Emmanuel Awari-Jalingo
The Member Representing Bali Gassol Constituency Hon Jafa’aru Yakubu Chiroma has appointed 53 legislative aides in his constituency.
The Member, represented by the Chairman of his campaign council, Alhaji Ubale Sanda while presenting appointment letters to the aids in Mutum Biyu, headquarters of the constituency, said that the gesture is to appreciate them for their hard work during the 2023 elections.
He said that the Aids consist of 5 legislative aids, 25 Advisers in various fields and 23 in Chiroma Yakubu Initiative Foundation.
The Member use the forum to appreciate people of Gassol and Bali federal constituency for their support and urge them to maintain the tempo.
According to him, in 100 days as a legislator, he is able to provide some social amenities to the people of his constituency which includes, provision of free Anthrax Vaccination, empowerment of Women and Youths on modern Agriculture, provision of Sixty HP laptops to ICT trainees, donation of Motor cycles to Head of Vigilante, provision of solar street lights and securing of legislative appointments across the constituency. Others are Ultra modern Hospitals in Tella and Yerima, 150,000 capacity water tanks in Gazabu, Tella and College of Agriculture, Jalingo and Motorized Boreholes in Angwan Adamu and Kwalbati mairuwa amongst others.
Some stakeholders who spoke with our Correspondent in Mutum Biyu commended the legislator for not forgeting people of his constituency.
“This is dividend of Democracy. The Member have showcase what he had done in his One Hundred Days as a legislator. He has demostrated his will for the people. In some years ago some legislators after winning elections, they forget about their people, till another election year.
He gave appointments to his Aids across the constituency. Most of the Aids appointed were given Level 7, 8 and 10 to continue carrying out the good work up to the next four years. The Member also provided Anthrax vaccination free of charge to enable us to eat healthy animals, he didn’t only care human being, but also animals- (Tukura Bashir, Dan masani Mutum Biyu).
“The Member is a Man of Character, Intergrity and Politician. He appointed those people because of their efforts in working for him up to the time he became an elected member. I appreciate him One Hundred percent – (D G Campaign).
On the Anthrax vaccination, the Leader of the Health team, Bandawa John Gilbert said,
“The vaccines are very important because it is the only way to stop the spread of the diseases that causes economic lost especially to farmers, for they don’t know where to get the vaccines and it is very expensive.
“It is a disease that affect both domestic and wild animals. You will see an animal healthy, but suddenly just fall and die due to the rapid spread of the disease.
“The disease affects both animals and human beings and it is common and need to be controlled to avoid the spread.
He said that the symptoms of the disease include high fever and suddenly death in animals while on human beings is diarrhea.
He added that human beings can contact the disease when they come in contact with the affected animals and urge farmers to make their animals available for the vaccination.
The Member representing Bali/Gassol federal constituency speaks on his reasons for dumping the Police Force to join politics.
“After serving Aminu Tambuwal during his time as Speaker of the House of Representatives and Governor of Sokoto State, Jaafaru Yakubu was the ADC to PDP chieftain from 2011 to 2022, when the Governor asked him to resign to contest for a House of Representatives seat. The House of Reps-elect explains why he took the plunge into politics.
A graduate of the University of Maiduguri, CSP Yakubu became an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) in 2005 after attending the Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil and was deployed to serve as an Aide de Camp (ADC) to the former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Usman Bayero Nafada before coming to serve under Gov. Tambuwal, who was at that time a member of the House of Representatives as a Majority Whip while former Governor of Imo State Emeka Ihedioha was the Whip.
Rising through the ranks after attending courses at home and abroad, CSP Yakubu is the founder of Chiroma Yakubu Charity Foundation, a body that supports less privileged persons and communities.
Although many kicked against Yakubu’s resignation from the police to try his hands in the murky waters of Nigerian politics, having attained the rank of CSP, like an obedient and humble servant and having been around the Legislative and Executive arm of government for a record 15 years, he must have understood the terrain he wanted to venture into and what he stood to gain if he remained with the Nigeria Police Force. Of course, Ja’afaru as he is fondly called by his friends and kinsmen chose to listen to himself and the man he worked with for the greater part of his police career while declaring that he is going to the “National Assembly To Serve My People”
He took a bow from the Police and headed to Mutum Biyu, the headquarters of the Gassol local government area of Taraba State where well-wishers stormed the town to attend a reception in his honour. The event was organised by a charity organisation established by the celebrant, Chiroma Yakubu Charity Foundation Initiative to celebrate his glorious exit from the Nigerian Police Force.
As thousands of his supporters mostly members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) received him in Dinya village on Gassol/Wukari boundary and drove in a long motorcade for about seventy-two kilometers to Mutum Biyu, one of his close friends was still curious to ask if he actually had a well thought out plan to confront the challenges ahead. Interestingly, Yakubu confirmed that he learned the ropes while at the National Assembly serving two great politicians in the person of Hon Nafada and Aminu Tambwal as Deputy Speaker and Speaker respectively.
More so, he has also followed Tambuwal from becoming a Governor in the state of the Caliphate Sokoto on two occasions, following also two time in his failed bid of becoming the flag bearer of the PDP in 2019 during the presidential primaries in Port Harcourt and last year in Abuja,
“You will know that from when I started in 2007 after graduating from the University and two years after my training from the Police Academy in Wudil, Kano State, I must have learnt so much following the two politicians. At the initial stage, I shook a little, having discussed with my family, traditional rulers and friends. I picked up courage when I had the time to sit with Governor Tambuwal. He found the idea laudable and gave me his blessings.”
At Mutum Biyu, while reflecting on his retirement and the decision, his entourage moved to the palace of the Chief of Mutum Biyu, His Royal Highness Alhaji Muhammad Sani Suleiman who prayed for the success of the event and cautioned the celebrant on the need to maintain peace and security in whatever he does. The monarch expressed joy that CSP Ja’afaru Yakubu Ciroma (rtd) has performed creditably well at the Nigerian Police Force and wished him well in his future endeavours stressing that any public servant is always looking for a glorious exit which Ja’afaru has achieved it.
Even at the gathering in a town square, the chairman of Gassol local government council, Alhaji Musa Abdullahi Chul thanked the organisers of the event and told them it was so unique as it celebrated the giant strides of an achiever and a philanthropist adding that the people of the area were appreciative of Ja’afaru’s contributions in the nation’s security.
It was not all about politics, “It’s the happiest moment for me to stand before you. I worked in the Nigerian Police Force for a period of 17 years. I voluntarily resigned and came back healthy and clean without being paraded in the media for any crime or corrupt practice. We worked based on the proper upbringing that we got from our community which dwells on discipline, respect and dignity. We worked in a security agency and with God’s intervention; we performed creditably well and came back so clean. Some of our colleagues that we started together crashed out but we have God’s protection.
“I want to express my gratitude to Allah and commend you for the warm reception accorded us. I also want to applaud the leadership of Ciroma Yakubu Foundation Initiative for organising this event,” Said Ja’afaru Ciroma. He finally let the cat out of the bag and used the occasion to disclose that he purchased a nomination form to contest for the membership of the House of Representatives for Bali/ Gassol Federal Constituency under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
To his kinsman and very good friend Hamisu Ibrahim, also from Gasol. Hamisu who confirmed being a close friend and associate of Ja’afaru for over 30 years, “The political story of our dear constituency can not be written without highlighting the impactful contributions of member House of Representatives-elect, CSP Ja’afar Yakubu Chiroma ADC (rtd) has made to strengthen democracy in Taraba state.
On the 25th day of February, the day of the Presidential and National Assembly elections, Yakubu after his morning prayers said he was optimistic that he was going to win the highest number of votes to beat his opponents coming mainly from the APC and APGA candidates. The electorate voted for him and he posted 43,315 votes in Bali and Gassol as against the APC candidates’ 20,891 and 6,182 scored by the APGA candidate.
The retired Police officer felt elated that he was coming back to the National Assembly. After collecting his Certificate of Returns in Abuja, he moved straight to the outgoing Governor’s residence to present him with the certificate which authenticated his return to the Three Arms Zone to a different walk of life.
“For me, I have learnt a lot for the eight years in the House and seven years in the state as ADC to a Governor. You don’t buy the experience in the market. I am ready to serve in any capacity/committee whoever is elected Speakers find me suitable” he disclosed on the first day of the retreat for Senators and members elected at the Transcorp Hilton and Sheraton Hotels Abuja – He said.