Lassa Tampe
By Akeem Atoyebi
Politics in Nigeria has become a byword for infamy, narcissism, incompetence, corruption and moral turpitude. But one man has made it a lifelong quest to change this toxic perspective, redefine it and burnish same with sweet smelling aroma of dedication, service to the people, moral purity and a dogged resolve to use politics as a means to serve his people.
Enter the trail blazer, Lassa Yusuf Tampe, the All Progressives Congress’s chairmanship candidate for Kwali Area Council.
Tampe is no stranger to politics, no less a stranger to the Kwali electorates. A long distance runner who has made turning around the council and its people his dream ever since he was elected as councilor for Yangoji Ward, Kwali.
Tampe who has had an impressive education and has traversed across the length and breadth of the country capping it with one year mandatory youth service in the South south is not just an average, run of the mill politician, but one with a singular mission, which is to better the lot of the people of Kwali Area Council.
This he has consistently been doing as councilor, supervisory councilor and in different capacities he found himself at the council.
Educated at the University of Abuja, he told NATIONAL WAVES that ” my journey into politics is divine, it’s God ordained, it’s not about me but the people. I have always wanted to improve the lives of my people if given the opportunity, and I will for ever be grateful to God Almighty that in my little capacity i have not betrayed that vision as supervisory councilor and in all other functions at Kwali Area Council. What I want as icing on the cake is to be elected chairman so that the Kwali people can feel the full impact of my interventions, they can have the understanding that politics is not about politicians but about the people, about what can be done to improve the lives of the people.
Tampe insists that the challenge before many of Nigerian politicians is how to separate personal interests from public good. ” We should remember that being in politics is a trust that we must not betray, the people trusted us that’s why they voted for us. The onus is now in us not to betray the trust. It is like a contractual pact between the people and the elected office holders.
First elected councilor representing Yangoji Ward, Kwali, then he became Speaker Kwali Legislative Arm, from there he was quickly elected Secretary to the Speakers Forum of Nigeria, Abuja chapter, then he was made Secretary Transition Committee, Kwali Area Council, member Project Evaluation and Monitoring Committee, Scholarship Committee, Task Force on Revenues Generation among others.
He has assisted the Chairman of Kwali Ares Council in delivering dividends of democracy to the electorates in the core sectors such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, among which are establishment of mechanic village, 12 primary schools, Yangoji Koroko modern market, adult education classes, 10 health centres among others.
Many who spoke to this medium are of the view that of the lot contesting for the chairmanship of Kwali Area Council, Tampe stands tall.
Amina Abubakar, a school teacher said ” I will vote for Lassa Tampe because of his dedication and simplicity. This man has proved that politicians can afford the pitfalls of being selfish if they are able to tame their greed.
Professor Adeagbo Moritiwon a political scientist who has stayed in Kwali for years noted that” Tampe is the man to beat. That is why I will always advise politicians to remember the people that voted for them because they will still need them. I’m yet to see anyone who has spoken ill of Tampe. Let us see how the contest for Kwali Area Council chairmanship go”
Born in 1969, Tampe has exemplified the true essence of a public spirited politician.
