2019: As Luka Binniyat Throws His Hat In The Ring…

BY SIMON REEF MUSA
One of the problems of our democratic dispensation is abandoning the political space for people that cannot articulate their problems, much more of articulating that of the people they seek to represent. If only we can take interest in determining the quality of people we send to the parliament; then, fewer hassles will be there for us to encounter in the future.
Very crucial to our democracy is the need for a strong legislative arm capable of checkmating the excesses of the executive arm. Nigeria is presently embroiled in crises because of the inability of our lawmakers to stand up for what they were elected for. Considering the relevance of lawmakers as representatives of the people, developed democracies have placed them in the lead among the three arms of government.
However, pecuniary interest and absence of a committed vision had brought our lawmaking institution into disrepute. When you hear members of the National Assembly singing to President Muhammadu Buhari that “we are your children”, then know it, ignorant princes have resorted to walking on feet without shoes.
Lawmakers at the state level are worst, as they are turned into pliable hands by sitting governors to defend the interest of the executive arm. With President Muhammadu Buhari assenting to the constitutional amendment that gives state lawmakers autonomy, the days ahead may witness greater independence in the disposition lawmakers to checkmate tyrannies of state governors.
In recognition of the legislative arm in making democracy to work for the people, we all must be engaged in mobilizing and promoting candidates we believe can stand for us at all times. Having suffered immeasurably in the hands of some criminal elements that have stolen us blind and enjoyed on our behalf, we must ensure that we shut the doors against them in 2019.
We have seen our communities destroyed to their foundations, just as those we expected to stand up for us have refused to speak and embrace the safety of their hidden rooms to groan and complain over our tragedies. Defenceless children and women have been hacked down, just as the smouldering clouds of violence have left us unfocused and under siege. In all these, our state lawmakers have demonstrated uncaring attitude in standing up for us and telling the world our own story. If a flicker of hope has come from the federal legislative chamber, the state lawmakers have been turned into silent wailers and midnight sympathisers and nocturnal visitors to areas devastated by marauding armed bandits.
In the light of the above, we have come to the irredeemable conclusion that our lawmakers at the state have dismally failed us and we need a change of voices at the Kaduna State House of Assembly. We all may not sing in unison over our choices, but we must agree to engaged in love and encourage our people not to be taken for a ride again.
It is my singular pleasure and delight to present to one of the voices of hope who has already thrown his hat into the ring to represent his people as a lawmaker for the Zango Kataf Constituency. His name is LUKA BINNIYAT. He is an accomplished writer, reputed journalist, courageous advocate of the oppressed, epitome of justice, among many other passions, and one whose antecedents reveal him as a dependable fellow. Binniyat hates injustice so much that he can surrender his own life to ensure equity for all.
For a despairing generation like ours, the presence of Binniyat at the Kaduna State House of Assembly is urgently required to make the voices of people heard. As a reporter of the Vanguard Newspapers, he stood for truth even at the cost of his job. When the exigency of survival beckoned on him, he chose the people and stood his ground against all odds.
Even without the people’s electoral mandate, He refused to cover up the killings that were condemned in hushed tunes. Like all courageous men of the pen, he dared powers that be. Whatever the voice of his foes may say of him, Luka Binniyat has been “most sinned against than sinning” in all his professional conducts. His absence at his crucial duty point has become a tragedy for a people.
With Binniyat around us, our people must not struggle hard in identifying those we can truly trust. If he  withstood the storm in the past without an electoral mandate, electing him to represent us will turn him into a steely representative for our people.
Brethren, let the endorsements begin!