2023: THE IMAGE OF THE PEOPLE’S SERVANT
By Kankimes Alghazali Mohd
“Behavior is the mirror in which everyone shows their image” Johann Wolfgang. Image defines the character of leaders and their governments. Every government is its own image-maker – positive or negative. The image is the message. What a leader makes of his image is what the people know about it.
Every leader tries to cultivate and sustain a good public image. But as often happens, circumstances either put a shine or mud on its image. Both are up for exploitation. Those in the power loop and their cheer leaders seize on the positive image and pile it on to burnish the government image in superlative terms.
“Protect your good image from the eyes of negative viewers, who may look at your good appearance with an ugly fiendish eye, and ruin your positive qualities with their chemical infested tongues.” Michael Bassey Johnson.
The image we portray either of ourselves or other people is therefore very important to the response we get from others within social contexts. In other words, it is imperative to portray oneself in a certain light for others to take one’s actions seriously.
For those who’re not opportuned to meet Gagdi, for those who’ve heard lies against him and for those who met him once, let me portray the personality of the person behind the image and the people’s servant for clarity and better comprehension.
The person behind the image Rt. Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi is:
God-fearing: First and foremost, the best quality of Yusuf Adamu Gagdi is honesty, God-fearing and loving. A faithful and effective politician is trustworthy and reliable. Gagdi capture the essence of truth, display sincerity, and practices what he preaches. He makes decisions and accepts responsibilities for his actions and his words. He believed that God Almighty will question him on the day of judgment about the ways and manner he pilots the affairs of his constituents.
Thick skin for criticism: Gagdi is determined line a laser beam on delivering dividend of democracy to his Constituents. He listen to criticism, ignore baseless ones and respond objectively were necessary. One thing I like about Gagdi is that he never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that he is persecuted whenever he is contradicted.
Integrity: If integrity was a person Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi would have been. Integrity lies in, doing what one speaks; speaking what one does. Hon. Gagdi’s integrity is unquestionable. In a country where most people would sell their mother and father, spilt innocent blood and sweat and worship at Okija shrine and other evil alters to get wealth, this simple, God fearing leader exposed budget padding in Federal Road Maintenance Agency(FERMA) Appropriation Bill 2021 instead of comprising the padding to obtain his lion share.
Honesty: He is an honest man. My late father, that stern educationist, who ran the home and the schools he administered with an iron hand, used to tell us: “Honesty is the best policy.” That was true over 20 years ago when he drummed it into our ears, and it is still true today. And will remain true tomorrow, and forever. Honesty is the cornerstone of all success, without which confidence and ability to perform shall cease to exist. Honesty prospers in every condition of life, no wonder Hon. Gagdi is always prospering. He is an honest man, who will tell the truth even to his own hurt.
Non discriminatory behavior: Gagdi, as a human being, had his shortcomings. Discrimination was not one of them. He would not use his exalted office to promote ethnic or sectarian agenda. His commitment to a better, united and prosperous Plateau was never in doubt. Nepotism and incompetence, now elevated to statecraft, is far from him. He had helped and secure employment to teaming youths all over the state irrespective of their political, ethnic, social, or religious inclinations. He had people he could trust from all parts of the country. He didn’t claim it, but he belonged to everybody.
No-nonsense attitude: You can’t get anywhere flying under the radar says Grant Cardone. What you tolerate says a lot about who you are as a person. Gagdi does not give nonsense and he certainly does not tolerate it.
Respectable demeanour: The man commands respect home and abroad, without even uttering a word. The reaction of Nigerian youths on his emergence as Chairman House Committee on navy as a first timer tells you all you need to know. Even the ‘Tanoids’ are changing their tone. His calm and composed disposition: This is one man who has consistently shown calmness and composure.
Discipline: Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments and without self-discipline, success is impossible, period. Possibly owing to his royal background, Gagdi has displayed a great deal of discipline, in how he has managed himself, his finances, his family, his electorates and associates.
Humility: He is extremely humble. He neither have pride nor being too arrogance. This again is a rare quality in most of the present day leaders. They are proud and arrogant. He is clearly not interested in the frills or flounces of this world, Gagdi has shown himself to be a man uninterested in the typical flashy lifestyle of many affluent Nigerians but rather content with what he has.
Love for his constituency: Indeed, Hon. Gagdi has become legendary for showing limitless benevolence to the downtrodden, associates, colleagues and practical display of immense love and compassion to everyone that has crossed his path in life.
Gagdi is a man who genuinely wishes to see things improve in PKK. He stood on the side of the people, toiling day and night to make their lives better. He demonstrated the love my securing employment to more than one two hundred and eighty four graduates within the constituency. He further empowered more than two hundred people with motorized hand pump, sewing machine, grinding machine, motorcycles, fertilizer to ease their sufferings. A record unprecedented in the history of the constituency.
Audacity: Having followed Gagdi for about five years, I can conclude that Prussian General Clausewitz, President Bush and King Prof TJT Princewill had him in mind while defining what audacity and leadership means. Yusuf Gagdi is someone who likes to tread where even angels are afraid to tread.
Determination: Carl von Clausewitz a Prussian general and influential military theorist noted famously for his military treatise Vom Kriege where he stated and I quote, “If the leader is filled with high ambition and if he pursues his aims with audacity and strength of will, he will reach them in spite of all obstacles. Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi has pursued his vision with audacity and strength of will to somersault all obstacles to become one of the greatest politician on the Plateau and Nigeria at large.
Cute smile. That’s the start of opening your heart and being compassionate to others says Dalai Lama. You simply can’t beat it! He smiles to all and sundry irrespective of party, religion, tribe or clan. He uses his smile to change the world; and never let the world changes his smile.”
The image is that of a man who is a light to everyone who crosses his path, a friend to the youths, a role model to the young, honest, transparent, dependable, uncomplicated and full of wisdom, a helper to many and a visionary man bubbling with the ideals of entrenching a united, peaceful, harmonious vision for his community, constituency and the world.
Let’s Vote Gagdi again in 2023 for the continuity of the good work, selfless service, rebust leadership ideals and above all quality representation.
Kankimes Alghazali Moh’d write from Kanam LGA of Plateau State(Princekam75 @gmail.com)
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