Zamfara North Senators Sponsored Less Than 10 Bills In 28 Years – Shinkafi

A senatorial aspirant for Zamfara North Senatorial District, Dr Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi on Tuesday said lawmakers who represented the zone in the last 28 years have sponsored less than 10 bills.

Shinkafi stated this while addressing journalists shortly after he submitted his completed copies of the All Progressives Congress (APC) expression of interest and nomination forms in Abuja.

The APC chieftain said he was in the race to correct the poor representation as it has relegated the vibrant senatorial district to the background.

He lamented that since 1999 till date there has been no power shift as the senatorial seat is been dominated by Anka/Maru (Ara Namoda axis), leaving the other axis out which felt marginalised.

“This marks the beginning of a new era in the North Senatorial District because, for over two to three decades—from 1999 to 2027—there has been no power shift.

“The office of the Senate has been dominated by Anka/Maru (Ara Namoda axis). Out of the four local governments that make up the district—Shinkafi, Kaura Namoda (Ara Namoda), Birnin Magaji, and Zurmi—we have felt marginalised.

“The people elected to represent us in the Senate have not done much in terms of proper legislation. If you assess the first 28 years of representation in the Red Chamber, fewer than 10 bills have been sponsored.

“In the three senatorial zones where we have universities, senators representing Zamfara North have not been able to attract any meaningful federal government projects to our zone—not even a single one.

“So, we feel that those who have occupied the office have not represented the good people of Zamfara North well.
This is the time for change—a new beginning in the senatorial district. We are tired of political slavery, and it is time for us to break free from that political captivity,” he said.

Shinkafi also said as a democrat he was not comfortable with a consensus arrangement and will not step down for anybody.

“Let me explain the law. The provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 are very clear on the mode of primaries and the modalities involved. When aspirants agree to consensus, then consensus is adopted.

“If there is no agreement, then direct primaries must be used. Direct primaries are the first option; if that fails, then consensus can be considered.

“As far as I am concerned, I am not ready for consensus. I am not ready to step down. I want to exercise my right as provided by the Electoral Act. Therefore, we must go for direct primaries. Whoever wins carries the day.

“There are about eight of us contesting, and the current occupant has been there for 16 years. This is inequality, injustice, and clear marginalization. We cannot continue like this. There must be a power shift among the local governments”he added.

Another senatorial aspirant for Ekiti North Senatorial District in 2027 also on the platform of APC, Senator Ayo Arise’ said he harkened to the call of his people to return to the senate, having represented them well during his earlier sojourn.

“There is a great call for duty from my people in Ekiti North Senatorial District because they have been expressing some nostalgic feeling about not only my representation when I was in the Senate, but also the achievements I was able to record for the people of the senatorial district amongst which is a Federal University Oye Ekiti that has now covered almost the entire senatorial district.

“We are very fortunate. We had a system that allowed for a multi-campus structure, and successive vice chancellors have been able to extend opportunities for education, commerce, and development to all the nooks and crannies of the North Senatorial District, save a a few local governments.

“Those few local governments have been calling on me to intervene and speak with the management of the university so that they can also benefit from that opportunity that is helping our senatorial district to grow.

“For me, I had to answer because I felt I can still add much more value and that is why I have decided that I will run again. So let the people of the senatorial district decide who they think can better represent them,” he added.