A Spotlight on Suleiman Abubakar Gumi’s Performance, by Abbas Isa Imam
POLITICS DIGEST – Sulaiman Abubakar Gumi as fondly called, “Haske maganin Duhu” by his people. The name, Haske Magani Duhu is a Hausa phrase that is translated in English to mean, “Light, an antidote for darkness”, sprang from his style of representation at the National Assembly.
Hon. Gumi is a seasoned technocrat, an undaunted progressive, goal-getter and a lover of peace. His passion for advancing the wellbeing of humanity transcends skin colour, religion and other parochial prejudices. His ample dose of integrity, humility, honesty, kindness, selflessness and other impeccable attributes naturally endear him to his people and anyone who comes in contact with him.
His disposition could be traced to his rich Islamic ancestry; Hon. Gumi’s maternal lineage is traced to the renowned Islamic crusader, Usman Danfodio (May Allaah be pleased with him). He is the son of Nigeria’s renowned Islamic scholar cum Grand Khadi of defunct Northern Nigeria, Late Sheikh Abubakar Mahmud Gumi (May Allah be pleased with him).
An alumnus of the prestigious University of Maiduguri and Nasarawa State University, who bagged double honours in Civil and Water Resources Engineering and MSc Security and Strategic Studies respectively.
His contribution to engineering development in the country has earned him the rank of Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE).
Before his sojourn into partisan politics, Hon. Gumi briefly worked with Nigeria’s electoral agency, INEC, where he rose through the ranks to attain the position of Engineer 1 before he voluntarily resigned in 2016.
He founded and chaired the Victims of Violence Charity Foundation (VOV). VOV is one of Nigeria’s leading non-profit organizations aimed at providing support to victims of all forms of violence across Nigeria.
Through divine providence and the pronouncement of the Court of Appeal, Hon. Gumi was declared the rightful winner of March 23, 2019, National Assembly election for Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency seat and on Tuesday, June 11, 2019, he was inaugurated as the member representing the wonderful people of Gummi and Bukkuyum Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives at National Assembly.
The emergence of Hon. Gumi was considered by very few as the subversion of the people’s will but it was a demonstration of a common saying, “God’s will is always the best.” We want good but the Almighty Allah wants the best for us.
The UNIMAID bred engineer, though a first-timer at the National Assembly, his demonstrative show in the House could be likened to someone with decades of experience in public service/legislation. Undoubtedly, Hon. Gumi’s performance after two years cannot be hidden. This spotlight showcases his mid-term scorecard – projecting some of his unprecedented successes in the areas of legislative contributions and constituency engagement.
In the area of legislative contributions, which traverses sponsored bills, motions, oversights and other committee obligations; Hon. Gumi might not have attained his target but available records show that he has surpassed all pre-existing Gummi/Bukkuyum representation records.
Hon. Gumi has to his credit, so far, eight (8) bills and eight (8) motions. While his bills seek to strengthen institutional capacity in the country and improve education, agriculture, healthcare and employment; his motions are open calls on authorities to address the issues of insecurity, pollution, quackery in education and repositioning of the almajiri education system.
His bills, which are currently at different stages of legislative consideration include:
1. Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps Trust Fund (Establishment) Bill, 2019, now at committee stage.
2. Federal College of Agriculture Bukkuyum (Establishment) Bill, 2019, is now at the committee stage.
3. Environmental Trust Fund (Establishment) Bill, 2019, is now at the committee stage.
4. Federal College of Health Science and Technology Gummi (Establishment) Bill, 2019, now awaiting second reading
5. Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (Amendment) Bill, 2019, now at Committee stage.
6. Nigerian National Heroes Register Act and Re-enactment Bill, 2019, now awaiting second reading
7. Pension Reform (Amendment) Bill, 2020, now awaiting second reading
8. Armed Forces (Amendment) Bill, 2020, now also awaiting second reading
His motions include:
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1. Need to ensure that only licensed/registered and qualified teachers are allowed to teach in schools.
2. Urgent need to curtail the importation of the novel coronavirus by Chinese nationals.
3. Need to ensure proper regulation of ionising radiation and the use of radioactive sources and equipment to reduce the long term harmful effects of exposure to radiation and radioactive activities.
4. Urgent need to reposition the Arabic and Islamic education (or almajiri) system given the growing population of out of school children.
5. Urgent need to call on security operatives to intensify actions towards rescuing over 300 female students abducted in government secondary school Jangebe and also investigate claims of military complicity in the abduction saga
6. Urgent need to investigate the insignificant role of the institute for peace and conflict resolution amidst escalating conflict and crisis in the country, towards repositioning the institute to effectively carry out the government’s responsibility of crisis prevention and conflict management.
7. Urgent need to halt the rapid extinction of land due to desert encroachment
8. Urgent need to support displaced persons arising from the latest invasion of parts of Gummi Local Government by armed bandits as well as the exigent need to provide adequate security to avert renewed attacks and help sustain the existing peace accord.
On oversight and committee functions, Hon. Gumi is a Sub-Committee Chairman on Appropriation, and a member of several committees some of which include, House Committee on FERMA, Water Resources, IDP, Aids, Loans and Debt Management, Climate Change, Defence and Nigeria/Japan Friendship Group as well as Insurance.
These positions have seen Gumi alongside other members of the House engaging in oversight visits, public and investigative hearings, House-MDAs engagements and the likes.
Through constituency engagement, Hon. Gumi has impacted nearly all strata of his constituency. He methodically developed programmes and projects covering education, youth empowerment, security, infrastructure development, rural electrification to mention but a few.
In education, Engr. Sulaiman has founded a tertiary institution – Sheikh Abubakar Gumi College of Advanced Studies Gummi and facilitated the takeoff of a study centre for the National Teachers’ Institute (NTI) in Gummi. Both institutions are aimed at bringing education closer to the people of his constituency.
Furthermore, to encourage enrollment into educational institutions, Hon. Gumi incentivized the processes by reducing the payment burden on the students and parents. He registered the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for over 100 prospective students and awarded over 400 scholarships to students in tertiary institutions with a promise to sustain support for outstanding students to doctoral levels.
At the basic level of education, Hon. Gumi has among other things:
1. Encouraged girl child education by granting scholarships to a number of young girls studying at Federal Government College Anka.
2. Procured and distributed over 1,000 desks to secondary schools in both Gummi and Bukkuyum to support school infrastructure.
3. Procurement and distribution of 20 teacher’s tables and chairs and
4. Constructed drainage in a secondary school in Yar-Dussa to guard against flooding.
As a model representative of the youth, over 2,000 youths have benefited from his empowerment and support programs, some of which are highlighted below:
1. Training of 400 youths on Google Digital Skills
2. Training of 400 youths on trade and investment.
3. Gifting of 29 vehicles, 200 motorbikes and 30 Keke Napeps
4. N20,000.00 cash support to 200 traders for a period of one year.
5. Training and enrollment of 250 constituents into the CBN NIRSAL program with 50 persons already selected as beneficiaries.
6. Distribution of 400 water pumping machines and
7. Facilitating the recruitment of over thirty-two (32) constituents in federal agencies.
Hon. Gumi has also supported the physically challenged and other vulnerable members of the community through the;
1. Provision of wheelchairs
2. Provision of welfare support to Gwalli-Bardoki internally displaced persons
3. Procurement of engine-driven boats to riverine communities in Gummi.
As someone who understands the value of peace and security, beyond his motions and bills, some of which are security-oriented, Hon. Gumi has provided materials and logistics support to police, NDLEA and vigilante.
He has supported electrification through his donation of a 500KVA transformer to Gummi township with the hope that citizens will have an improved power supply to support their businesses and other endeavours.
On healthcare support, Hon. Gumi has partnered with Nigeria’s Nuclear Agency to assist in unravelling the underlying cause of skin lesion ravaging his constituency. He has supported many families to offset medical bills, this includes the operation of a facial tumour and 20 goitre patients. He has also donated:
1. 31-bed capacity hospital to the people of Illelar Awwal
2. Hearing aid to deaf persons
3. Replacement tooth’s to 100 patients with tooth problems
On infrastructure development, Hon. Gumi brought to the fore his engineering expertise in the delivery of roads and bridges, which are targeted at opening up rural communities to developmental opportunities. Some of the key infrastructure developed and contributed to communities include:
1. Construction of 3km and 1km tarred roads in Dan Fako.
2. Construction of 10 kilometres laterite roads, which include Gurusu/Gwashi road and Gidan Bita/Gabtu Road
3. Construction of Falale – Illelar Awwal – Gidan Bita – Gabtu roads
4. Construction of new borehole and rehabilitation of old ones in Gummi and other communities
5. Construction of a culvert in Yar-Dussa
6. Construction of a primary healthcare clinic Rafi ward
7. Construction of a bridge in Adapka.
8. Construction of modern abattoirs or slaughterhouses in Gummi and Bukkuyum
9. Construction of both new Masjids and rehabilitation of several others in both Gummi and Bukkuyum local governments.
For want of space and time, it is important to clearly state that the achievements of Hon. Gumi can not be succinctly captured in a single spotlight. Those highlighted are some of his numerous achievements in his two years of stewardship at the National Assembly. Worthy of note is that, at all times, he has reverence to Allah as his source of strength.
No doubt, his achievements surpass all previous representation records. And on this note, the entire people of his constituency are saying:
“Oh Allah, reward thy servant, Gumi, with a second term. Encourage and establish his plans and grant him special protection, Ameen.”
Comr. Abbas Isah Imam is a former Students’ Leader, Factivist, and a concerned constituent; can be reached on abbasimam01gmail.com
