Honorable Adamu Tanko Lakwaja the Mandate of the People: A Response to his Critics -By Abdulfatha Adam

In the immediate aftermath of the All Progressives Congress primary election for the Suleja, Tafa, and Gurara Federal Constituency, a cloud of dust was stirred by critics. That dust has since settled, and the outcome remains unchanged: the mandate was decisively and legitimately secured by Hon. Adamu Tanko Lakwaja, ATL.

It must be stated plainly. The critics and the supporters of Hon. Adamu Tanko Lakwaja’s co-contestants were well aware that their clamour could not withstand the resolve of the people. As a seasoned mariner knows the temperament of the open sea, so too did the supporters of Hon. Adamu Tanko Lakwaja remain unmoved by the cacophony of empty noise and fabricated narratives. Indeed, such tactics have only served to reveal the desperation of their purveyors.

The irony is difficult to ignore. These are the very individuals who took to social media to propagate the claim that “no primary election was held in Suleja Emirate.” Yet, in a remarkable volte-face, the same voices were seen congratulating their preferred aspirants. One is therefore compelled to ask: Who is deceiving whom? The answer is self-evident. They are, in truth, deceiving only themselves.

Politics, it must be remembered, is not a theatre for the faint-hearted, nor is it an arena to be swayed by emotional blackmail. It is the domain of the prepared, the tested, and those who have mastered the art of statecraft. It is not for those who expect victory to be handed to them on a silver platter, nor for those who seek to recycle a litany of serial contenders who have neither practised nor understood the rudiments of politicking.

The deed has been done. The party has spoken, and the people have affirmed. The only honourable course now open to the aggrieved is to set aside their differences in the interest of the party and the constituency. In this contest, there is neither victor nor vanquished. The journey ahead is considerable, and there shall be other seasons to try.

It is instructive to note the overwhelming sentiment expressed by members of the public. Across the election Centers and Media outlets, countless well-wishers have affirmed the outcome. Comments such as “A well-deserved victory for a man of the people,” “ATL has proven his worth through visible projects,” and “Suleja, Tafa, and Gurara are in safe hands,” reflect the genuine pulse of the constituency. These are not paid voices, but the spontaneous affirmations of citizens who have witnessed, first-hand, the impact of ATL’s representation.

Ultimately, party members voted out of conviction. They voted based on the scorecard of ATL — on work that has been done, seen, and felt in every ward. This conviction is shared by the broader electorate, who understand that Suleja, Tafa, and Gurara Federal Constituency is not an experiment for trial. It requires proven, people-centred representation.

We shall not return to the old ways. The focus remains, as it has always been, on the people.