During the 2023 general elections, the good people of zone one unanimously came out en-masse to vote Ibrahim Mustapha Khalid to represent them in the Senate. The decision to elect him as senator was borne out of the failure of former senator, Suleiman Abdu kwari, to provide good representation in the zone. However,one year in the senate,it seems Ibrahim khalid has performed below expectations. If one compares him with two other senators from Kaduna State, Ibrahim Khalid has not fared well.
The good people of zone one read in the papers of how his two colleagues from the state sponsored numerous bills for the benefit of not only their constituencies but the state and the country at large.They did not stop at that, they economically empowered their constituents. For instance,in April this year,Senator Lawal Adamu Usman from Kaduna central, doled out ₦500,000 to 100 youths as startup capital. It is also learnt Senator Marshall Katung representing southern Kaduna is putting smile on the faces of his constituents through various programs.
One wonders why Ibrahim Khalid cannot justify the confidence reposed on him by the electorate who defied bad weather to vote him in. Barrister Ibrahim Khalid is not a new politician. He was in the green chamber between 2003 and 2007,representing Soba federal constituency. He is a local politician with grassroots support. Looking at his legislative experience and grassroots antecedents, Ibrahim has no reason to fail. He enjoyed unprecedented support from the downtrodden talakawas during the 2023 elections. Sadly,less than one year in the senate, his popularity has waned. There are discordant voices from the nooks and crannies of zone one over the inability of of the senator to provide expected democracy dividends.
One had expected senator Ibrahim Khalid to bring the attention of his colleagues to the abandoned Zaria to Pambegua road. The contract for the rehabilitation of the road was awarded during the past administration of Muhammadu Buhari. Unfortunately, the work which was carried out at snail speed was later abandoned. As a senator representing zone One, his timely intervention on the dilapidated road will have assisted greatly towards mobilising contractors back to site. Zaria to Pambegua road is a busy road and holds economy potential to many communities living along it.
By Ibrahim Mustapha,
