Senator B.A.I Gemade: More Than Active At Parliament

I read an article published in two national online media- the Point Blank News and News 247 authored by one Citizen John Akevi with a rather hysteria caption titled “Gemade! Gemade! Gemade! Wake-up!” Much as any sane observer would have merely scorned this very misguided piece and flipped same to the litters where it properly deserves due mainly to its lame content and its already flatly defeated feeble attempt to deliberately smear on the personality and public conduct of Distinguished Senator Barnabas Gemade OFR, especially as regards proceedings on the floor of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

One however finds it rather compelling to react here, not necessarily on account of this misplaced piece, but largely on the onus of obligation that lies with the Senator as a committed representative to persistently avail his teeming followers and constituents some of the very salient facts in regards to his excellent personality, productive ideals, conducts and the very noble precedence which he had over the years carved on the political history of this nation Nigeria. A duty he at least owes to his constituents and fellow Nigerians as part of his social contract with them.

This reaction is more so prompted on the need to passionately make glare Chief Gemade’s enduring prints even as a Senator in the last five legislative years at the Hallowed Chambers Of the National Assembly. For this singular reason and for the need to inform some ignorant crop of individuals who may be too hasty to bizarrely conclude about Senator Gemade’s antecedents and selfless feats, this response indeed suffice.

That Senator Gemade is and remains an active robust persona in the Red Chambers of the Nigerian Parliament and widely acknowledged so is no longer in doubt. His tract record of effective representation and purposeful leadership drive manifestly stares in full form of veritable Bills sponsored, philanthropic acts, lobby for Federal presence to entrench infrastructure not just in his jurisdiction of Benue North-East zone but the entire Benue state. His concerted efforts at enabling appointments for Benue indigenes at Federal MDAs, the Military and Paramilitary and other private sector organizations as well as his passionate goal of granting scholarship to the schooling segment coupled with the meticulous ways he had molded and mentored the middle class segment to be economically, politically, socially stable only adds credence to the fact that The Nom I Yange u Tiv has indeed carved his niche on the nation’s political space and indeed remains active and practical in administering the business of sound representation and effective law making.

The Senator’s epochal re-election to the Senate in 2015 only goes a long way to prove that his progressive ideals, antecedents and practical achievements largely made the leeway for an eventual triumph at the polls. This feat alone obviously erases any contemplation of whether or not this energetic Lawmaker is active and still practical in rendering service adequately for the people of Benue North-East Senatorial District, a constituency whose mandate he has continued to jealously guide and had translated most of the inherent opportunities into fruitful outcomes for the people in the last five (5) years.

One would have expected eye-brows to be raised rather on very pertinent matters like the fight against graft which the change policy of the President Muhammadu Buhari stringently and vigorously seeks to curb in public circles across Nigeria. It is therefore refreshing to note that throughout the public undertakings of Distinguished Senator BAI Gemade, first as a Federal Minister, through to the National Chair of a once great party and now as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, no case of corruption is known to have dangled around this uncommon leader, making him one of the few puritan leaders and politician with very high impeccable credentials today. Perhaps the author of this malicious story was too hasty to accomplish his most ignoble mission so became beclouded in his sense of taste and balanced judgment and with his jaundiced view point failed to see the obvious, but rather needlessly decimated his mental energy on a worthless cause.

It could equally have been more gratifying if the author of this incoherent piece had stated in his report on how senator Gemade in his robust nature had made very consistent and valuable contributions to nation building through nationalistic undertakings and the business of law making in Nigeria. Senator Gemade had met all requirements as a virile Senator practically attending all the Senate sittings both at plenary and committee levels making visitations and general oversights functions as an energetically and great vigour and passion for the Nigerian state.

In the words of renowned human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN who recently stated that, “Section 63 of the Constitution provides that the Senate and House of Representative shall each sit for not less than 181 days in a year. Therefore, Section 68 states that any legislator who fails to attend the proceedings of the House or Senate for less than one third of the required number of days shall automatically lose his or her seat”. Need I state the obvious here that Gemade had roundly complied with these Constitutional requirements of not just fervently appearing for sittings but equally making very sound cerebral contributions on the floor through statements, sponsorship of Bills, raising points of order and other salient matters connected to the business of lawmaking and these should have rather suffice. These are potent facts that should ordinarily occupy the sub-conscious state of any sane commentator on national policy and direction and not unduly attempt to make a mountain out of molehill as been done by the thin minded Citizen Akevi

For the records, howbeit in summary, Senator BAI Gemade had in the last few years sponsored several rewarding Bills on the floor of the Senate to include:

- A Bill for an Act to Alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigerians 1999 to entrench rights to food as a fundamental Human Right of Nigerians and for others matters connected there to

- Bill for Establishment of Ranches and Ranches Commission

- A Bill for an Act to Amend the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Established 2004)

These few are in addition to several other Bills sponsored by the vigorous Senator.

Back home Senator Gemade has virtually revolutionarize infrastructural development in the range of roads, hospitals, education, power and water. Some of them to include Obudu road project, Rehabilitation of the Ihugh-Uka road, Rehabilitation of Lessel-Tse Agberagba road amidst donations of hospital equipment to various local Governments across the constituency in addition to the provisions of portable water system across various areas of the constituency.

Need I place on record other altruistically driven enduring legacies left for the people’s benefit to which effectively covers scholarships for various categories of students and buildings, renovations and equipping of primary, post primary education across the constituency. What about the good number of graduates whose employment slots the Senator has ensured in various MDAs, Military, Paramilitary and even the private sector?

That Senator Gemade at both the 7^th and 8^th Senate would be assigned very sensitive roles of national importance as well as chair some of the very key committees at the Senate is by no means a fluke but rather a product of his excellent public service conduct and experiences in both legislative and leadership abilities.

It is to be known that inspite of this recent campaign of smear against the Senator, his support base and popularity has continued to soar as his tract record of achievements remain a sin qua non for public discourse.

Akosu Emmanuel Lubem 07038578549 Text only, E mail akosumela@gmail.com

Writes in response to a piece written by Citizen John Akevi and published in various online media and other social media outlets