Ramatu Aliyu: Politics with potential, dignity, results

Politicians all over the world are interestingly different. Some politicians are mere noisemakers and attention seekers. In most cases, politicians in this category are lightweight when it comes to ratings and delivery of critical political assignments. However, there is a class of politicians, who believe more in action far more than trivialities. These sets of politicians are not only brilliant, but focused, resolute, disciplined, and always have eyes on delivering results. For this type, whether they are heard or not, visible or not, allowed to take front stage or otherwise, they are less bothered. Yet they are always willing to work and ultimately achieve results.

Without doubt, the current Honourable Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, conveniently fits this picture, when conducting a check of astute politicians who match actions with words and who strive and deliver results. Aliyu may not be known to many political watchers. Still, those who have come in contact with her in the past, have related with her on various issues, including politics, appreciate and agree that Aliyu is a grassroots political mobiliser.

Aliyu, a native of Lokoja in Kogi State, North Central Nigeria, has a quiet but long history in her home state, Kogi and national politics. She was once elected National Woman Leader of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) for two terms before the amalgamation of political parties to form the All Progressives Congress (APC). She was a strong member of the merger committee and member of the Constitution Drafting Committee. She was later elected as the first women leader of APC. She was also once elected as President of the Council of African Political Parties.

Interestingly, Dr. Aliyu played a big role in her state and beyond in the build up to the 2015 general elections in which the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari emerged the winner. Specifically, she was actively involved in the presidential campaigns, which took her to the nooks and crannies of the ‘Confluence State’ and other states of the federation to mobilize women and other eligible voters to elect President Buhari to the number one seat.

The Honourable Minister is ever focused and ready to go when it comes to delivering results for her party and its candidates. Again, she proved her mettle in the just-concluded Kogi State gubernatorial election, which held on Saturday, November 16, 2019. Since the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced the last election and re-run to the Kogi West Senatorial zone, Aliyu did not relent; she was proactive and, in the end, made a significant political point! Ahead of the decisive election, the minister did not restrict her campaign to the ruling APC; rather, she canvassed support for the incumbent and re-elected Governor Yahaya Bello across the political parties.

This moved yielded an amazing result as 58 opposition political parties defected to APC and pledged to work for the party’s victory in the poll. Among the political parties were the Grassroots Development Party of Nigeria (GDPN), Democratic Alternative (DA), National Conscience Party (NCP), People Redemption Party (PRP) and Democratic People’s Party (DPP).

Also in the list were:Advanced Congress of Democrat (ACD), Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), All People’s Party (APP), and Citizens People’s Party (CPP).

Aliyu’s popularity and respect (for her) in her native domain is not contestable. While at the palace of His Royal Highness, Ohimege Igu Agabaido, Alhaji Abdulrazak Koto, in Koton Karfe Local Government Area during the campaign, the monarch said of her, among others, “We are very proud of you, because you have started impacting on the lives of our people and I want you to remain focused.’’

Her campaign for the last governorship election climaxed gloriously. Aliyu met APC ward leaders in Lokoja, the state capital. At the parley, she urged them to mobilize support for Governor Bello. This mobilization eventually worked out positively.

Dr. Aliyu, who is Zinarriyyan Lokoja during the campaign, proved that she believes and practices leadership by example. For the success of her party, she took on the early ferry ride across Budan River last Saturday to her hometown alongside her friends, relatives and APC supporters to voted for the candidate of her party.

The significant question to ask is: did all the efforts eventually pay off? Indeed, they did. This is evident in the outstanding performance of her party, both in her polling unit and ward. Results declared by the INEC indicate that APC at her Yagba polling unit scored 350 votes against PDP’s 62 votes in the governorship election. In the same vein, APC polled 480 votes to PDP’s 53 in Kogi West Senatorial rerun.

In all, APC in Dr. Aliyu’s Kakanda ward scored 5,631votes while PDP polled 1,109 votes in the governorship election. In the Senate rerun, APC recorded a total of 4,907 votes while PDP scored 2,013 votes.

Apart from working for her party’s victory, Aliyu is a good mediator. She once alighted from her vehicle when she saw crisis brewing at a rally among APC stalwarts. She immediately summoned the leadership of the party to an all-night meeting, where all the grievances of members were tabled and amicably resolved.

Finally, the Honourable Minister has proved herself admirably in different political fronts before and up till the present. She has never been found wanting in all assignments given to her, it can easily be said that Dr. Ramatu Aliyu knows her onions and, if given the chance, will deliver in all responsibilities assigned to her. Her present office is equally instructive and strategic. She is poised to continue showcasing her true potential and acumen in the national political space.