The Power of Humility: The Rise of Rt. Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase, CON. 1st Deputy Speaker of the Ecowas Parliament and Deputy Speaker of the 9th Federal House of Representatives

Bunu A.A: I am very bad with prose writing (being a young social commentator), but my recent crisis with overwhelming trails of thoughts over the meteoric rise of Honourable Ahmed Idris Wase to the 9th Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives and Nigeria’s political center stage compelled me to document these factual thoughts to mirror the lessons as a reckoning history for all of us in the Wase federal constituency. People are inclined to dismiss cliches, especially political ones, for they generally represent maneuvering rhetoric, political jargon if you like, by which politicians flirt with the minds of ordinary masses as they compete in chase moves to gain popular trust or consolidate their political dominance.

In contrast, “all politics are local” is one that stands out as a gospel certitude. This common saying is evident in Hon. Maje, who was, as recently as 1989–1994, said to be a Chairman, Non-Academic Staff Union, C.O.E., Gindiri, up to Chairman, Non-Academic Staff Union, Plateau State Council (1999–2002). He clung on to the masterpiece strategy of growth, gradual and consistent, and steadily rose to become a Deputy House Leader of the Federal House of Representatives in 2018–2019, now doubling as the Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives and ECOWAS Parliament with multiple traditional titles. I try to examine the behavior of Hon. Maje in an attempt to find an explanation for the steep metamorphosis in his socio-political status. Character is the most defining factor in human development. Any human endeavor requires understanding the game’s rules, but efficiency only comes with the right kind of character.

As legislators, what comes to mind while assessing ourselves is not the platforms we occupy but what we do for our people, says Wase CON: our capacity for debates, oversight, representation, lobbying, and persuasions to attract democratic dividends to our respective constituencies. Truth be told, Hon. Maje is today one of the best federal legislators who has built experience and a wall of solid political friendship with other political players across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. There is no state of the federation where he has no friend or has not helped one way or another. These estimable traits made him easily admired and trustworthy to even the most paranoid of his political contemporaries. And these, in my opinion, are the secrets of his remarkable pervasiveness, largely due to unforeseen circumstances, either as a necessary (dependable?) partner or as a consensus messier when the searchlight is on for one.

This exceptional grassroots politician came to the limelight first when his fellow elected members found a leader in him and quickly made him their Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, unopposed. He quietly grew to become a revered political figure in Plateau State within a very short time. This shining star, through his diplomatic approach to leadership, has, so far, resolved a chunk of the internal crisis, and under his watch, some opposition bigwigs were able to join the all-progressive Congress.

Hon. Wase’s contributions to showcasing Wase’s potential by employing more than 10,000 youth across Nigeria and advancements in education, poverty alleviation, and healthcare have significantly propelled the constituency’s overall development. With a visionary approach and a proven track record, he stands poised to become the best Focus Parliamentarian in the history of Plateau State, leaving an indelible mark on its progress and prosperity.

His dedication to service and exemplary leadership make him a beacon of hope for the people of the WASE Federal Constituency, setting a standard for effective governance that will be remembered for years to come.

In terms of infrastructure, the Completed National Open University Wase Study Center, the ongoing Smart Model School in Wase Home Town, modern ongoing skills acquisition centers across the four districts, The ongoing road construction from Jarmai to Bashar linking to Karin Lamido of Taraba State, the completed Bashar road linking to Yola Wakat, in addition to a gigantic Federal Medical Center in Wase, the Orthopedic Hospital in Jos, and the soon-to-take-off Langtang to Wase road linking to Bashar.

Rt. Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase has been rated as one of the most successful members of the 9th Assembly in terms of parliamentary activities, and this success story resonated with Wase’s federal constituency, where his effective representation in the Green Chamber of the National Assembly is felt directly. Why not 2027?