Tribute to Mama Taraba Sen. Aisha-Jummai Alhassan

 

Late. Sen. Aisha Jummai

by Isa Mohammed, 

On Friday I was at home in the evening with friends and family my attention was drawn to a Facebook post that Sen. Aisha Jummai Alhassan has died in Egypt. I was shocked and devastated by the sad news. I rushed to my phone which was charging. I search for the news on the conventional media the story was true and trending. 

What prompted my tribute is to show the uniqueness and contributions of Sen. Aisha to Taraba politics?. To search for who will step into her shoes as maman Taraba politically. How the death of Mama Taraba will affect the political calculations in Taraba state in 2023?

I was introduced to Sen. Aisha in Abuja in 2011 by a friend after my CBN examination but we have not been too close. When I return to Jalingo in 2012 it was not long the late Governor of Taraba State Danbaba Suntai had a plane crash that nearly killed him and Alh. Garba Umar UTC became the deputy/acting governor.

To me, Sen. Aisha was a political master planner and mobilizer with a difference. As a retired civil servant, born in a politically exposed family and being a billionaire made her a strong force to reckon with. These qualities combined to help her won the Taraba North Senatorial seat in 2011  serving senator and former governor against all odds. 

Her aspiration to be governor in 2015 and the litigations that followed have shown that she is ready for the job. However, her political candor and loyalty are second to none. Unfortunately, as a politician what to me she lacks was "Compromise, consensus, give and take, and political solutions to conflicts". To be honest

 Sen. Aisha is an enigma. She empowered the people across the state. She is generous and a bridge-builder in politics. 

In search of who will replace Sen. Aisha, this is tedious because of her experience, temperament, principles, and courage. Nevertheless, three women come to my mind; Hajiya Zainab Ibrahim her younger sister can do it. There is the Hajiya MammaFati Ibrahim Hassan Lau who will equally perform if given the chance. There is Hon. Rashida Abdullahi former Member Taraba State Assembly. The trio combine cannot be Sen. Aisha but can make impacts politically if given the opportunity. 

How does the death of Sen. Aisha will affect Taraba state politics. This will be explained in three ways. 

First, we will lose her unprecedented mobilizational skills and struggles. Sen. Aisha campaign in all the 168 wards of Taraba State in 2015. No politician matched her grassroots penetration. She earned her support and popularity through hard work.

 Secondly, her connections and impacts will be miss in a way that even if she cannot contest in 2023, Aisha can support or oppose a candidate within or outside her party. 

Thirdly, Sen. Aisha's death is a minus to Muri and northern Taraba in the PDP political calculations when it comes to bargaining for power in 2023. 

The strength and weakness of Sen. Aisha politically have been her "independent mindset and unalloyed loyalty politically" she doesn't play hypocrisy card. Ask Atiku Abubakar on the question of her loyalty. Sen. Aisha challenged a sitting governor and the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

She sent me this text in 2015 after the gubernatorial re-run elections in Taraba State 

 "Salam, Malam Isa, sorry for what happened. Stand by your principles. I am proud of you". 

May Allah forgive her shortcomings and grant herJannatil Firdausi. Amen.

Mal. Isa Mohammed,

11th May 2021.