The member representing Jos north/ Bassa federal constituency at the national assembly hon Sulaiman Yahaya Kwande, has been poise when it comes to his constituency duties, SA to the honourable member captured his excellent performance in this write up. Excapt.
Usama Jafar wrote:
In the present democratic dispensation, managing a diverse, ethno-religious, complex, over-populated and one of the largest constituencies in Nigeria like Bassa/Jos North is not an easy task as such, it requires a great deal of patience, commitment, justice, fairness, dedication, and above all, humility.
Consequently, Bassa/Jos North was also among the constituencies that was lacking in so many areas,ranging from inadequate potable water, inadequate health and medical facilities, inadequate learning environment/learning materials, lack of human capital development, ethno-religious conflict in addition to deep seated mistrust within various ethnic groups among others.
By the time Hon. Kwande came to power, after reclaiming his mandate which he spent a year and half fighting in the court, believed that with prayers, determination and support this problem can be reduced to the barest minimum if not eliminated completely.
Though some leaders have received a lot of accolades from fair commentaries, chieftaincy titles, honorary degrees and sponsored advertorial, there are some achievers whose introverted disposition of refusing to blow their trumpets are not widely acknowledged. Hon. Suleiman Yahaya Kwande, who was recently conferred with the award of “Doctorate Degree” from ISCOM University, Benin and other merit awards falls in this category.
Even though various groups and individuals have nominated him for traditional titles and awards, he often humbly refused such honours that are usually attached to monetary values, unwholesome reciprocation and objectionable conditions. Not all honors are bad but the rate at which honors are dashed to wealthy and public office holders without any commensurate contributions and achievements made the motives of such exercises questionable. That is why I smile when I see people making wrongly assertion that he bought his recent awards 11million naira.
Also, tribute are not intended to praise-sing but to highlight some emulative sterling qualities and selfless sacrifices made by individual and organizations toward a better and prosperous society. Having been close to Kwande at official and personal levels, I must say that we are blessed with a man of high integrity, honesty, piety, not just an administrator but an initiator.
It may surprise many to note that, on assumption of duty, Hon, Kwande hit the ground running by introducing a bridge empowerment scheme which has helped over 500 constituents to be engaged in public and private sectors of the economy. 350 among whom were trained on various skills acquisition which include; tailoring, beads making, tiles installation, soap and pomade making, powder, poultry, catering, among others. 15 people also benefited from his ITF training projects, one in Nigerian content and development board, 19 at SMEDAN among others.
One hundred youths received Tricycles and more than three hundred received financial grants to kick-start and boost their businesses in addition to working tools ranging from sewing machines to grinding machines among others. 9 brick making machines were also distributed to various youth organizations across the constituency and other charitable organizations were given also various sewing machines.
In his effort to enhance commercial agriculture, he sponsored, trained and gave fertilizer and water pumping machines to over 100 farmers at ASTC Vom. It came out that he assisted many physically challenged people with wheel chairs. Again, he equally, constructed a miniature Abbatoir at Yan Shanu.
Kwande did not stop there; he reached out to so many market women across his constituency where he assisted them with thousands of naira to enhance their markets among which include Tomato Market Farin Gada and others. He has equally assisted so many Market victims of fire accident and` ailment. Laranto Market is one of the beneficiaries of his kind gestures.
In the area of healthcare, Kwande has built a new clinic in areas such as Maza, Tudun Wada, among others. Modernize and re-equip existing ones in Zuku and Filin Ball. Also, a proposed plan for the construction of multi-million naira Maternity clinics, renovation and equipping of some existing ones in some part of his constituency like Anguwan rogo/rimi and others will soon commence. He has also rendered medical intervention and assistance to many patient of different ailment across the constituency, Lassa Fever intervention and so on, to help in stopping the spread of the disease.
Rather than accusing successive past representatives for whatever excuses, kwande is so passionate about education project in his constituency with new blocks of classrooms been established and some created from abandoned structures. Notably SHIS Angwan Rogo/Rimi, Sunnah Academy Dogon Dutse, L.E.A Gangare, Mista Ali, Furaka, Islamiyya Bauchi road, Rikkos Community and others. He also bought and donated a multi-million naira school to LAJNA at kasuwan nama among others. Also some blocks of classrooms are currently under construction in Mista Ali and other places. Kwande has also facilitated securing admission to so many students in University of Jos, Keffi, Abuja and Bokkos.
Related to this, he has constructed a multi-million naira town hall at both Bassa and Jos North LGA to provide avenue for both communities to convey their meetings, built and donated an ultra model market shopping complex at Massalachin Juma’a.
By and large, Kwande constructed many motorized and hand pump boreholes that has successfully curbed the water scarcity across his constituency. He facilitated the provision and installation of transformers in so many areas. Purchased motor vans, security gadgets to support and compliment the effort of the vigilante groups. It will interest you to know that every year, he single handedly sponsor and send some vigilante groups to various workshops and training to enhance their capacity.
In the area of sports, Kwande donated a van to Plateau State Football Association and numerous sports kits as well as cash donation across his constituency, all in his effort to boost sporting activities.
In Kwande’s effort to provide more job opportunities to the teeming unemployed youths, He sponsored a bill for the establishment of the Nigerian Institute of Mining and Geo-sciences Jos, which has already scaled second reading, motion on employment among others. Secured job opportunities for so many people. Most recently, he facilitated the employment of some constituents at board of Arabic and Islamic Studies and Min of Education Plateau State in addition to getting job placement for many at the following establishments; National Identity Management Agency, INEC, PHCN, The Nigerian Navy, Army and Air Force, in addition to handling so many petitions/interventions which saw the release of Allowances for the Nigerian students studying in Russia. Kwande is also currently working on two motions; Jos-Saminaka road, and the need for the Establishment of Neurological psychiatric clinic at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, JUTH.
Under his leadership, Kwande has constructed a Police Station in Kabong Gada biyu and more importantly, He has done so many things to so many people silently. That’s why he is often referred to as the “Silent Achiever” by many.
Sentiment apart, Hon. Kwande’s effort in promoting peace and dialogue on the Plateau State is second to none. His recent effort in mediating among the conflicting parties in Bassa L.G.A is very commendable. As a result of this, he was recently conferred with the Meritorious “peace setter” award by National Association of Plateau State Student ‘NAPPS’ for promoting peace and dialogue on the Plateau.
How come he was able to carry out his roles so meticulously and succeeded? The answer is not far-fetched. He had garnered a lot of experience from bureaucratic circle environment and structural consulting at different stages of his life. For many years he was a civil servants before he later joined politics.
Constituents how ever wondered why Hon. Kwande in spite of all these achievements has hardly resorted to media propaganda but then again good works speak for itself as a gold fish they say has no hiding place. He has several times caution this writer not to tell people what he has not done. “Don’t lie against me, don’t tell people what we have not done”.
Though, Hon. Kwande was shocked on the learning of his recent Doctorate award as he was nominated and honored along side other prominent distinguished personalities, he nevertheless credited it to the good people of Bassa/Jos North. The Doctorate Degree of Philosophy in Public Policy and Administration is truelly and deserving for his selfless service. This small piece highlight only some not all of his projects.
USAMA JAFAR
Media assistant to honourable Sulaiman Yahaya Kwande
Member representing Jos North / Bassa federal constituency