interestingly too; patients from neighboring Bauchi, Kaduna, Nasarawa and Benue states were among these who benefited from the gesture.
Also, hundreds of patients undergoing chemotherapy for cancer; patients with surgical fracture; those undergoing dialysis and patients who sustained various degrees of critical injuries as a result of accident at various times since 2007 till date have received commensurate financial assistance to settle tier hospital bills to the tune of N175,000,000.00.
Since 2007 to 2021, Also, Hon.Ahmed Idris had facilitated the employment of 774 young person’s into federal establishments: police, military, Para-military and the private sector, this was carried out  within equitable numbers of people from the two major religions and across states of the federation, including Benue  a sister state to Plateau state where Wase hails from.
At the risk of time and space, however, Hon. Wase had ensured that from 2007 till date 8700 people both Christians and Muslims within Plateau and neighboring states, including Benue state are proud owners of various brands of cars.
In this regards, Tractors, tricycles and motorcycles were distributed free to citizens for which they use for commercial transport and farming; thereby earning decent and sustainable source of livelihood.
Furthermore, very recently the Deputy Speaker had influenced the embedding of a Federal Polytechnic not in his home town, but in a village near Ajikamai of Shendam local government of Plateau State. Similarly, Hon. Wase had attracted the establishment of an orthopedic centre in Wase as well as influencing the federal government to site a federal medical centre in Wase. With all these the localities and surrounding communities would be thriving by socio economic activities.
Worthy of mention too; he had attracted the construction of several major road projects in Plateau State to link with other neighboring states which shall also create other alternative routes to the Federal Capital, instead of the hitherto long journey to Mararaba Jama’a in Jos-South as the only link to the federal capital.
Ironically too, the Amigo junction, Yantaya, Dadin-Kowa and Ali-Kazaure inter-city roads network all in Jos the capital of Plateau State, which is not even situated in the zone where the Deputy Speaker hails from, have been rehabilitated by the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) through the singular effort of Hon. Ahmed Wase.
Finally, suffice to state that, Hon. Ahmed Wase is a rare detribalized person who cares not about ethnicity, religion, state or region of whoever sought for his assistances, as it can be seen through the above abridged version of his numerous accomplishments.
*** Mohammed Isa Bilal, M.D, Royal Publicity Publishing Company, writes from Jos, Plateau State. 08167989085
