Senator Emmanuel Bwacha is fast gaining popularity as a political irritant. He has thrown caution to the wind in his desperation to become governor of Taraba state by any means possible. The senator has lost his sense of decorum, which is if he has any.
Every concerned Southern Taraban will be embarrassed with the way and manner the power thirsty senator has behaved himself in his quest to become governor in 2015. He is making Taraba a laughing stock, but as good citizens, we will not allow such rascality to continue. Taraba must be liberated from the clutches of power mongers like Bwacha. Our people must enjoy democratic dividends like their counterparts in other parts of the country.
The question is, who is Senator Emmanuel Bwacha? After serving as a member of the Taraba state house of assembly, a commissioner for agriculture, a House of Representative member, and now a senator of the federal republic, Bwacha’s name should ring a bell. But by track record, the senator has proven to be a disappointment.
The problem with those obsessed with the notion of political dominance is that they see it less from the point of view of the uplift of the standard of living of the people, but more from the standpoint of the opportunity it provides them, a tiny few, to perpetually live in the corridors of power, with its attendant benefits. These include opportunity to have their children in the best schools in the world, while the overwhelming majority of kids in that section of the country wallow in ignorance. They can point to mansions that dot the landscape in Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos, and other cities as benefits of their dominance of political power, while their people live in squalor.
However here are a few questions for the distinguished senator:
“Distinguish senator”, what are your achievements for the people of southern Taraba? “Mind you I stay in Abuja, I am not a Jalingo person” was Bwacha’s answer in a recent interview he granted the Peoples Daily Newspaper. A publication where his name was even spelt wrongly.
The truth is; from his days as a state House of Assembly to date, there is nothing to show• He has succeeded in bringing tribal differences and religious differences among the people of the southern zone to cause disharmony among them. This is for his selfish interest. History and people can testify that this ‘gentleman’ has never won any election on fair terms, but usually imposed on the people.
Senator, Some political stakeholders from Southern Taraba, under the name Southern Taraba Peoples Congress, led by one Daniel Likam are calling for your recall from the Senate, what in your opinion informed this?
The truth is since the action of recall started, senator Bwacha has been losing sleep. But rather than address the issue he is being challenged with, which is the issue of his non performance, Bwacha has been going about attacking individual personalities.
Why do you want Danbaba Suntai Back as governor despite his state of health? Is it for the interest of the state or your personal interest?
Of late Bwacha has been showing sympathy with the ailing Taraba governor, Danbaba Suntai, seizing every opportunity to defend the continuous absence of the governor.
What is unknown however to many is that Bwacha’s love towards the governor is not borne out of love for the progress of the state or the governor and his family. It is his desperation to become governor by all means.
There have been speculations that plans had been mapped out by Governor Suntai to hand over power to Bwacha before the unfortunate helicopter crash.
Unfortunately, with the current condition of Danbaba Suntai, Bwacha feels his ambition for 2015 is gradually fading. Ordinarily, like Bwacha once boasted, he is over qualified to be governor of the state, after all, he has been commissioner and now a senator.
The senator has had opportunity to serve his people, unfortunately on all occasions, he has failed. His name has almost become synonymous to failure.
Interestingly senator Bwacha is one of the few senators that have an official website. But a tour of the website will reveal why southern Taraba has been undeveloped and under-represented. The website is being run by his office, yet the only achievement there, is the set of music instrument he bought for a delegation of Christian children called Royal Voices from Donga, Southern Taraba who visited him in his residence in Abuja.
Has anyone taken a look at the senator’s facebook page? He has just 122 likes. So much for his popularity.
This is basically why the senator has been doing everything possible to ensure that Danbaba Suntai return as governor. Ordinarily if Bwacha has delivered quality representation to his constituency, he wouldn’t have to run from pillar to post. His work would speak for him.
Little wonder he has been having sleepless night after his constituency threatened to recall him. The group accused the Senator of not influencing federal projects to the zone unlike his counterparts, adding that he has nothing to show as his achievement since his election to the senate.
Other accusations against Senator Bwacha, included that he allegedly caused sharp disaffection amongst the people of the zone because of his ambition for the governorship of the state in 2015 as well as killing PDP in the zone.
Let the people who champion good governance go to southern zone and find out for themselves what we are saying.
Section 69 of the 1999 constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria states that: A member of the Senate or of the House Representatives may be recalled as such a member if –
(a) there is presented to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission a petition in that behalf signed by more than one-half of the persons registered to vote in that member’s constituency alleging their loss of confidence in that member; and
(b) the petition is thereafter, in a referendum conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission within ninety days of the date of receipt of the petition, approved by a simple majority of the votes of the persons registered to vote in that member’s constituency.
Please “Distinguish Senator” don’t go by your name Bwacha which means come and take in itchen language to deny the southern zone of Taraba the dividend of democracy the country is enjoying.
Sani is a commentator, he writes from Takum, Yola road, Taraba State
Written By Abubakar Sani, Donga
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