The Quest for 2023 Kogi Governorship Seat: What Makes Pharm Asuku Stand Out »

The quest for the coveted Kogi Sate governorship seat, in 2023 is in top gear and so far, about twenty-seven aspirants mostly from the All Progressive Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have expressed their interest and picked governorship forms to contest.

It is however notable that as usual, all eyes are on the party in power and its aspirants.
The public, especially the people of Kogi State has been inundated with support for various aspirants and by extension making a juxtaposition of who has the best quality and qualification to be fielded as the governorship flagbearer of the party.

However, it must be submitted here that the APC is blessed with qualified and credible aspirants who by the provisions of the Constitution qualify to contest the governorship seat and they have been cleared to contest in the Party’s primary election.

There is however no gainsaying that one of the names that ring a bell amongst the aspirants is Pharm Abdulkareem Mohammad Jamiu, popularly known as Asuku. Pharm. Asuku is the erstwhile Chief of Staff to Governor Yahaya Bello. Before he was appointed the Chief of Staff, he was the Director-General, Protocol, and has been with Governor Yahaya Bello right from the early days of his political career. He had before his active political participation involved in Student unionism during his university days. This of course was part of what honed his political experience and advocacy for good governance.

Pharm. Asuku’s cheat code in this quest is his youthfulness and popularity amongst the youths in Kogi State. He clocked 39 years on the 2nd of January. It is common knowledge today that Nigerian politics is witnessing a paradigm shift from old people in politics to young and youth in politics and governance. This is a political revolution that cannot be truncated and Pharm Asuku came at the right time.

The youthfulness of Pharm Asuku comes with advantages fit for political office and good governance. Pharm Asuku in his political activeness has demonstrated a fresh perspective toward governance, credible youth representation, long-term focus, uncanny better consideration of diversity, and his passion for developmental initiatives.

If you are looking for a conscientious politician with great consciousness and fear of God, then Pharm Asuku comes in handy. This quality is quite rare amongst the majority of politicians but Pharm Asuku cannot be found wanting in this aspect. The consciousness and fear of God are not about claiming or professing with a religious toga or paraphernalia but it is about practice and exemplary lifestyle. This is one of the things a leader worth his salt must possess in abundance and those who have encountered Pharm Asuku will testify that he is a reservoir of the fear and consciousness of God.

Kogi state, nay that society needs a man who does not see himself as God or who does not sees his power as absolute without any accountability to God or men. This is why Pharm Asuku deals with individuals with the fear of God and always shows respect for human dignity. This is a great virtue that endeared people of different climes and diversity to him.

The ability to build bridges across the ethnic, religious, and political divides also stands Pharm Asuku out amongst the other contestants. According to a widely accepted publication by ThisDaylive made on 27th /03/2023, “…Unlike others before him who built a fence around Bello ( Governor Alh. Yahaya Bello), Asuku had proven to be a man of wisdom by building bridges around the Governor.” Therefore, “what is required at this time is a man of character, dexterity, and candor, who’s patient enough to listen, wise enough to balance interests, and discrete enough to define boundaries.” Pharm Ausuku is the man.

Pharm Asuku’s politics of unity and inclusiveness also makes him a top contender in the race to the Lugard House. You cannot listen to him without hearing him emphasize the importance of unity and inclusiveness among everyone. He believes that our diversity speaks of our uniqueness instead of our differences. Hence, irrespective of your tribe, orientation, party affiliation, religious background, or philosophical leaning, Pharm Asuku will always demand unity and inclusiveness and nothing can make him do otherwise.

There is no other aspirant who has shown a hunger for both human and natural resources development like Pharm Asuku. In a very concise term, Pharm Asuku is passionately development driven. It is not a coincidence that Governor Alh. Yahaya Bello as an architect and engineer of a new Kogi State, Pharm Asuku becomes a worthy vicar that saw to the implementation of the masterplan. No society just wants a leader, every society wants a leader that can ensure development and ease in the daily life of its populace; Pharm Asuku has a track record for this feat.

It is crystal clear that “…with Asuku as the flag bearer for Kogi gubernatorial election, the party may not need to dissipate energy to campaign much, as he has already proved his mettle. It is said that a good product advertises itself.”

Barr. Emmanuel, S.O. (FICMC)
Writes from Lokoja, Kogi State.