By Razaq Olokoba
It is said that “a leader knows the way goes the way and shows the way.”, a similar school of thought says “Leadership is the capacity to translate a vision into reality”; Without any doubt, these qualities are missing in most people in leadership positions in Nigeria.
The senator representing Kwara central senatorial district in the National Assembly, Malam Saliu Mustapha’s entrance into leadership is immediately bearing fruit, setting the pace for purposeful and people-centered representation worthy of emulation and replication in other parts of the country.
It is on record that Senator Mustapha had set in motion mechanisms geared towards an inclusive constituency representation and his plan to do things differently.
It will be recalled that the Ilorin-born businessman and philanthropist before his election into the parliament promised to reposition Kwara state through legislative support for human capital development, infrastructure development, and massive empowerment of women and young people to fight multidimensional poverty among other beneficial causes.
Less than 9 months after emerging as senator representing Kwara Central, Mustapha has redefined leadership with interventions that are ameliorating hardships in his constituency, creating a channel that makes for easy and seamless communication with his constituents.
At the legislature, he is making input that will change the fortune of the entire country for good by sponsoring bills and discharging his duties with utmost diligence and passion.
For the record
Sequel to inflation ravaging the country and adversely affecting prices of grains and other commodities, Mustapha, having been a philanthropist as a matter of urgency, has been reaching out to some indigent households in Kwara Central Senatorial District through the distribution of rice and other items since December 2023.
Similarly, in mid-January, 2024 the lawmaker rolled out NECO, WAEC, and UTME scholarships for a considerable number of indigent students across some selected schools in Kwara Central.
At the upper legislative chamber, Mustapha has sponsored five bills within six months in office to strengthen the nation’s financial sector and advance the use of technology in agriculture to enhance food productivity and security in the country.
The bills included the National Food Reserve Agency (Establishment) Bill, 2023 which seeks to develop the agricultural sector by ensuring national food security and income through marketing and storage services, the Donkey Slaughter Regulation and Export Certificate Bill, 2023 and the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
Others were the Cassava Flour (Mandatory Inclusion into Flour Production) Bill, 2023 which seeks to provide a legal and regulatory framework for the mandatory inclusion of cassava flour into edible flour production in Nigeria, and Electronics Transaction Bill 2023, which aims at offering a legal and regulatory framework for conducting transactions using electronic or related media.
As the chairman of the Senate Committee on Agricultural Production Services and Rural Development, these bills are a display of Mustapha’s passion for the agriculture sector and his desire to see agriculture contribute more to the GDP of the country.
Senator Mustapha was recently sworn in as a member of the Pan-African Parliament. According to reports the lawmaker is the leader of the Nigerian delegation to the Extraordinary Session of the 6th Parliament held in Midrand, South Africa.
The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) is the legislative organ of the African Union (AU), providing a platform for representatives from all African countries to further engage in discussions and decision-making regarding the continent’s economic development and integration challenges.
Mustapha took the oath alongside other members of the Nigerian delegation at the opening session following his nomination by Nigeria’s Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
The Kwara Central Senator’s leadership of the Nigerian delegation is a testament and affirmation of his deep understanding of African affairs, will certainly bring his strong diplomatic and negotiation skills to bear in his new role.
Mustapha is a peaceful politician; he has demonstrated over the years by promoting a peaceful Political process. No wonder His Eminence the Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari recognized all these qualities and without hesitation made conferred on him the Turaki of Ilorin.
And the philanthropist-lawmaker continue to be perfect ambassador of the Emirate and his people.
The Convener, Campaign for Dignity in Governance & Coalition of 70 Civil Society Organizations, Razaq Olokoba describes Senator Saliu Mustapha as a phenomenal leader, a harbinger of selfless and people-centered leadership and one Kwarans must continue to support.
