The last was not heard of Professor Jake Dan’ azumi a renowned academician now turned administrator with his new appointment as Chief of Staff to the Speaker, House of Representatives, Dr Tajudeen Abbas.
Dan’ Azumi a product of Nigerian parliament, conversant with the norms of the legislative arm of government at the early stage of his life, having served as legislative aide in the Assembly, was also a resource person in one of the vital organs of the National Assembly over the years, having served as technical assistant to the Director General, National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies NILDS, Professor Abubakar Sulaiman Olarenwaju who is serving a second term in office for his unique and unparalleled achievements.
Having served meritoriously in that regard with unique academic exploitation geared towards promoting democracy and democratic norms both within and outside the shores of the country, Professor Dan’Azumi had endeared himself as the promoter of the popular and generally acceptable democratic practices across the globe and Nigeria in particular.
His last outing and public conversation that dealt with the desire to consolidate the popular practice of democracy and applications of democratic norms in our polity was during the presentation of a paper in a one day program organised by the Kukah Centre, “The Validation Session : Needs Assessment of Political Parties”. held at Rock View Hotel on Friday, September 8 , 2023.
The 69 pages paper presented by Professor Jake Dan’ Azumi spanned many hours , but will a well managed allotted time to address the weekly Friday prayers dwelled extensively on the political history of Nigeria.
With the topic in line with the program, Dan’ Azumi went down memory lane and gave indepth retrospective knowledge of Nigeria’s political journey in the last six decades , justifying the need for wholistic reforms and genuine assessment of the needs to further consolidate the county’s democratic tenets.
Unknowingly, having done justice to the need to consolidate our democratic practices, Jake in collaboration with the Kukah Centre, one of the most prominent promoter and advisor of democracy nationally and internationally with global strides, the renowned academician was to find himself at the corridor, bastion and custodian of democracy at the National Assembly on his appointment as Chief of Staff to the Speaker , House of Representatives, Rt Honorable Tajudeen Abbas, the number fourth at the heirachy of Nigeria leadership.
With new portfolio, no doubt , the academic giant will not only contribute to robust administrative vision of the National Assembly at the House of Representatives, just like he did at the National Institute for Legislative studies NILDS, but public discourse that will not only promote democracy, but it’s advancement.
The choice of Professor Jake Dan’Azumi will bring into fruition distinct leadership that will be determined to harness political and administrative initiatives, been inculcated into the leadership of the nation’s House of Representatives.
For Dan’ Azumi, the new appointment will challenge him to do more in the bureaucrats of lawmaking, democratic practices and dispensation going forward in the current administration.
Yusuf, Is A Public Affairs Analyst, Writes from Abuja and can be reached on yus.abubakar3@gmail.com.
