By Joseph Wada Adagba
As a journalist and an avid reader of books and journals, I recently came across an article written by a journalist named Dr. Nathan Oguche Emmanuel on the pages of ARISE IGALA magazine. It took me some time to peruse the exhaustive special feature penned by the editor. The incisive article, titled “Senator Jibrin Isah (Echocho): The Malice of Critics and the Judgment of Posterity,” compelled me to reflect on the murky waters of Kogi East politics and how Echocho being a good man, has navigated through these murky waters in recent years.
While reading the article, I also reflected on the destructive criticism against successive leaders that has arisen from Kogi East, among whom the distinguished leader Senator Jibrin Isah (Echocho) remains one of the most visible and worthy figures Igalaland has produced.
There is no doubt that Senator Jibrin Isah has carved a good name for himself, and his marks of leadership are clearly inscribed on every community across the nine local government areas in Kogi East. He remains a man whose pedigree speaks volumes, despite being naturally reticent. With all these, no amount of destructive criticism can obscure the good for which he is known.
During his tenure in the banking industry, the seasoned banker turned politician passionately enriched many lives through financial endowments/investments or by providing employment opportunities to the unemployed across various segments of banks nationwide. To me, the distinguished senator has used his God-given wealth to positively impact numerous lives. Since we have been sending individuals of substance and caliber to represent us in the national assembly, both in the lower and upper arms of the federal legislative House, no other leader has positively impacted Igalaland like Senator Echocho has. Hence, more power to him.
My first encounter with this affable gentleman, Senator Jibrin Isah Echocho, was at the Prince Abubakar Audu University auditorium, where he generously donated millions of naira during the fundraising event for the renovation of Igala Unity House in Anyigba. During the senator’s first tenure in the senate, I produced political handbills to bolster his campaign strategies, which proved effective and successful.
Convincingly, the late Honorable John Isah at Ajiolo Efagbo edited the write-up before it was sent to print. From that time till today, I have never directly enjoyed any dividend of democracy from the distinguished senator, yet I remain calm and supportive, sharing with those in my community how nice and wonderful the Senator is. My joy, however, lies in the fact that despite not directly benefiting from the Senator, his good deeds are well-known within and outside my community.
In recent years, Senator Jibrin Isah has graciously touched many lives in various communities in Igalaland. While leaders cannot always satisfy the divergent interests, opinions, yearnings, and emotions of the political populace, it is a known fact that the more people you touch, the more people will sing your praises.
I have, however, noticed that whenever Senator Echocho conducts mass distributions of relief materials, palliatives, and assorted food items to the poor masses at the grassroots, thugs, touts, and agberos claim overwhelming dominance over the goods meant for the needy. Whoever dares to speak up faces a dose of a slap on the face amidst vulgar statements that could sentence someone to days of painful meditation. Senator Jibrin Isah Echocho’s political mediators, therefore, have to do more to ensure that the items reach those they are meant for; anything short of this is a stain on the Senator’s hard-earned political reputation.
Finally, this piece would not be complete without referencing Senator Echocho’s motion for the rehabilitation of the Shintaku-Dekina-Anyigba road. If given priority attention and rehabilitated, this road would undoubtedly enhance the socio-political and economic advancement of the Dekina local government area and its environs. May Senator Jibrin Isah continue to succeed even more.