By Abdul Mohammed Lawal.
When I came across this picture of Hon. Akus Lawal presenting his certificate of return to His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, CON, this morning, I couldn’t help but smile. I knew a bit more about the struggle leading up to that moment, more than the average person. It took me down memory lane to 2022 when the APC was embroiled in an intense battle over who would fly its flag for the 2023 elections into the KSHA.
I first met Akus while working at the Yahaya Bello Presidential Campaign Council (YBPCC), and his soft-spoken nature was his charm in dealing with everyone around him. It was exciting when discussions about the Ankpa 1 State Constituency started including his name, even though the list of contenders was long, with each believing they had a legitimate claim.
Among this long list of hopefuls, only two names stood out; Akus Lawal and Hon. John Aduga, a former LG Administrator from the same Akwu community. It was a showdown between two brothers: one considered a newcomer to politics and the other, a recognized player who had been involved since the first term of the New Direction government.
The contest was filled with ups and downs, but today, it is evident that the best decision was made. Thank you, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.
The peak of the tussle came on a fateful afternoon when the then Chief of Staff to the Executive Governor, Pharm. Abdulkareem Jamiu Asuku, invited both aspirants to the presidential campaign office for reconciliation, accompanied by another former LG Administrator, Hon. Ayuba Nana Mohammed. The discussions later moved to the Wuse Zone 4 residence of Alhaji Yahaya Bello in the evening, where a partial resolution was reached.
However, in the midst of this, an unexpected figure emerged as the biggest beneficiary, Mr. Emmanuel Adukwu. The rivalry between the two major contenders unexpectedly brought him into the spotlight. The day after the meeting, a statewide stakeholders’ gathering was held at the Sheraton Hotel to unify both satisfied and aggrieved members, as the party sought a united front. Seizing the moment, Adukwu raised his voice, declaring his interest in the Ankpa 1 seat. His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, known for his compassion for persons with special needs, took notice.
Hon. John Aduga immediately withdrew and threw his support behind Adukwu, who suddenly became the favored aspirant. The primary election was then between Adukwu and Hon. Lawal Akus. It was a classic fairytale of zero to a hundred in no time. However, the APC, considering capacity to deliver at the polls, later opted for a substitution that reinstated Akus as the party’s candidate.
I vividly recall the first time Mr. Emmanuel Adukwu visited the YBPCC campaign office, seeking an audience with the DG of the campaign, Hafsat Abiola-Costello, to inform her of his ambition to contest for the KSHA. It was an unusual move, but Mrs. Abiola advised him to first seek the consent of his people since his aspiration was a local, not a national, matter.
Perhaps, what he truly sought was solidarity, knowing that Yahaya Bello has always had a special place in his heart for people like him; and indeed, it worked in his favor.
This was one of the defining hurdles that had to be overcome to ensure the good people of Ankpa 1 got the “Homeboy’s Experience.” From the onset of the campaign, it was evident that the APC had made the right choice. Imagine what it felt like to have a triumphant homecoming under the pouring rain, where an entire constituency was electrified with excitement, as though the sun were shining at its peak! Akus Lawal?
The victory came at the polls as expected, but it was just a stepping stone to the broader story to unfold. What a great story it has been!
In less than two years, Ankpa 1 State Constituency has experienced a level of representation that surpasses expectations. Every political ward has felt the impact of Hon. Lawal Akus. His performance has been so remarkable that people from other constituencies now wonder whether their own representatives are in the same KSHA. Without debate, he stands as the Assembly’s best-performing member.
What Hon. Akus Lawal has achieved in this short period is what many others might take multiple terms to accomplish; a truly commendable feat.
This is yet another success story that tells of the foresight, intuition, and decision-making prowess of His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, CON. Thank you for your visionary leadership. Kogi State can only grow stronger from here.
Thank you, Hon. Akus Lawal for all that you have done so far.
