RT HON. AMINU IYA ABBAS: ENCOMIUMS FOR A GLORIOUS ACHIEVER AT 46

The story of Rt. Hon Aminu Iya Abbas is a perfect story of grace. It is a story of what happens when a soul allows himself to be lit by the light of Allah. In your life, three virtues stand out: your simplicity, your humility and truthfulness. Through your election as the new Speaker, Adamawa has been blessed by an inspiring leadership and shall now become an effective competitor in all indices of good governance among her peers.

You were not born with a silver spoon yet with resilience and determination, you have charted your course through life’s uncertain terrain. From a village boy in Uba, Adamawa, you rose to become a consummate accountant – graduating from the prestigious Bayero University, Kano where you obtained both your first degree and a Masters. You undertook a professional career that saw you through prestigious establishments like the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) where you served as a forensic team staff and pioneer accountant, African Petroleum (AP) and finally KPMG from where you took your sojourn to politics in 2011, serving in the 5th Assembly as the Chief Whip and Minority Leader.

At 46, you have shown uncommon commitment to the progress of Adamawa state which informed the overwhelming decision of your colleagues to elect you as the Speaker of the 7th Adamawa State Assembly unopposed. Through your election, Adamawa people have shown their resolve not to be left behind in the new wind of young and quality representation that is now a country-wide norm. In you, Adamawa has found a new cosmopolitan speaker who will build a network of fine minds in order to bring top-notch legislation to this land of beauty. The needed dividends of democracy that this state yearns for will now begin to manifest itself. There are many promises that your speakership holds. We know that you will do your job with the calm and calculated mien of an accountant and the eagle-eyed professionalism of a forensic expert and former EFCC investigator. These attributes will help you to galvanise the right followership and form a nexus between the executive and the legislature for the overall progress of Adamawa State.

Your magnanimous spirit has been made evident in the way you have carried everyone, irrespective of party affiliation, along since after your victory. But that is to be expected because you made the pledge to run an inclusive assembly, jettison political differences, forge ahead for the progress of the state and restore the lost glory of the Adamawa hallowed chambers, immediately after you were sworn in as the speaker. You have so far proven to be a man of your words. You have brought two important attributes – transparency and honesty – from your accounting and investigative background to the running of the legislature. Adamawa is poised to experience world-class law-making.

Adamawa is in need of a new direction. The best people to offer this needed political direction is her young people. Nigeria’s young people hold enormous promise for the future. Many of them have envisioned a future that is bright and are only looking for opportunities to unleash their creative mavens in the public space. In their various individual endeavours, they have distinguished themselves both within and outside the country. One of such young persons is Rt Hon. Aminu Iya Abbas, an accomplished accountant who has been touching and changing lives through his many acts of kindness. A man whose ardour and broad outlook to life has brought to the walls of his being, myriads of friends and admirers.

Just like Nigeria, Adamawa State has recognised the need for a new direction and there is no better person to drive her to that legislative direction than Aminu Iya Abbas. Iya Abbas believes in a world view that glorifies delayed gratification both as a personal ethos and as an institutional creed. He has never masked his desire to leave positive legacies behind. In one of his campaign speeches, the Rt Hon opined that, “the greatest legacy Adamawa can leave for her teeming young population is to bequeath to them a society where they can grow to optimally achieve their potentials, a society where they are free to dream and have the supporting structures to see their dreams come through; a society where human rights are respected and democracy flourishes.” From the quality of his thought, one would readily agree that there is something futuristic about him.

Rt Hon. Aminu Iya Abbas is a man who came long before his age; a calm and calculated gentleman who will leverage on his networking skills to build a strong legislature in Adamawa. In you, Adamawa has been set on a path of progress. Mr. Speaker Sir, we are proud of you. And as you celebrate your birthday, we wish you Salih Allah. Because you have walked, the young generation of Adamawa people will dare to dream and because you have achieved such a great feat, the young will dare to fly.

46 hearty cheers to you.

Signed:
SHERIFF SALAWU