By Muhammed NA
In the current Nigerian politics, public skepticism runs higher than optimism and yet, the stewardship of the Deputy Leader of the House of Representatives who doubles as Member Representing Ankpa, Omala and Olamaboro Federal Constituency of Kogi State, Rt. Hon Abdullahi Ibrahim Halims, PhD remains a compelling model for transformative governance and egalitarian Leadership as His service has not merely been about occupying a seat in the National Assembly but defined by a relentless pursuit of grassroots development and legacy legislative endeavours.
He has in the last seven years painstakingly struggled to raise the from seeing “constituency projects” as political favors to being understood as a citizen right, deliberately designed a sustainable investments in human capital development through the empowerment of women and youths setting a high standard for serve in a developing democracy as ours. His most exceptional achievements lie in the complete reorientation of our people to desire more. Not to set aside his educational intervention and primary healthcare developments, he has institutionalised an idea of accountability within and outside his Federal Constituency, so much that people now ask for more rather than acknowledging his strides.
Without realising that even the federal budget system doesn’t allocate a kobo to any member of the National Assembly unlike as it used to be, Rep. Halims personal efforts of lobbying across different Agencies and Parastatals have aided more infrastructure than his statutory Constituency and Zonal intervention Projects and I dare say that no elected official — both dead and alive from Ankpa, Omala and Olamaboro Federal Constituency has single handedly facilitated a near half of what the Deputy House Leader has attracted to our people within the last seven years.
So far, He has constructed not lesser than thirty classroom blocks, provided numerous science equipment to high schools across Kogi East, carried out who renovation and even new construction of primary healthcare centres of about seven in a record number that were all equipped with solar-powered boreholes and cold resources for vaccines and digital record-keeping systems.
To prove that a lawmaker’s influence can and should be measured by his place among his colleagues, His emergence as the Deputy Leader of the 10th House of Representatives is not just a coincidence but a feat that has enabled him to advocate for age long desires of the Igala Bassa Land as evident in his unprecedented push for the creation of Okura State, restoration of Suppressed Constituencies in Kogi East as well as situation of a transmission sub substation at Anyigba to cater for the whole Kogi East and it’s environs.
Furthermore, his commitment to the provision of potable water has moved beyond the traditional motorised boreholes to fully solar-powered boreholes so as to avoid any disruption that can be occasioned by fuel scarcity or general light outs. Rep Halims facilitated a record number of about five thousand slots for his constituents in the Federal Government’s Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) grant and other vocational trainings that can be roughly estimated around five billion naira.
He has so far empowered over 12,000 youths, women, pensioners, artisans and widows through his triannual skill acquisition programmes while still facilitating permanent jobs for many others. Beyond his notable projects such as the Uko Bridge, Opening of rural roads and rehabilitation of township roads with asphalt overlay, Halims is by every standard a major “power broker” in the House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria. As a member of the Committee on selection, he was instrumental in the emergence of many of his colleagues from Kogi State and even other North Central States as Chairmen, Deputy Chairmen and Member of different strategic Committees on account of his ability to navigate the complex web of legislative bureaucracy. Halims does not just wish for things; he creates the way and makes them happen.
As the argument for elevating Rt. Hon Halims into a higher responsibility — perhaps the Senate gathers momentum, I must say that these calls are born out of a glorious wish for Igala/Bassa Land interwoven with a rooted desire for scalable excellence. No doubt that Kogi East currently suffers from a disconnect between natural placement and political reality. If there must be a change, Rep Halims is the specifically defined alternative for Kogi East.
Halims has proven that he possesses the requisite know how to actualise this large-scale disorder and the legislative wherewithal to create an ideal framework for this revival. Albeit, He represents a new breed of Nigerian leader who values quality over quantity, data over dogma, service over prestige and impact over optics; if for any reason we will have a change in the current occupant — the only sincere advocacy is the one that clamours for Rt. Hon Halims because rewarding his exceptional service is not just an act of gratitude but a strategic necessity for Igala/Bassa Land.
When a leader demonstrates that they can turn a micro-constituency into a model of efficiency, they earn the right to apply those principles on a macro scale. Any argument that goes against the current Kogi East Senatorial District Senator who by legislative norms has a fair chance of valuable placement in the 11th National Assembly must put Rt. Hon. Abdullahi Ibrahim Halims as the next inline as a powerful message to the electorates that performance is the only true currency of leadership, and that the path to the top must always be paved with a consideration of prospective progress for the society and its people.
Muhammed Nasiru has decades experience in Legislative engagements and can be reached via naadejohs@gmail.com
©20:04:2026
