By Christopher Sunday
Aristotle reminds us, in his political philosophy, that the purpose of politics is to secure the common good. This principle has remained relevant to my understanding of leadership and representation, and it informs my support for QS Aminu Abubakar Suleiman, FNIQS. From my personal experience with him, I have come to appreciate the importance of looking beyond political ambition to the quality of thought, the clarity of vision and the capacity to turn public trust into meaningful service. For me, the question of who represents Kogi East in the 11th Senate is not merely about who wins an election, but who possesses the judgment and commitment to make the people’s mandate count.
The question before the Igala and Bassa people is simple: do we want representation defined by political appearances and occasional gestures, or a representative who understands that the people’s mandate must translate into meaningful legislative action, effective oversight and sustainable development?
For me, the answer is clear. Kogi East needs a sound mind in the 11th Senate.
One thing that distinguishes QS Aminu’s candidacy is his decision to present a manifesto to the public. In the political history of Kogi East, no senatorial candidate has ever presented a manifesto to the electorate before now. QS Aminu has broken that pattern by placing his agenda before the people, giving them an opportunity to examine his vision, interrogate his commitments and hold him accountable. This is more than a campaign strategy; it is a significant step towards a culture of issue based politics in our senatorial district.
His People’s Mandate rests on four pillars: Responsive Legislation, Inclusive Economic Opportunity, Social Infrastructure and People Centred Representation. These priorities address the need for laws that serve the people, opportunities for young people and women, improved access to essential infrastructure and a representative who remains accessible and accountable to constituents.
The Senate is not a construction company, a charity organisation or an institution for distributing personal favours. Its responsibilities include lawmaking, budget scrutiny, oversight and influencing national policies. A capable senator must understand how to use these instruments to advance the interests of the constituency. This is where QS Aminu’s professional background in quantity surveying and project management offers a useful perspective, particularly in matters involving planning, resource allocation and accountability.
His campaign has also highlighted interventions in healthcare, education, women’s empowerment and rural infrastructure. These efforts deserve consideration, but we must understand that philanthropy is not the same as representation. Philanthropy can provide immediate relief; effective representation must also pursue policies, legislation and institutional interventions that create lasting solutions.
The Igala and Bassa people deserve both compassion and competence. They deserve a representative who understands the challenges facing our communities, appreciates the diversity of our nine local government areas and can engage strategically with relevant federal institutions to pursue development opportunities.
No senator can solve every problem alone. What matters is the ability to identify priorities, build alliances, ask the right questions and remain accountable to the people whose mandate makes the office possible.
This is why I believe the conversation about QS Aminu should go beyond political affiliations and campaign sentiments. His manifesto provides a basis for assessing his intentions and a framework against which his commitments can be measured.
The choice before Kogi East is about the future we want to build and the standard of representation we are prepared to demand. I believe we need a senator who will approach legislation with thought, development with strategy and public service with humanity.
That is why, for the 11th Senate, I believe it has to be QS Aminu Abubakar Suleiman, FNIQS.
Kogi East deserves purposeful representation, strategic legislation and sustainable development. Above all, it deserves a sound mind in the Senate.
The People’s Mandate must prevail!
