How I Wish Hajia Abibata Shanni Mahama Zakariah Had Represented The Yendi Constituency Earlier—I Can’t Wait To See Her In Parliament Now!

Hajia Abibata Shanni Mahama Zakariah

Yesterday, Tuesday, August 21 2018, the vast majority of Ghanaians, especially those in the Yendi constituency marked the celebration of Eid-ul Adha. The day of Eid-ul Adha is one of the most important days in the Islamic calendar. As usual, the occasion was characterised by joy and slaughtering of animals as prescribed by the Islamic religion. For some people, the day was not just a religious day, it was also a political day. So, while the occasion went peacefully in the Yendi constituency, the activities that characterised it—from the morning to the evening served as viable avenues for the propagation of political agenda, especially, for the ones hoping to lead the constituency come 2020. On occasions such as the Eid’s, the political hopefuls do not only take the opportunity to talk their ideas to the people, but also the delegates put heavy mark on the presence and visibility of the MP hopefuls on the grounds and how they follow through their promises.

Hajia Abibata Shanni Mahama Zakariah is an NPP MP hopeful for the Yendi constituency. It was very clear yesterday during the occasion of the 2018 Eid-ul Adha that her frequent visit to her constituency and interactions with the people paid—she was mapped out as the most visible MP hopeful among the people in the Yendi constituency. For many, the light of visibility cast on her only added colour and credibility to the statement that she is the only NPP MP hopeful in the Yendi constituency so far. To know more about what people sincerely think about Hajia Abibata Shanni Mahama Zakariah, I interacted with some of the celebrants and the delegates, inter alia, they said:

1. “…until today, I never could believe that the woman is such a paragon for us as far as the kind of leadership qualities I am looking for are concerned”;
2. “…I have never met such a humble MP hopeful before in the Yendi constituency”;
3. “…after talking with m ma maa (literally meaning the woman in the Dagbani language), I said to myself, the time of men representing the Yendi constituency in parliament is over, and I can’t wait to see m ma maa in parliament come 2020, Inshaa Allah”; and
4. “…if you really want me to tell you her chances based on my assessment so far, I will be sincere enough and I will tell you that I think it is about time the men stopped wasting their time and instead rally their support behind the woman.”

Though these statements did not come to me as a surprise because I have heard a lot more of the constituents say same and more positive things about her before. Yet, my thirst to just get better understanding of what exactly makes the people of Yendi say a lot of good things about Hajia Abibata Shanni Mahama Zakariah or endorsed her political philosophy that much was not satiated. So, I asked further, what has Hajia Abibata Shanni Mahama Zakariah been doing to attract such an overwhelming endorsement from the people of Yendi? As sincere as those I interacted with were, they told me the obvious:

1. That she is the humblest;
2. That she always stands by her words with all the veracity they deserve;
3. That she does not endorse negative politicking from anybody identifiable to be speaking for her; and
4. That she has helped and still helping a lot of people in the constituency to bring their dreams to reality.

In terms of her agenda to reduce youth unemployment and bring hope to the people, the pace setting moves taken by Hajia Abibata Shanni Mahama Zakariah so far in the Yendi constituency are overwhelming. (a) She has done her best to secure employment opportunities in the forestry commission for the youth, (b) she did it differently to get many more of the youth given appointments in the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Immigration Service. (c) She has also done a lot in bringing some challenges confronting the ordinary people to an end—including her active role in supporting the provision of good and reliable drinking water for students. She does not build castle in the air, instead, she thinks before she acts and does not promise what she can’t provide or do.

Although Hajia Abibata Shanni Mahama Zakariah’s father, the late Alhaji Shanni Mahama, a former MP of the Yendi constituency has a recorded history of rebranding, if not totally constituting the NPP’s popularity and good will in the northern region of Ghana, especially in Dagbon and the Yendi constituency, for that matter. Yet, Hajia Abibata Shanni Mahama Zakariah has always maintained that people should only endorse her based on her own personal abilities to lead the good people of Yendi in terms of how she will be able to address the development concerns of the people. In other words, she always entreats her constituents not to build her leadership capabilities based on who her father was. This does not, however, mean we should entirely ignore considering and emulating the good leadership examples and the good legacies her father left behind, as far as the reconfiguration of the NPP in Ghana is concerned so that we can get a good idea of the practicality of what Hajia Abibata Shanni Mahama Zakariah intends to do for her people.

Expectedly, the vast majority of the people in Yendi, therefore, believe that such a forward thinking, humble and soft-hearted person should have long been given the opportunity to represent the good people of Yendi in Parliament. Nevertheless, due to her humility, she has learnt a lot from the leaders who have led the constituency and she is very well-poised to lead the constituency now based on her enhanced experiences. This is why the people of the Yendi constituency can’t wait any longer in endorsing the candidacy of Hajia Abibata Shanni Mahama Zakariah as the NPP parliamentary candidate and the MP for the Yendi constituency come 2020.

I will, therefore, entreat anyone who has the development of Yendi at heart to try and know more about Hajia Abibata Shanni Mahama Zakariah, in terms of what she has done, what she is doing now to propel the development of Yendi and what her distinguishing leadership capabilities are as a prospective member of parliament for Yendi.

For me, having known much about her in this regard, I wish she had represented the Yendi constituency earlier— and I can’t wait to see Hajia Abibata Shanni Mahama Zakariah sail through the primaries successfully at the constituency level and to become the member of parliament for Yendi come 2020.

Thanks for reading through and Eid Mubarak to you!
Written by:
Faisal Abdul Nasir Abdul Swamad (Yendi NPP Candidature)

A political activist for women’s representation in Parliament.

[email protected]